The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give

By: Angie Thomas

Lexile Level: HL590L

Suggested Grades: 7-12

Genre: Fiction

Topics: Racism, Protests, Racially Motivated Violence, Urban Areas

Thomas, A. (2017). The hate u give. New York, NY: Balzer + Bray.

Summary:

Starr Carter is a sixteen-year-old high school student caught between two worlds: the poor neighborhood she lives in and the suburban prep school she goes to. The balance she has been keeping between the two is broken when she witnesses the shooting of her childhood best friend at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. His death becomes a national headline and Starr is the only witness. Everyone wants to know one thing: what really happened that night. She must decide what to do or not do. This decision could change her entire community and will bring her two worlds crashing together.

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Standards:

New York State Learning Standards and Core Curriculum:

CC.RL.9-10.2. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

CC.RL.9-10.3 Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

Possible Learning Activity:

Students will listen to the NPR interview by author Angie Thomas (transcript provided). Students will also view the video of Tupac Shakur explaining the acronym Thug Life (where the title of the book comes from). Students will also read “Death by Police” by Adrienne Lafrance and view the TED Talk “How to Raise a Black Son in America” by Clint Smith (transcript provided that can be translated into multiple languages). Students will use these resources to answer the following essential questions.

Essential Questions:

1. Should every African American family give their children “the talk” of how to survive a police encounter?
2. What should be done to help neighborhoods that are plagued with violence and gang activity?
3. What supports are available to teenagers who want to be activists?

Objectives:

1. Students will read, listen to, and view supporting clips to answer the essential questions.
2. Students will write short answers to the essential questions and discuss answers in small groups and with the whole class.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

As I start to write this, I literally just finished Wonder. I haven't fully decompressed from it. My first initial thought: Wow. My second: Why am I just reading this now? I don't think I'm alone in loving this book. I laughed. I cried. I got angry. I cried again. I laughed some more. This book is one that will stay with me for a while. The only complaint I have about it is in Justin's part; the complete lack of punctuation messed with me. I really love the message of kindness throughout the book. It is such a powerful theme and really resonates throughout the story. I also like how the narrator bounces between characters. It allows the reader to really get to know the character during their point of view chapters.

Considering the standards, this piece can be used in several ways. You can have students work with information text on the causes and effects of Treacher Collins Syndrome (the genetic condition that affects Auggie). Amy Tan's short story "Fish Cheeks" about a young girl who is embarrassed by her family can help students better understand Via's characters. Students could also look at informational text and research herd behavior; the psychological behaviors of how people act in groups. Students could also pair this with other fiction books that deal with bullying or make connections with their own experiences.