Select language, opens an overlay

Comment

Community comment are the opinions of contributing users. These comment do not represent the opinions of Omaha Public Library.
Jul 07, 2019EljayJohnson rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
There are well-written, enjoyable, moving, literary, immersive, and challenging books and there are "Important Books" with a timely and vital message/viewpoint. Sometimes a minor miracle happens and someone like Angie Thomas gives us something that's both. Considering the critical and social/political acclaim that this novel has received, I expected to be blown away from the start. But the beginning - even with the explosive murder of a unarmed black youth by police - was muddled. It took awhile for Thomas to find her footing, but find it she did and the book takes off and becomes extraordinary. While the story is told from the POV of Starr, the 16 year old witness to the murder, Thomas gives us a large and varied supporting cast. And she has the skill to give crisp, delineated, and specific voice to all of them - an incredible achievement. It's also a virtuoso performance in emotive writing; I cried (like big wet ones down my cheeks), I became enraged, I squirmed in discomfort, and I laughed. A lot of laughing, actually, because Thomas didn't forget to keep her story and characters real. So, whether you're looking for a book that will thoroughly engage you with terrific writing and characterizations, or looking for something that will inspire you to go change some of the horrific wrongs of our world, The Hate U Give will deliver.