Sharing Ideas: The Hate U Give by Smile and Wave

Conflict

cblettne — 2025-05-12 11:32:16 UTC

Add posts here if you're writing about a moment of internal, literal, or symbolic conflict in the novel. What issue does it reveal? What theme does it connect to?

Character

cblettne — 2025-05-12 11:33:00 UTC

Add posts here if you're discussing a character’s development, values, relationships, or what they represent in the novel. How do they help us understand key ideas?

Symbol / Motif

cblettne — 2025-05-12 11:34:05 UTC

Use this section to analyse a recurring object or idea (e.g., names, hairbrush, voice). What does it symbolise? How does it reinforce a theme?

Context

cblettne — 2025-05-12 11:34:51 UTC

Here you can explore real-world influences: Black Lives Matter, THUG LIFE, police violence, or Australian parallels. What does this context help us understand?

Instruction Post

cblettne — 2025-05-12 11:36:49 UTC

Choose one idea you've learned about so far from The Hate U Give — it could be a character, conflict, symbol, or something from the novel's context.
In your post, explain:

What it is
What theme or idea it connects to
How it links to another category (e.g. how a conflict links to a character or symbol)

Like others' posts and add comments expanding on each other's ideas. Remember - this isn't a contest! Help each other out. If you know something that extends the post, leave a comment under it!

After you've made a post...

cblettne — 2025-05-12 11:38:18 UTC

Help decorate the board! Add something that relates to one of the sections:

An image, gif or piece of content that relates to another post
A comment on someone else's post - can you extend each other's ideas?

Burning Questions!

cblettne — 2025-05-12 11:47:55 UTC

Do you have questions about the novel, your upcoming essay, or anything else? Would you like to learn anything else or review anything about the novel over the next few lessons?

Post your questions, suggestions (and any free compliments) in this section for Mr. C and I to review :D

Other

cblettne — 2025-05-12 12:21:31 UTC

In this section, write about the importance of the settings (Garden Heights and Williamson Prep), pop culture references (Tupac, Fresh Prince, Harry Potter, etc), language choices (present tense narration, use of slang, use of first person storytelling) and explain how any of these (or other aspects you've noticed) connect to the novel's themes.

Your post might look like this:

cblettne — 2025-05-12 12:24:30 UTC

I’ve learned that Starr’s internal conflict about code-switching shows how racism affects her identity. She feels like she has to be “two different people” at Williamson and in Garden Heights, which makes her question who she really is. This conflict connects to the theme of identity, because it shows how racism can force people to hide parts of themselves to feel safe.

cblettne — 2025-05-12 12:26:20 UTC

Maverick's roses

2025-05-13 02:34:02 UTC

The roses that Maverick diligently cares for represent the Carter family and their resilience despite adversity. The roses also symbolise the importance of opportunity and how the environment can affect a family's ability to thrive.

finding your voice

2025-05-13 02:43:07 UTC

star manages to find her voice during the protest scene and finally speak up against all her internal conflict

Uncle Carlos

2025-05-14 06:14:20 UTC

Uncle Carlos is an example of dual identity. His struggle between his work and his family. He struggles to choose between his morals and the love he has for his family.

115 and Khalil

2025-05-14 06:15:08 UTC

Conflict between 115 and Khalil. Represents symbolic conflict. The racism Khalil experiences that leads to his death is caused by officer 115 being racist.

Racism

2025-05-14 06:16:22 UTC

Hailey expresses racism not just towards Starr, but towards Maya as well.

Maverick

2025-05-14 06:17:38 UTC

Maverick is portrayed as a loving and protective father, but will stand for whats right with any means necessary. This is proven by him sending them to williamson prep and he often takes them to uncle carlos when things get too dangerous. But Maverick always tries to stay in garden heights and help the community grow and defy stereotypes that others have put on them.

Starrs internal conflict

2025-05-14 06:17:46 UTC

Starr has a conflict within herself when she is trying to decide if she should speak out about what she has seen from Khalil's death as she knows an injustice was committed but she is scared of what might happen to her and her life at Williamson prep if she does speak out. she ends up finding her voice during the protest as she understands that the problem is bigger then her and she needs to speak up so others wont have to

Grief

2025-05-14 06:19:28 UTC

We can see grief in the novel during the scenes containing Ms Rosalie after Khalil's death. Ms Rosalie is heavily affected by her grandson's death, which we can see in her demeanour. She is more affectionate with Starr and relies on her loved ones to keep her from falling into a pit of sadness. The novel uses this to make Khalil's death feel more impactful to the reader, and also as a portrayal of how similar incidents in real life cause just as much grief and damage to the community. This creates a sense of importance for the viewer regarding injustice and prejudice in their own real-life experiences.

Khalil's internal conflict

2025-05-14 06:20:07 UTC

Khalil doesn't want to sell drugs, but believes that it is the only way he will survive. Khalil goes against his own morals by selling drugs and faces an internal conflict. This conflict connects to the theme of injustice and identity.

