The Hate U Give Reading Update

So Maria from A Night's Dream of Books and I read the first 7 chapters of "The Hate U Give" last week and I have to say, so far so good.  It definitely has my attention and I can see this being a fairly quick read if I wasn't pacing myself.  Right now, it's pretty much my Sunday book and will be for the next few weeks. 

So Maria sent me a few questions for discussion which is the same format we used for out "Dread Nation" buddy read.  So check out the questions and my answers below and make sure you pop over to her blog when you're finished!

If you haven't read this, this will probably contain some spoilers so don't feel obligated to read on :)


1.) First of all, I’ve noticed that you’ve abbreviated the title of this novel to “THUG”. Do you think the author gave her novel the title, "The Hate U Give", intentionally, because it can be abbreviated this way? 

So I'm pretty sure I've read something along the way which indicated that the author was definitely acting intentionally with the name. I'll have to admit, it took me a while to catch on with this one but after starting it, I would have thought  it intentional anyway.  Mainly because she mentions Tupac's song "Thug Life" in the first few chapters so I think that might have influenced her.  

2.) I like the way Angie Thomas set the mood from the very beginning. There were some details that gave me a sense of foreboding. What about you? Did you get that sense, too, that something REALLY bad was going to happen? If so, what details gave you that feeling?

Yes, I just knew something was going to happen after the direction the party was heading.  And because her friend at the party wanted to start some trouble with another girl, and really wanted Starr to help her, I sort of initially assumed that was going to blow up in their face.  Also, when Starr and Khalil were in the car and the police pulled them over, Starr was so nervous and had so many "things to do" running through her head I just knew it would end badly.  

3.) Were you surprised that Starr was not immediately interrogated by the police regarding the shooting? Why or why not? 

Yes I am am in "real life" I don't know that it would play out this way.  I am glad that Starr had a family that stood up for her and was watching out for her so she had some time she obviously needed.  Also, I think with social media being so quick to pick up on things that happen now, it's not real feasible to allow things time like it might have been in the past.  Things need to be done quickly for fear of tainted interviews and evidence and situations spiraling out of control.

4.) How did you feel about the contrasts between Starr’s home world – Garden Heights – and Williamson, the prep school she attends? I thought it was ironic that Starr’s classmates argue about such things as how to properly eat Pop Tarts, while Starr and her family have to worry about such things as knowing how to talk to cops if you get stopped on the road. 

I think Thomas did a good job at contrasting two different worlds.  However, were the book on a different subject matter and we readers encountered teens arguing over how to eat Pop Tarts, we'd just be commenting on how stupid they act and be making some silly comments like "typical teens."  However in this context, it does just go to show how different people are and how people have different issues in their lives and bigger things to worry about.

So there you have it, make sure to check back next Friday to see how we're progressing.  Thanks for stopping by!