The Hate U Give
Angie Thomas's debut young adult novel, "The Hate U Give," published in 2017, centers on 16-year-old Starr Carter, an African-American girl navigating two vastly different worlds: her impoverished, predominantly Black neighborhood of Garden Heights and her affluent, mostly white private school. The core of the narrative unfolds after Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her unarmed childhood friend, Khalil, by a white police officer. The story then chronicles Starr's profound journey as she grapples with the trauma, racial identity, and the moral imperative to speak truth to power, transforming from a silent observer into an outspoken activist. The novel delves into complex themes such as systemic racism, police brutality, poverty, and the importance of community and finding one's voice amidst injustice, drawing inspiration from the Black Lives Matter movement and Tupac Shakur's philosophy of "Thug Life." The book is intended for a young adult audience, particularly high schoolers, due to its mature and intense subject matter, including violence, strong language, and sexual references.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe book features high levels of violence, central to its plot, including a fatal police shooting, gang-related violence, and intense confrontations. The narrative graphically portrays the immediate aftermath and long-term trauma associated with these violent acts.
The inciting incident involves a white police officer shooting Khalil, an unarmed Black teenager, three times, leading to his death as Starr watches. Later, Starr's family grocery store is deliberately set on fire while two teenagers, DeVante and Starr's brother Seven, are trapped inside. Starr is also physically attacked by Hailey's brother, Remy, who charges at her and calls her a 'crazy bi—' before being interrupted.
Profanity
HighProfanity is frequent and strong throughout the novel, reflecting the realism of the characters' dialogue and the intense situations they face. The use of strong curse words is pervasive and integral to the characters' authentic voices.
The title itself is an acronym for "The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody," as explained by Starr's father, Maverick, referencing Tupac Shakur's philosophy. The book contains numerous instances of strong language, including frequent use of the "f-word" and even the "motherf***er" variation, which some librarians deemed inappropriate for middle schoolers.
Substance Use
HighThe book explicitly addresses substance use, including drug dealing, drug addiction, and underage drinking, as significant issues within the community. These elements are portrayed to highlight the socio-economic challenges faced by characters.
Khalil, Starr's friend, is portrayed as a drug dealer, selling marijuana and "molly" to help his family, particularly his mother, Brenda, who struggles with drug addiction. There are scenes depicting heavy drinking at parties attended by teenagers, such as the one Starr attends before Khalil's death, where the punch is noted to be "straight-up liquor."
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe novel contains highly intense and potentially disturbing content, primarily stemming from realistic depictions of violence, racial injustice, and traumatic events. These scenes are central to the plot and can be emotionally impactful.
The most significant intense scene is the graphic police shooting of Khalil, which Starr witnesses directly, including details of him bleeding out. Another intense sequence involves Starr, Seven, and DeVante trapped in Maverick's burning grocery store after it is firebombed by King Lords.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe novel includes moderate romantic and sexual content appropriate for a young adult audience, featuring teenage kissing and discussions of sexual topics. There are also references to adult sexual behavior that may be concerning to some parents.
Starr engages in intimate kissing with her boyfriend, Chris, multiple times, including at school. She also shares a kiss with Khalil before his death. The book mentions a 16-year-old girl talking about her older boyfriend having a condom, and there is discussion of teen pregnancy and a character being on birth control. Additionally, a banned book citation notes 'talk of an affair between two adults' and a 'woman is revealed to be a sex worker.'
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThemes of disrespect towards authority, particularly law enforcement and unjust systems, and instances of teenage rebellion are prominent. Starr's journey involves defying expectations and speaking out against perceived injustices.
Starr herself engages in an act of rebellion by deciding to speak out publicly and testify against the police officer, despite threats and pressures to remain silent. In an intense moment, Starr aggressively confronts her friend Hailey, using a hairbrush as a prop to make a point about racial stereotypes and Hailey's disrespectful comments, escalating into a physical altercation.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowAfter thorough searching, no explicit LGBTQ+ characters, relationships, or overt gender identity themes are central or significantly present in "The Hate U Give" as part of the main narrative or character development. One minor, indirect conversational exchange occurs where a character mentions others might think Starr is her girlfriend, but it's quickly dismissed and not indicative of a romantic or identity theme.
A character, Kenya, jokingly asks Starr, “Got folks thinking you’re my girlfriend?” to which Starr replies, “Do I look like I care what people think?” This brief exchange highlights peer perception rather than any actual LGBTQ+ relationship or theme for Starr.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowNo elements of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic rituals, demons, spells, or other supernatural themes are present in "The Hate U Give." The narrative is grounded in realism and focuses on contemporary social issues.
There is no mention or depiction of any witchcraft or occult-related content in the available summaries, reviews, or character analyses for the book.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe novel does not contain explicit anti-Christian themes, mockery, or sacrilegious acts. While one Christian review outlet discusses the book's worldview regarding social justice frameworks, this is presented as an interpretation of the themes rather than direct anti-Christian content within the narrative itself.
The book's title is inspired by Tupac Shakur's philosophy, "The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody," which the author Angie Thomas relates to the biblical concept of "as you sow, so shall you reap." A review from The Center for Biblical Unity discusses the novel's worldview, suggesting it "may encourage your children... to become activists or allies in the oppressor/oppressed framework," but does not cite specific anti-Christian narrative elements or character actions within the book.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Ages 14+ (High School). This recommendation is due to the book's mature and intense themes, including graphic depictions of police violence and its aftermath, pervasive strong language, discussions of drug use and addiction, and moderate sexual references. Several school districts and parental review sites suggest this age range, citing the emotional weight and challenging content as more suitable for older teenagers who can engage with the complex social and racial issues presented.
Additional Notes
The book "The Hate U Give" is a standalone novel. While the author, Angie Thomas, has written a prequel, "Concrete Rose," it precedes the events of "The Hate U Give" and does not represent a narrative progression or intensification of content from the original story. The analysis focuses solely on the content of "The Hate U Give" itself. The narrative deals with sensitive and challenging real-world issues, making it a powerful tool for discussion but requiring careful consideration for younger readers. The book has been frequently challenged and banned in schools due to its mature content and themes related to race and police interactions.
Related Reviews
Is The Hate U Give right for your family?
These concerns are a starting point — what many Christian parents care about. Want to screen for other themes? Define your own concerns.
Screen any book, movie, or show — even titles no one else has reviewed.
“StoryScanner gives us clarity and confidence. It's become our go-to for checking books at the library and movies on family night.”
— Cristi & Brian, Dallas TX
“StoryScanner has been such a BLESSING for researching books for our children. You can set filters for your concerns, enter a book title, and it lets you know what's present.”
— Christian Book Reviews for Families (Facebook)
No credit card required