The Name Garden Heights

2025-05-14 06:21:40 UTC

It creates expectations of a naturally beautiful and thriving place, which is different from the reality. The neighbourhood trapped in a spiral of violence.

Starr

2025-05-14 06:25:05 UTC

As the protagonist, Starr is a multilayered character. She is made by the author to feel relatable to oppressed groups. She is written realistic, which is key to making her actually relatable. Her various internal and external conflicts show how hard life can be for someone like her and the characters around her, though sometimes exaggerated, also are made to fill in as realistic figures that may be apart of someone like Starrs life

Class Divison

2025-05-14 06:26:00 UTC

Class divison is expressed in the novel as hailey doesn't understand many of the issues starr faces and in garden heights people are genuinely protesting and have real emotions but stuck up people from williamson selfishly and diserespectfullty use khalils death as a get out of free card. In the movie starr asks carlos "if it was a white man wearing a suit would you have shot?" and he said no.

Hairbrush

2025-05-14 06:26:53 UTC

The hairbrush symbolises innocence and injustice. Khalil was shot because the officer thought the hairbrush was a gun. It represents how Khalil and Starr were just kids, they weren't doing anything wrong, but yet Khalil was killed for a hairbrush, something so small and innocent.

differences between Starr and Hayley

2025-05-14 06:27:13 UTC

in thug, starr and hailey are opposites—starr is aware and vocal about racial injustice and actively faces racial injustice. while Hailey constantly uses her privilege and doesn't even realise she has privilege. hayley is ignorant to racial injustice whereas start is hyperaware of it.

Bravery

2025-05-14 06:27:29 UTC

Bravery is a theme that is present throughout the novel T.H.U.G. It is seen in many scenes, including when Starr speaks up and finds her voice. She knows the possible consequences of her actions, and is willing to suffer the consequences for what she believes is right. This makes a stand for showing her bravery.

Starr's uniform

2025-05-14 06:29:30 UTC

Starr's uniform is a way of showing her attachment to her life at Williamson Prep, whether she likes it or not it is a part of her that she always considers even in larger situations such as Khalil's death. She worries constantly throughout the novel of how she will represent Williamson Prep when wearing the uniform and how the people may judge her if she acts how she normally does at Williamson Prep. To the point where she blurs the line between her at Williamson and her at Garden Heights, but at the riot she covers up her uniform with a Khalil sweater before she stands on the car and speaks with the megaphone. This symbolises her finally being herself and choosing to mourn and get justice for Khalil even if it costs her her place or reputation at Williamson.

DeVante

2025-05-14 06:31:07 UTC

DeVante's character represents how people living in less privileged systems in terms of wealth, health or social status can leave the environments that could be unsafe for them through their own bravery or support of likeminded individuals/communities

Starr vs Hailey

2025-05-14 06:33:34 UTC

Throughout their friendship, Starr always listened to Hailey and let her dictate the relationship. Starr also let Hailey get away with microaggressions. It wasn't until when the book was set that Starr realises that Hailey had been a bad friend to her and Maya. They get into a physical fight and in the end she chooses not to forgive Hailey

Helpfull quotes

2025-05-14 06:34:02 UTC

“What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be?”

“Brave doesn't mean you're not scared. It means you go on even though you're scared.”

“I can't change where I come from or what I've been through, so why should I be ashamed of what makes me, me?”

“Once upon a time there was a hazel-eyed boy with dimples. I called him Khalil. The world called him a thug.
He lived, but not nearly long enough, and for the rest of my life I'll remember how he died.
Fairy tale? No. But I'm not giving up on a better ending.”

Misuse of Power

2025-05-14 06:35:33 UTC

When the copper 115 decides to pull Khalil out of his car without probable cause. This shows the officer abusing his power because he believes he is superior due to the role he plays in the community.

prejudice

2025-05-14 06:35:55 UTC

prejudice is a theme explored throughout the novel through racism, police brutality, and the use of stereotypes, violence and discrimination against Black American individuals in the novel. It also reflects back on real world issues, even with the conflict between 115 and khalil, two fictional characters helps to reflect a much bigger real world issue of prejudice that happens alot in the real world, specifically against black americans which is reflected in the novel.

the gun and the bullhorn

2025-05-14 06:40:11 UTC

the gun that kills khalil and starr's bullhorn symbolise two opposing forces, violence and voice. The can gun symbolise systemic oppression and the destructive power of silence and fear. it ends khalils life. In contrast, starr’s bullhorn becomes a tool of empowerment, showing resistance and the power of speaking out. Both items hold the power to cause change, one through destruction, the other through expression. Their parallel roles highlight a theme of the struggle between silence imposed by oppression and the liberating force of truth and protest.

