Wow. Stepping into Starr Carter's shoes was such an intense experience. Angie Thomas has written an incredibly important novel for young and old alike. The more we can walk in others' shoes, the more empathetic we can become, and the greater our understanding of the world around us. Thomas used raw prose to reveal a life very few middle to upper class people are aware of, or even care to recognize. This harsh existence is a reality for a large portion of the American population, and she succeeded remarkably, in showing the real struggle people face within the confines of institutionalized oppression.
The language was intense, and I must admit that I struggle with the younger population reading it for that reason. However, it also accurately reflects Starr's everyday interface. Because of the importance of the message, along with the responsibility we have to enlighten the next generation, I'm less reluctant to allow my children 16 and over to read it.
Ms. Thomas took this responsibility very seriously, and she certainly hit this debut out of the park. I commiserated with Starr's helplessness, Maverick's burden to care for his family while maintaining his commitment to his people, and Lisa's concern for her children. I felt the powerlessness that the drug lords inflict on those in the community, and the entire cycle just breaks my heart. Most importantly, this stellar author was able to show both points of view in the highly charged police brutality controversy. Although I felt greater empathy for Starr and Khalil, she did not ignore the point of view of the police officers in her story, and never showed disrespect for the profession.
Bravo, Ms. Thomas, for shedding light on the reality of the THUG LIFE in such an evocative manner.
Read 1/31/19
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