The true meaning of Thug Life

Thomas, A. (2017) The Hate U Give. New York, NY: Harper Collins

Starr Carter wasn’t even supposed to be at the party, but her half-sister Kenya dragged her off to it.  While there she met up with her old friend Khalil, who she hadn’t seen in a while.  When gun shots ring out, they flee, Khalil giving Starr a ride.  While Khalil is driving her home, a police cruiser pulls him over.  The cop is antagonistic and Khalil returns the attitude.  So the cop pulls him out of the car, and has him stand against it.  When Khalil leans in to check on Starr, three shots ring out.  The cop shoots him in the back, and Khalil dies in front of Starr.

This is the second friend who’s died in front of her, and as expected she’s not doing well.  Eventually spring break ends though, and she has to go back to school.  Starr and her brothers go to Williamson Prep, a school about 45 minutes away.  It’s mostly populated by well off white people, and while there Starr feels she has to put on her “Williamson Starr” persona.  After that first day of school, she has to speak to the detectives.   She’s quite nervous, but she speaks the truth, even when the detectives attempt to put words in her mouth.  Soon comes Khalil’s funeral, which is followed by a protest led by a group called “Just Us for Justice.”  It’ s lead by a Ms. Ofrah, an attorney who will soon represent Starr.

Things become more heated and the case moves to the grand jury.  Starr realizes she needs to use her voice and speak out.  She testifies to the D.A.  She goes on a national news program.  But in the end, the court decides not to press charges on the officer who shot Khalil.  Riots break out, protests march, and Starr finds herself in the middle of it.  She even throws some tear gas back at the cops.  They end up at her father’s grocery store trying to escape the chaos.  The local gang leader, King, sets the store on fire while they’re inside in retaliation for a dry snitch Starr made on the TV program.  They’re barely able to escape with their lives.  The store goes down, but it draws the neighborhood closer together.  They all point the finger at King, and he is arrested. The community continues to come together, trying to better the place they call home.

This book was pretty intense.  It’s not the kind of book I usually like to read, but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it.  It was certainly an emotional roller coaster, darn thing kept making me tear up.  It also gives me a bit of insight into a world I’ve never known, and can never know.   While the situation is slightly different, I see a lot my own school’s population in this book.  My district is something like 99% economically disadvantaged, and I often hear the kids talking about similar issues.  I found out today that they are making a movie based on this book.  Here is a link for the trailer.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MM8OkVT0hw  .  I haven’t actually watched the trailer yet, but I can tell you one thing already; It won’t be as good as the book.

I read this book because it is one of my required readings.