THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. I know a lot of people have probably already read it since it’s very popular, but if not READ THIS BOOK. Some people think that the characters are one-dimensional and they are stereotypical, but they aren’t. every character has a unique backstory, but they’re obviously aren’t enough characters for every single opinion and viewpoint to have a place in this book. But it deals with a very important issue, can lead to good discussion, and is overall just a good book.
16-year-old Starr Carter is a black girl that lives in a poor neighborhood and attends a predominantly white suburban prep school. There is already an uneasy balance between these worlds, but it gets shattered when Starr watches the fatal shooting of her unarmed childhood friend Kahlil at the hands of a police officer. Kahlil’s death is soon a national headline. Some people are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger, which annoys Starr greatly. Everyone just wants to know what happened that night, and the only person who can answer that question is Starr. But what she says can both help and harm, so she must learn how to use her most powerful weapon, her voice.
This is a YA book meant for 7th grade+, or possibly 8th grade+ depending on the maturity level of the reader. It is a great book about a hard subject, but it doesn’t tell you to hate the police. It is about police brutality, but all of the police officers in the book aren’t bad. Starr’s uncle is a police officer, and he is a very nice, compassionate character.
If you read this review, then I have a suggestion for you. Here is your new to-do list.
- READ THIS BOOK
- READ THIS BOOK
- READ THIS BOOK
Got it? (Just kidding, do what needs doing. THEN read this book).