"The bullhorn is as heavy as a gun. Ironic since Ms. Ofrah said to use my weapon."-chapter 24

starr and officer 115 both used their weapons. starr called for justice and change, 115 killed a young defenceless boy.

Code switching/Identity

2025-05-14 06:40:34 UTC

Starr switches back and forth between her identity in Garden Heights and her "Williamson Starr" personality at her mostly white school. This symbolises the pressure many students and people from minorities or people who don't "fit in" , have to present different versions of themselves or change their interests and behaviors in different environments. Starr's struggle to balance these two lives and starts to slip when people start finding out that starr lives near khalil and she may even know him.

Khalil quote

2025-05-14 06:42:11 UTC

"The hate you give little infants F*cks everyone"-pg.17

This is an apt description of the novel, people that are hated by birth for factors outside their own control lead to them growing to be violent and hateful, which then leads full circle, for them to break out this cycle someone who was hurt must take the initiative to not hurt anyone else

2025-05-14 06:43:19 UTC

"Starr just pretend the ball is a piece of fried chicken"-hailey

This outlines the racism starr faces at williamson and the bullying driven by hailey. This is because hailey frequently stereotypes and judges hailey for what she beleives in which tells us that hailey isnt a very open minded or good person because she has her opinions and beleifs set in stone and isnt changing them.

Drugs

2025-05-14 06:44:46 UTC

The drugs in The Hate U give is represented as a way to survive and it contrasts with the public view that Drugs represent gangs and violence, this representation made by the media is an attempt to justify Khalil's death and masks the truth that Khalil sold drugs for a good cause and that he had no other choice.

Racism

2025-05-14 06:45:22 UTC

Racism is the biggest recurring theme throughout the novel. From the very beginning of the novel we see Khalil getting shot three times by 115 for simply inching over to check on Starr, which also just so happens to be the event that shaped the entire plot. However, there are many more instances of racism. For example, Hailey, Starr's old backstabbing best friend consistently making racist remarks, hated when black people spoke out about mistreatment they were experiencing, stereotyped black people. Others include during the protest when the police officers shouted for them to leave, and many more. Starr also feels unable to be herself, use slang, even speak loudly due to how people outside Garden Heights view black people.

Quote for Starr's internal conflict

2025-05-14 06:48:07 UTC

Starr said, "Slang makes them cool. Slang makes her “hood.” Williamson Starr holds her tongue when people piss her off so nobody will think she's the “angry black girl.”... Basically, Williamson Starr doesn't give anyone a reason to call her ghetto."

page 35 on PDF

Starr is scared of what others think/will think of her. She is scared of others seeing her as an "angry black girl" a stereotype that she has let define what she does.

Carlos Vs Police and Starr Vs williamson

2025-05-14 06:48:28 UTC

Carlos throughout the novel is constantly stuck in a conflict between his family and his co-workers. This is a similar style of conflict to Starr's conflict, while Starr is stuck between her family life and her school life, Carlos is stuck between his family life and his worklife, and like Starr he eventually chooses the side he believes to be right, and goes against his co-workers

DeVante vs King

2025-05-14 06:50:31 UTC

These two characters are made to symbolise people who have both been born into an underprivileged environment, both facing societal pressures to act in a certain way. The two of them share this similarity however they are contrasts of each other in terms of how they want to identify in the world. This leads to their conflict, which is also an example of unbalanced power dynamics that exist and oppress each other further within marginalised communities.

King

2025-05-14 06:50:56 UTC

Question for the class!

If Angie Thomas wrote this story to build empathy for people (mostly Black Americans) who are unfairly targeted by police and feel like they have no choice but to sell drugs for money...

...why include King?

If she's aiming to challenge stereotypes and assumptions, what role does this character play in her argument?

King and his ties to THUG

2025-05-14 06:52:29 UTC

King is a character who has had his life decided for him from birth. While he appears one of the most manipulative and evil people in the novel, we hear about how his name was based off the gang his parents were a part of, and Starr says he was born to be a prolific leader of the gang. This ties back to the quintessential quote said by Khalil "The hate you give infants f**ks everyone". He was born a victim to a family that lead him down a life of crime and that is why he ends up the way he is.

Essay tip:

2025-05-14 06:55:47 UTC

If your ideas are similar to the following, go back and unpack them in more detail (elaborate and explain):

"Racism is bad."

"Speaking out is good."

"Knowing your identity is good."

"Police brutality is bad."

Angie Thomas has some complex thoughts about these complex themes - make sure you reflect that in your essays! :)

In this section...

cblettne — 2025-05-14 10:58:58 UTC

Write your draft thesis statement on a practice question. Remember to outline your three main arguments. Here's mine!

In The Hate U Give, Starr’s character explores the impacts of racism and the importance of activism through her internal conflict with her dual identity, her conflict with police and community pressure, and her conflict between silence and voice.

You can use this structure:

In Novel Title, _______________________ represents/explores/shapes __________________________ through __________________________, _________________________________, and ________________________________.