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Content snapshot
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Violence
A lot
Police violence — a shooting depicted; gang violence in the neighborhood
Language
A lot
Contemporary language; strong language throughout
Sexual Content
Barely any
Mild romantic content
Substance Use
Barely any
Social drinking; some drug references
Emotional Intensity
Very heavy
A police shooting of an unarmed Black teenager — depicted; Starr's decision to testify — the pressure from multiple directions; Strong language throughout; Gang violence in the neighborhood; The racial double standard — Starr's experience navigating white spaces after Khalil's death; The grand jury process — the systemic reality
What this book is about
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor Black neighborhood where she lives, and the wealthy, predominantly white prep school she attends. When her unarmed childhood best friend Khalil is shot and killed by a police officer, Starr is the only witness. The Hate U Give is a YA novel about the decision to speak up, the cost of that choice, and what it means to be a Black teenager in America.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
A police shooting of an unarmed Black teenager — depicted; the novel's central event
Starr's decision to testify — she faces pressure from all sides
Strong language throughout
The racial double standard — Starr's experience across her two worlds
The grand jury process — the systemic reality depicted without comfort
Reader Verification
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