The Hate U Give

This is a masterclass in context and nuance. A slice of life that is heart wrenching. I loved the writing and the characters. I love that I know Angie Thomas is a millennial because of the importance of Tumblr in the story. I am incredibly picky with the YA genre because I feel like many adults write teenagers as stereotypes. This book didn't do that. Starr read as a real teenager. Yes, there was angst and petty teen moments, but she was also thoughtful and worried about everything around her and not just herself. Her self-doubt relied upon her place in the world and the social economics surrounding her. A misfit, not because she wears glasses or likes books, but because her identity within her community at home and at school relied upon an assumed loyalty or lack thereof by proximity to each group of people. This will be a book classified as realistic historical fiction in 20 years. Outside of the importance of the story itself, it was told really well. The pacing and character development, the scenery and anticipation, it's just a really great book.