The Hate U Give (2017) by Angie Thomas is a powerful YA novel inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. The story follows 16-year-old Starr Carter, who witnesses the police shooting of her unarmed childhood friend Khalil. Torn between her predominantly white private school and her Black neighborhood, Starr finds her voice as she confronts systemic racism, media bias, and the weight of speaking out.
Thomas’s raw, authentic prose—infused with humor and heart—captures Starr’s dual identity and the trauma of racial violence. A cultural touchstone that’s as urgent as it is unforgettable.
