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Story Length: 6:41

"The Hate U Give" and the Call to Activism

Angie Thomas’ novel, The Hate U Give, tells the story of Starr, a young woman of color, who turns toward activism after witnessing the murder of her friend Khalil by a police officer when she is 16 years old. The novel is closely modeled after Thomas’ experiences as a student, and on the stories of several of the young men who have been victims of racialized police violence in recent years. Listen to this audio story to hear the author talk about what inspired her to write this groundbreaking novel.

Story Length: 6:41

Listen to the Story:

SOURCE:

National Public Radio © 2017 National Public Radio, Inc. Used with the permission of NPR. All rights reserved.

02/26/2017


Listening Comprehension Questions

What recent historical events inspired Angie Thomas to write “The Hate U Give”?

What do Starr’s experiences in “The Hate U Give” reveal about the challenges of being a young adult of color?

In what ways did Angie Thomas’ experiences as a student influence her writing?

What does Angie Thomas want her young adult readers to understand about activism through reading the novel?


  • Listening Organizers

  • Comparing Angie Thomas and Starr Carter’s Experiences
  • The Character of Khalil
  • Language Identification Organizer
  • Fill-in-the-Blank Organizer