About the book
The Hate U Give is a 2017 young adult novel by Angie Thomas. Its narrator is Starr Carter, a teenager who moves between two worlds: the mostly Black neighborhood where she lives and the mostly white private school she attends. Her life changes when she witnesses a police officer shoot a close friend, Khalil. The rest of the book follows how Starr, her family and her community respond, and how she decides whether to speak publicly about what she saw.
It is widely read by teens and adults, and is often chosen by school and community groups. The questions below suit all of these audiences. Spoilers are limited to the last section.
Themes
- Identity and code-switching. Starr adjusts how she speaks and acts depending on where she is.
- Family and community. Her parents, siblings, extended family and neighbors shape her.
- Police violence and justice. The book examines how a shooting is described, investigated and debated.
- Media and public opinion. How the story is told on the news and online affects the people involved.
- Voice and activism. Starr wrestles with what it costs to speak up and what it means to stay silent.
Content notes and approach
The book includes police violence, death, racism, drug-related violence and strong language. Let members know before they start. When discussing, invite people to speak from their own reactions rather than speaking for others, and listen to differing experiences. If you lead a teen or classroom group, preview the book and consider your group’s age range.
Discussion questions
Starr’s two worlds
- How does Starr act differently at school and at home? Why?
- What does the book suggest about the cost of constantly adjusting who you are?
- Which moments show Starr’s two worlds colliding?
Family
- How would you describe the parenting in Starr’s home? What do her parents want for her?
- How does the book show different kinds of family, including extended and non-traditional ones?
- How does Starr’s relationship with her family change over the course of the story?
Community
- How does the neighborhood shape the characters’ choices?
- The book shows people in the community responding to the shooting in different ways. Which responses felt most understandable to you?
- How does the novel complicate easy assumptions about a place and the people who live there?
Police, justice and the public conversation
- What perspectives on the national debate about police violence does the novel present?
- Starr’s uncle is a police officer. How does his presence complicate simple readings?
- How does the book show the way the media describes the victim and the officer?
- Did the novel change or challenge your own view?
Voice and activism
- What do you think Starr should do when she first faces pressure to stay silent or to speak?
- How does she grow in her willingness to speak out?
- What forms can activism take, and which does the book value?
Friendship and relationships
- How do Starr’s friendships at school change as events unfold?
- What does the novel say about allyship and what makes someone a real ally?
Reflection and ending (spoilers)
- How did you feel about the ending? Was it hopeful, realistic or both?
- What do you think the title refers to, and how does it connect to the story?
- Who would you recommend this book to, and why?
Hosting tips
- Set ground rules at the start: listen, avoid personal attacks and respect people’s right to pass.
- Encourage members to cite the text rather than rely on generalizations.
- For an online group, post content notes and discussion norms in the first message. Our guide to online book clubs covers moderation.
- If you lead a classroom or youth group, consider adding a follow-up activity such as a reflective writing prompt. Our reading response questions for any book and text-to-world connections guides offer ideas.
What to read next
For another young adult book that sparks strong group discussion, see our guide to Divergent. For adults who want a challenging literary pick, Yellowface also tackles identity and representation.