The Hate U Give

The book “The Hate U Give” opens up with the main character, Starr Carter. Starr and

her friend Kenya are both in the narcotic-filled environment of Garden Highs, a poor area where

Starr lives, mainly inhabited by black people. Garden highs is a place where drugs are as

abundant as firecrackers during the fourth of July, corners are filled with drug dealers, where a

main gang lead by Kenya’s dad, King reigns. Then, there's Williamson; the rich side of town,

where Starr studies. Besides Williamson being incredibly wealthy and safe, it offers a polarizing

contrast between Garden Highschool.

The novel begins with Starr and Kenya assisting a party, as per usual there is a smell of

weed lingering in the air, there's also the presence of an old childhood friend of Starr, Khalil.

Starr greets Him and begins, Starr and Khalil catching up leads to her finding out relationships

between Khalil and King’s gang. Suddenly a commotion stirs up in the crowd, soon something

far worse than a commotion; bullets. The bullets start popping like bubble wrap, this leads Khalil

to drag Starr on his car and both speed away. While in the frenzy of the drive familiar blue lights

shine on the mirror, the police. Khalil is pulled over and patted down, as the cop is walking over

back to his car, Khalil shifts out of the car to check on Starr. The cop turns around and three

more shots are heard, the blood of Khalil spilling out of his chest and overflowing on the floor of

the car.

“They leave Khalil’s body in the street like it’s an exhibit. Police cars and ambulances

flash all along Carnation Street.”( page 25). This marks the aftermath of what happened on the

drive back home, Starrs fear turns into adrenaline; then sadness and grief. Starr is driven back

home by her conmotionated father, he was trying to hide it. They arrive home and Starr washes

the blood of her once alive friend. She's kindly put to sleep by her mom. Though constantly
woken up by the memory of Khalil's body on the sidewalk. Days pass by and With the help of

Starr's mom, She channels her grief into anger for justice, for all the people dead, and most

importantly for Khalil.

This experience leads Starr to involve herself in the world of activism, she wants to better

the streets of Garden Highs, and get justice for the old friend lost on that tragic day. After

countless hours of activism and trying; the verdict is out, the cop did not receive a sanction, or

prison, or any harsh punishment for the matter. After all the support Starr got, and all the

activism done. Nothing happened. But it gave Starr a valuable lesson: to stand up for what is

right, such as displayed in page 443 ”fairytale? no,but i won't give up for a better ending”. This

activism and amazing mindset led her out of garden highs and most importantly, changed her as

a person.