Harvest of hatred

Author's name: Angie Thomas Publisher: Al-Rafidain for Publishing and Distribution Year of publication: 2024 Literary classification: Novel Book summary: Star Carter, sixteen years old, moves between two contradictory worlds: the poor Black neighborhood where she lives, plagued by gangs, drug trade, and poverty, and the luxurious high school she attends in the suburbs of the Whites. The unstable balance between these two worlds is shattered when Star witnesses the murder of her childhood friend Khalil — unarmed — by a White police officer. The events escalate, and the news of his killing makes headlines and news reports, with some supporting his killer and demanding justice, describing him as a criminal and drug dealer, while protesters take to the streets demanding justice for him and for hundreds of oppressed people around the world suffering under the tyranny of racism and class discrimination. Everyone wants to know what happened that night, and since Star is the only eyewitness, what she says — or doesn’t say — could turn her society upside down and may put her life in danger. The Hate U Give is the first work of author Angie Thomas, inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, and its title is taken from a Tupac Shakur song, which said that the hatred society projects onto young children will backfire and destroy everyone. It tells the story of an ordinary girl in extraordinary circumstances, addressing issues of racism, police violence, double standards, distortion of facts, and other important topics. The novel has won many awards and topped the bestseller lists for a long time.