Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

189 reviews

hmwoodward's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I've heard so much about this book and seen it as required reading in my high school's classrooms, so I decided to read what some of my students are studying these days. I am so glad I read this book, even though it was often challenging.

This book shows you a side of police brutality that we don't get to see - how those who are left behind process and respond to it. Star grapples with her responsibility to her murdered friend and the risk of speaking about it to the public. You watch as life goes back to "normal" as you follow Star to school and with her family. Though the death is no longer the only focus, it is a grief that weighs on Star and the community, on top of all the other trauma they experience in the form of poverty or drugs or gang activity, etc. The world stops at the news of a death at the hands of the police AND at the trial AND at the decision, but they're gone when the news cycle ends again.

Through the course of the book, you get to know and love (most of) the characters, despite their many flaws. You get to understand why people in challenging situations pick what appears to be a wrong choice since the odds are stacked and no choice is a good one sometimes. You watch as the people around Star grow and hear the stories of others who grew in their challenging environment. 

I listened to this on audiobook and appreciated the narrator because it felt like I was in Star's head. The narrator brought these powerful and emotional moments to life so vividly. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Blood

Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

musicalpopcorn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

I hate that a book like this has to exist but if it must, this book is perfect. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism

fortheloveofbooks95's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

sirch's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Police brutality

Moderate: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, and Grief

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Drug use

turidt's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Physical abuse

hjb_128's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Infidelity

phantomgecko's review against another edition

emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Well written, well structured, great voice, interesting characters, realistic situations. A really good book. 

Infuriating tho. Just the reality of racism in our country and how it hasn't changed. Like...this book was before Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, real life events that put a huge spotlight on this exact behavior. The book's just so spot on with how people are.

The insecurities and issues Star has are shown well. The gaping holes in our system are shown well. The problems in black communities are shown well. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, and Murder

anamustacho's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective fast-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

5.0

I love Star's parents.

There is so much I love about this book. The ddiversity. The humor. The sad parts tha make you reflect. How it made mee feel heard and understood as someone from.an immigrant family and interracial parents.

The injustice. The justic and power of people, community.

Tbh I find this book very fitting for catholics. Naastenliefde. Forgiveness. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and War

evelynnnn33333's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, and Grief

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Toxic friendship

Minor: Sexual content

alsira98's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, and Police brutality

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence

Minor: Drug use