nglofile's review against another edition
5.0
This book. This. Book. It has the power simultaneously to leave you speechless and to open a geyser of words. Provocative yet with an ease that seems realistic and natural. A story that can be gulped down in few sittings but also one that will become a permanent part of each reader -- as it should.
Give the subject matter, frame, and timing, there was no question this was going to be an important book. However, it would have been all-too-easy to go heavy on message and light on story. Thomas sets a higher course. We never lose sight that this is a short period in the life of a sixteen-year-old girl, with all the attendant drama that implies. She negotiates friendships, school, family, expectations, and yes, the second brutal death of a best friend in her young lifetime.
There's a categorization of books that explains some are mirrors (a reflection of the reader's own identity and experiences -- see also William Nicholson's "We read to know we aren't alone") and some are windows (a view into places and circumstances never personally experienced). Can a book be both? An exceptional one can, and THUG is a contender. I'll wager few can read without being confronted with some aspect of themselves, or at very least, re-experiencing a feeling or reaction to something in this story that cuts too close to a recent real-life moment. For most, it will also expose a great deal that we thought we understood but for which we had no real comprehension. The question is what we do with that increased knowledge and empathy -- as well as the stark realization that there is so much more that we cannot know firsthand.
On a personal note, it wasn't an intentional choice to read this so closely on the heels of Jesmyn Ward's Men We Reaped, but wow did the echoes of that memoir of lost young black men's lives reverberate alongside as I moved through this story.
I need to sit with this one longer.
Give the subject matter, frame, and timing, there was no question this was going to be an important book. However, it would have been all-too-easy to go heavy on message and light on story. Thomas sets a higher course. We never lose sight that this is a short period in the life of a sixteen-year-old girl, with all the attendant drama that implies. She negotiates friendships, school, family, expectations, and yes, the second brutal death of a best friend in her young lifetime.
There's a categorization of books that explains some are mirrors (a reflection of the reader's own identity and experiences -- see also William Nicholson's "We read to know we aren't alone") and some are windows (a view into places and circumstances never personally experienced). Can a book be both? An exceptional one can, and THUG is a contender. I'll wager few can read without being confronted with some aspect of themselves, or at very least, re-experiencing a feeling or reaction to something in this story that cuts too close to a recent real-life moment. For most, it will also expose a great deal that we thought we understood but for which we had no real comprehension. The question is what we do with that increased knowledge and empathy -- as well as the stark realization that there is so much more that we cannot know firsthand.
On a personal note, it wasn't an intentional choice to read this so closely on the heels of Jesmyn Ward's Men We Reaped, but wow did the echoes of that memoir of lost young black men's lives reverberate alongside as I moved through this story.
I need to sit with this one longer.
joanagsilva's review against another edition
5.0
Há algum tempo que não me emocionava tanto com um livro. Se nos faz refletir e sentir todo o género de emoções é porque é bom. Género YA mas que retrata uma realidade (infelizmente) presente nos dias de hoje. Recomenda-se e devia ser incluída no plano nacional de leitura
noortje_l's review against another edition
4.0
such an important and incredible story. loved the characters, couldn’t put it down
karimorton33's review against another edition
5.0
Love this book! I love all the characters, and their different personalities and emotions shown. While this is a work of fiction, it seems it could be non-fiction. Such a real and important read.
andreaitziar's review
3.0
3 ⭐
Hablar de violencia policial en Estados Unidos (en especial sobre ciertas minorías) siempre va a ser un tema relevante y, por desgracia, de actualidad, por eso me alegro de que haya cada vez más historias que quieran concienciar sobre esta problemática.
'The Hate U Give' pretende hacernos partícipes de una de estas historias pero, en mi opinión, se queda bastante estancada por su desarrollo lento y plano. Hay muchas historias muy buenas enfocadas a un público juvenil; de hecho, la premisa de este libro tiene mucha potencia pero creo que su fuerza se diluye y no es tan efectiva para dar ese mensaje de "basta ya". Quizá, para dar un golpe más efectivo, habría sido mejor empezar la historia algo antes para conocer realmente a Khalil y poder sentir ese dolor que siente Starr.
Entiendo que parte de la trama se centra en cómo su protagonista tiene que seguir con su vida (sus relaciones con sus amigas y su pareja) pero no llega a ser tan interesante como saber qué va a pasar con el policía, la reacción de la gente, etc. Que sí, que la chica tiene que seguir con su vida y parte de la historia es ver cómo lidia con todo pero no sé, muchas conversaciones me parecían tan fuera de lugar, forzadas y artificiales, que siento que quitaban seriedad al asunto (¿los adolescentes hablan así? ¿Y sus padres?).
Otro punto que no me ha gustado es la cantidad excesiva de referencias culturales actuales y publicitarias. Entiendo la importancia que tiene la música y la ropa como una seña de identidad pero insisto, eran demasiadas referencias (sobre todo al principio de la historia) que no aportaban nada.
En cuanto a los personajes... Realmente no he podido empatizar con ninguno. La protagonista había veces en las que me caía mal, bastante mal porque, aunque entiendo perfectamente que no sabe muy bien qué lugar ocupa (si en su barrio de toda la vida o en su colegio «pijo de blancos») y que la situación en la que está debe de ser terrible, sentí que era muy injusta con muchas personas. Es hipócrita y parece que odia a todo el mundo por cualquier razón. Seguramente, esta sea la principal razón por la que no he podido disfrutar de la historia. La figura del padre tampoco es mucho mejor porque parece que quiere más a los hijos de otros que a los suyos propios. En este sentido creo que los personajes más sensatos (y más realistas, en mi opinión) son la madre y el tío Carlos.
