More Than a Story: Why Angie Thomas is Worth Reading

   

 Angie Thomas is a contemporary black author. She is best known for her very first novel, The Hate U Give. In this book, Thomas writes about issues involving race, identity, community, family, and injustice. The characters and their issues are easier to connect with for young adults because the way Angie Thomas writes is towards enlightening young adults.  

Thomas is worth reading for the simple fact of how she uses a compelling story to discuss and advocate for serious world issues. Reading one of Thomas’s novels is especially important because she writes about a perspective that many people do not have in their own lives. Her writing can help readers understand experiences different from their own. Angie Thomas was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. She grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood. Although she went to a private school, she has mentioned things like violence and even a shooting in her community. Going from a private school social setting to a hurting community social setting is a big switch. This is important to note because in her famous novel The Hate U Give, the main character Starr has a similar lifestyle. After graduating from private school, she went on to study creative writing at Belhaven University. Before Thomas became a famous author, she aspired to be a musician. So much that she was even a rapper before an author. After finally finding her passion she wrote and published a book many people now know called The Hate U Give. As mentioned before, this was her debut novel. This novel became so successful that it was later made into a movie. In this very book, the main character's name is Starr. In the novel, Starr faces adversity and systemic issues. These parts of Starr’s identity and experience were influenced by things Thomas understood from her own life.  

The Hate U Give is about a 16-year-old African American girl. She. Lives in Garden heights, ad mostly black neighborhood. She attends Williamson Prep, a mostly white private school. She feels the need to code switch depending on where she is. Starr is riding in a car with her childhood friend named Khalil. The two were stopped by a police officer. Although unarmed, the police officer fatally shot and killed Khalil. His death then becomes a major public controversy. Public opinion on Khalil has become very controversial. Starr must decide whether she is willing to publicly speak about what happened. Starr worries about what speaking publicly could mean for herself and her family. The story becomes much more than the shooting. Starr takes on issues, negative comments, and racial prejudice while finding her identity. The novel touches upon racism, stereotypes, police violence, and much more.  

Something very interesting that many people don’t recognize is the title of the book itself. The Hate U Give, actually originated from the famous rapper, Tupac Shakur. The acronym for one of Tupac's albums is THUG LIFE. This stands for “The Hate U Give Little Infants F’s Everybody.” This is how Thomas explains it in her novel. The idea is hatred and injustice toward young people affects society as a whole. The title connects to a much larger message which many readers are quick to oversee.  

A popular novelist by the name of Alex Wheatle shared his thoughts on The Guardian. Wheatle calls The Hate U Give an “outstanding debut novel.” He praises how Thomas addresses racism and police brutality through the perspective of a teenager. He argues that the novel captures contemporary Black American experience effectively which translates to a better experience for a reader unaware or unfamiliar with these sorts of issues. Most importantly, his review emphasizes. That Thomas does not simply talk about racism generally. She puts the reader directly into Starr’s life and shows how these affect her family, friendships, school, and community.  

In Angie Thomas’s debut novel, she writes about real issues affecting Black Americans. She speaks about racism, police brutality, and much more. Her writing is a way to read a compelling story while also being educated on problems some have never experienced in their personal lives. She advocates these things through the main character Starr, which allows readers to connect personally. The book has also been said to be used as an outlet for young men and women who might be in the same position as Starr. Thomas has a way of making major social issues and making it personal instead of just presenting statistics or arguments. Overall, Angie Thomas is worth reading because she. Tells powerful stories that entertain readers while also helping them step into the shoes of someone who has dealt with these very issues.  

Angie Thomas’s background helped influence the kind of stories she tells. The Hate U Give is just her first and one successful story she has written. Professional reviewers praised not only the message in the book but how it was presented. Her work gives readers insight into experiences they may not personally know. In the end, Angie Thomas shows how one story can. Open readers’ eyes to experiences different from their own and leave them thinking about the worlds around them long after they finish reading.