“That’s the problem. We let people say stuff, and they say it so much that it becomes okay to them and normal for us. What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?”
Angie Thomas, page 252.
The next Must Read Monday book that I think you should read is The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. I read this book in 2018, and I could relate to Starr Carter’s life so much. Starr is a city teenager that goes to a predominately white school that is in the suburbs. Therefore, Starr has to navigate two worlds when she feels that she has to code-switch by changing how she speaks to her classmates. Also, Starr had a father that experienced incarceration, and his need to make sure that did not happen again. Lastly, I loved Starr’s relationship with her childhood friend Khalil which was complicated and sweet. The tragedy that ensued when they encountered the police was gut wrenching and horrific. Starr had to go on a journey that was full of twists and turns. She was stronger than she realized, and she leaned into the love from her family and community to get her through. I don’t want to give away too many details since this is a novel, and I want everyone to experience the book for themselves. If you like audiobooks, then I would suggest listening to this book.
This book is now a film that is worth watching but in my opinion, the book is way better. There were so many details that the movie left out, which was disappointing. However, the cast carried the story, and when my family watched it, we had to stop the film twice to work through our emotions.
If you read the book, what did you think? I look forward to reading your thoughts.
“I can’t change where I come from or what I’ve been through, so why should I be ashamed of what makes me, me?”
Angie Thomas, page 441.
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