Young Adult Literature
Book Reviews
Bibliography
Thomas, A. (2017). The hate U give. Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.
ISBN 9780062498533
Plot Summary
Living a double life, Starr Carter tries desperately to balance her two worlds. Being 16 isn’t easy, but managing life in a poor neighborhood while attending a private school in the suburbs makes life even harder. Trying to stay connected to her neighborhood friends becomes challenging, but Starr finally finds time to hang out with an old, childhood friend named Khalil. Tragedy strikes one night when Khalil gets pulled over while taking Starr home. Despite being unarmed, Khalil is shot and killed by a police officer. Now a witness to a national news-making incident, Starr’s life is shattered by the death of her friend. This not only brings back memories of another childhood friend, Natalie, being killed years ago in a drive-by shooting but spurs the growth of Starr in unimaginable ways. Will she have the courage to stand up to those who unjustly killed Khalil? Will she forever feel as though she can never truly be herself? Will she ever find which world she fits into? Starr Carter is the only one who can save herself and possibly her community - if she doesn’t get silenced first.
Critical Analysis
Angie Thomas, the author of The Hate U Give, has created a powerful young adult novel. This realistic fiction tale incorporates many of today’s societal issues. Told in first-person perspective and set in the early 2000s, the main character, Starr Carter, is a 16-year-old African American girl who attends a predominantly white school but lives in a poverty-stricken black neighborhood. Dealing with the tragic death of her childhood friend Khalil, Starr must navigate the world as an unidentified witness to the crime, all the while fighting (at times silently) for justice against a corrupt system that is “supposed to protect them”. As Starr struggles with her identity and the role she must adhere to, at home in her neighborhood and her prestigious school, she faces many obstacles that only continue to burden her. Somehow along the way, Starr finds her voice and her strength to stand up for herself and others. Many themes are present throughout, such as police brutality, racism, and defeating the cycle of poverty to name a few. Readers will become engulfed with a multitude of emotions as they follow Starr’s journey to finding herself and fighting for what’s right.
Review Excerpt(s)
"Heartbreakingly topical." —Publishers Weekly"A marvel of verisimilitude." —Booklist
"A powerful, in-your-face novel." —Horn Book
Connections
For additional activities related to the book:
- Watch the TED Talk video about code switching. Code-switching is alternating between two dialects of a language. It can also mean switching between the way someone expresses themselves. This is what Starr is doing as she floats between her two worlds.
- Write a personal journal entry on a time that you have code-switched, including on how it has impacted you.
- Watch the movie The Hate U Give. What is different about the book and movie? Which one do you prefer?
**Note: All activities and more can be found at https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/hate-you-give-literature-guide
Other recommended books if you liked this one:
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope by DeRay Mckesson
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
Bibliography
King, A. S. (2016). Still life with Tornado. Dutton Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. ISBN 9781101994887
Plot Summary
It’s not uncommon for writers to have writer’s block….but what about artists? Sarah, a sixteen-year-old, has always been an artist, until one day she can’t summon the energy to draw a pear. Something so simple throws Sarah into a whirlwind and makes her begin to question everything she’s known about herself and her art. Sarah begins skipping school and wanders the streets of her town Philadelphia trying to find something “original”. Things get even weirder as she begins to meet other versions of herself, younger and older. Thinking she is having an “existential crisis”, Sarah begins to contemplate the family dynamics at home. The tornado of a family unit that continues to whirl in intensity and that has banished her brother six long years ago. Deep down Sarah has known things haven’t been quite right but she has been a silent fixture for so long to a toxic home environment…where the tornado continues to gather strength.
Critical Analysis
Still Life with Tornado, by A.S. King, is a realistic fiction young adult novel involving themes of family abuse, survival and acceptance of the truth. The narrative is told mainly by the main character, Sarah, with a few entries from the perspective of her mother Helen. Told in past and present tense, the story begins in the month of May during the main character’s sophomore year of high school. Flashbacks occur throughout the story which describe the memories of a family vacation Sarah has forgotten - memories involving her brother and her tornado of a father. With the help of other versions of herself, one, in particular, referred to as Ten, Sarah begins to remember exactly what happened between her father and brother during the trip. This multilayered novel draws the reader into the seemingly quiet, yet equally chaotic life of an abusive father who has reigned for far too long. As Sarah finally begins to understand the dynamics of her life, she makes contact with her brother Bruce. Connecting with Bruce is the turning point for the family and many hidden lies are brought to light. Readers will find themselves on a rollercoaster of emotion as they journey with Sarah to the real truth of what art is and what it means to be “original”.
Review Excerpt(s)
”King writes with the confidence of a tightrope walker working without a net.” - Publishers Weekly"[King] blurs reality, truth, violence, emotion, creativity, and art in a show of respect for YA readers." - Horn Book Magazine
“King’s brilliance, artistry, and originality as an author shine through in this thought-provoking work.... An unforgettable experience.” -School Library Journal
Connections
For additional activities related to the book:
Describe the main character(s) in the story. How realistic are they?
Describe the plot of the story. Do you feel this is a realistic plot? Why/why not?
Describe the theme of the story. How does this affect the reader?
Other recommended books if you liked this one:
- I Crawl Through It by A.S. King
- Punching Bag by Rex Ogle
- The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan
Bibliography
Perkins, S. (2017). There's someone inside your House. Dutton Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. ISBN 9780525426011
Plot Summary
Adjusting to a new town and new school is challenging for Makani Young. After having been in Osborne, Nebraska and finally making friends, she seems to be settling in some…almost. A love interest begins to blossom but Makani worries if they will find out about her past and the REAL reason she moved to Nebraska. Her fear is heightened when a series of gruesome murders plagues her town. As Makani tries to make sense of fellow high school students being ominously murdered…she begins to wonder if she’ll survive or will she be next?Critical Analysis
There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins is a teen thriller that will have readers on the edge of their seats. Set in Nebraska, the main character named Makani has lived with her grandmother for a year. Having been sent to live with her, her parents are in the middle of a divorce and her mother is too self-absorbed to deal with her teenage daughter. Getting in trouble during a hazing ritual with her teammates in Hawaii didn’t help the situation with her parents either. Many readers will be able to relate to the main character's feelings of loneliness and finding how they fit in. Early on in the novel, Makani’s fellow students get picked off one by one by a serial killer who stalks his prey and commits gruesome murders. Perkins masterfully builds tension throughout the course of the novel and uses foreshadowing to alert the reader of intense moments to come. As stated by Booklist in a review of the thriller, “Readers will be sleeping with one eye open” after reading this teen slasher.
Review Excerpt(s)
“Readers will be sleeping with one eye open.” – Booklist“A heart-pounding page-turner with an outstanding cast of characters, a deliciously creepy setting, and an absolutely merciless body count.” – Courtney Summers, New York Times bestselling author of Sadie and The Project
Connections
For additional activities related to the book:- Identify and discuss foreshadowing leading up to major events in the story.
- Identify and discuss the use of bullying and hazing within the story and how it affects the characters.
- Identify and discuss themes within the novel (Ex. forgiving oneself)
Other recommended books if you liked this one:
- Get Even by Gretchen McNeil
- They All Fall Down by Roxanne St Claire
- People Like Us by Dana Mele
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