Hate U Give, The

Sixteen year-old Starr, the only black student at a privileged white private school, lives in a violent, poverty-filled neighbourhood, and battles to keep the two worlds apart. But when she is the only witness to the shooting of a friend, her two worlds clash and she struggles with her identity, her biracial relationship with Chris, systemic racism, and whether she should speak out. This novel for grades 10-12 deals with timely issues of police shootings of African Americans, racism, violence, poverty, and creating change in a community. The sensitive nature of the novel will need context and guidance from the teacher.