Mi principal problema con el libro, aparte de su protagonista, es que quiere reivindicar igualdad pero transmite todo lo contrario porque la autora se empeña en agrandar la brecha que, por desgracia, existe entre «blancos» y «negros» con comentarios como "x es de negros", "z es de blancos", etc.
Puede que esté juzgando el libro con mucha severidad pero lo hago teniendo en cuenta que es un libro con críticas excelentes y una nota media en Goodreads de 4,5/5 (una barbaridad).
Hablar de violencia policial en Estados Unidos (en especial sobre ciertas minorías) siempre va a ser un tema relevante y, por desgracia, de actualidad, por eso me alegro de que haya cada vez más historias que quieran concienciar sobre esta problemática.
'The Hate U Give' pretende hacernos partícipes de una de estas historias pero, en mi opinión, se queda bastante estancada por su desarrollo lento y plano. Hay muchas historias muy buenas enfocadas a un público juvenil; de hecho, la premisa de este libro tiene mucha potencia pero creo que su fuerza se diluye y no es tan efectiva para dar ese mensaje de "basta ya". Quizá, para dar un golpe más efectivo, habría sido mejor empezar la historia algo antes para conocer realmente a Khalil y poder sentir ese dolor que siente Starr.
Entiendo que parte de la trama se centra en cómo su protagonista tiene que seguir con su vida (sus relaciones con sus amigas y su pareja) pero no llega a ser tan interesante como saber qué va a pasar con el policía, la reacción de la gente, etc. Que sí, que la chica tiene que seguir con su vida y parte de la historia es ver cómo lidia con todo pero no sé, muchas conversaciones me parecían tan fuera de lugar, forzadas y artificiales, que siento que quitaban seriedad al asunto (¿los adolescentes hablan así? ¿Y sus padres?).
Otro punto que no me ha gustado es la cantidad excesiva de referencias culturales actuales y publicitarias. Entiendo la importancia que tiene la música y la ropa como una seña de identidad pero insisto, eran demasiadas referencias (sobre todo al principio de la historia) que no aportaban nada.
En cuanto a los personajes... Realmente no he podido empatizar con ninguno. La protagonista había veces en las que me caía mal, bastante mal porque, aunque entiendo perfectamente que no sabe muy bien qué lugar ocupa (si en su barrio de toda la vida o en su colegio «pijo de blancos») y que la situación en la que está debe de ser terrible, sentí que era muy injusta con muchas personas. Es hipócrita y parece que odia a todo el mundo por cualquier razón. Seguramente, esta sea la principal razón por la que no he podido disfrutar de la historia. La figura del padre tampoco es mucho mejor porque parece que quiere más a los hijos de otros que a los suyos propios. En este sentido creo que los personajes más sensatos (y más realistas, en mi opinión) son la madre y el tío Carlos.
Mi principal problema con el libro, aparte de su protagonista, es que quiere reivindicar igualdad pero transmite todo lo contrario porque la autora se empeña en agrandar la brecha que, por desgracia, existe entre «blancos» y «negros» con comentarios como "x es de negros", "z es de blancos", etc.
Puede que esté juzgando el libro con mucha severidad pero lo hago teniendo en cuenta que es un libro con críticas excelentes y una nota media en Goodreads de 4,5/5 (una barbaridad).
katieschmit's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
nike0706's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lozzypop1998's review against another edition
4.0
An impactful read that honestly made me think about myself and how I treat others and how I can better myself and the world around me.
This book touches on such important subject matters that are even more evident and important this year of 2022 and has reached millions of people. This is definitely a much-read for people and such an important one to show children and adults whatever their age. They will improve themselves and others through the voices raised in this book
This book touches on such important subject matters that are even more evident and important this year of 2022 and has reached millions of people. This is definitely a much-read for people and such an important one to show children and adults whatever their age. They will improve themselves and others through the voices raised in this book
0livia_h's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ayshin's review against another edition
5.0
"The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas is a thought-provoking, emotional roller coaster of a story.
This is something worth reading as it talks about something real.
Starr Carter experiences what many young minority girls go through when faced with oppression from the police. Starr re-evaluates who her true friends are as she goes through a journey of re-assessing who she is when faced with a murder of a friend. A police officer who is supposed to protect any community at all costs gets off scot free, the consequences are of that affects the minority so much more than the police officers.
Angie Thomas wrote an amazingly well-written story that made me cry, laugh, and smile throughout the story as it progresses on themes that needs to be addressed by speaking up as staying silent has its own consequences to all parties.
This is something worth reading as it talks about something real.
Starr Carter experiences what many young minority girls go through when faced with oppression from the police. Starr re-evaluates who her true friends are as she goes through a journey of re-assessing who she is when faced with a murder of a friend. A police officer who is supposed to protect any community at all costs gets off scot free, the consequences are of that affects the minority so much more than the police officers.
Angie Thomas wrote an amazingly well-written story that made me cry, laugh, and smile throughout the story as it progresses on themes that needs to be addressed by speaking up as staying silent has its own consequences to all parties.