There are some issues affecting our society today that feel too hot to handle, but not for author Angie Thomas.  In her novel, The Hate U Give, Thomas bravely inserts her main character and narrator into the brutal drama of a black teen being shot by a white police officer.  Still a child herself, sixteen year-old Starr witnesses the crime. Caught between the callous reality of racial inequality and the privileged society of the school she attends, Starr struggles to make sense of it all.

The Hate U Give does what any good literature should:  it asks the important questions.  Thomas draws a clear and distinct portrait of the divide represented by those who support the actions of the officers involved and those who live under the oppression of injustice fueled by prejudice.

 Geared to a young adult audience, but appealing to adults too, the novel considers the value of friendships, loyalty, and what it means to be brave in face of so much tragedy.

The Hate U Give offers a starting point for discussions and would be suitable for book clubs or as a classroom read.

As is my habit, I listened to the audio version, performed by Bahni Turpin.

This novel will stay with me for some time.