THE HATE U GIVE
READING GUIDE
BOOK TALK
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter is thrust into the national spotlight after her childhood friend is
killed by a white police officer after a routine traffic stop. As she works through her grief and
her relationships with family and friends, she must navigate the vastly different worlds of her
suburban private school and her poor, urban neighborhood. This gripping debut novel by
Angie Thomas echoes conversations about police brutality dominant in the news and
moves readers beyond Twitter hashtags. Readers will feel energized to promote and
advance social justice against police brutality and racism.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. As Starr and Khalil listen to Tupac, Khalil explains what Tupac said “Thug Life” meant.
Discuss the meaning of the term “Thug Life” as an acronym and why the author might
have chosen part of this as the title of the book. In what ways do you see this in society
today? (Chapter 1, p. 21)
The acronym that is the title of the book is referenced multiple times and can be
“answered” throughout the book. “The Hate U Give Little Infants F*cks Us All” is important
because as infants and children Black people are still weaponized and demonized. For
instance, Tamir Rice was 12-years-old but a “threat” with a toy gun, yet white men are
apprehended alive by police.
Blacks have a much harder time achieving upward mobility. Failing, run down schools, etc..
play a role in how Black and Brown people develop into adulthood and that affects more
than just individual communities.
Real life examples on how the acronym plays out in today’s society?
2. Chapter 2 begins with Starr flashing back to two talks her parents had with her when she
was young. One was about sex (“the usual birds and bees”). The second was about what
precautions to take when encountering a police officer (Chapter 2, p. 24). Have you had a
similar conversation about what to do when stopped by the police? Reflect upon or
imagine this conversation.
3. Thomas frequently uses motifs of silence and voice throughout the book. Find instances
in the book where silence or voice and speech are noted, and talk about the author’s
possible intentions for emphasizing these motifs.
4. At the police station after Starr details the events leading up to the shooting, the detective
shifts her focus to Khalil’s past. Why do you think the detective did this? Discuss Starr’s
reaction to this “bait” (Chapter 6, pp. 103–104).
