“Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.
But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.” – From Thomas’ website.
This book is perfect. It is so heartfelt and relevant. The characters are flawed and real and raw. The story is emotional, heartbreaking, and tangible. I am so glad that this book exists to call attention to all of the racism that is so easily ignored. We are so desensitized to it all and we cannot allow ourselves to be that way.
Starr’s inner battle becomes an external movement and it shakes up a community. We, as a human race, need to let it shake up our communities as well. We are still in a position where situations like Khalil are happening daily. The injustice is intolerable, and I am so glad Thomas is writing about it, bringing attention back to it, and not letting it become the norm.
The entire message of the book is so beautiful, full of love and acceptance and family and forgiveness. I cried I don’t even know how much over how simply beautiful this book was and how helpless the very real life situations feel. But what you learn from Starr is that it’s not helpless; we can always stand up, use our voices, and make a difference.
Jah Will Provide 