The Hate U Give

Starr Carter, a sixteen-year-old from Garden Heights who attends the mostly white Williamson Prep, goes to a party with her friend Kenya but feels out of place. There, she runs into her childhood best friend Khalil Harris, and they leave together after gunshots erupt at the party.

While driving Starr home, Khalil is pulled over by Officer Brian Cruise, a white police officer (referred to later as One-Fifteen), for a broken taillight. When Khalil reaches into the car to check on Starr, the officer shoots him three times, killing him in front of her.

The police handcuff a shocked Starr at the scene and leave Khalil's body in the street for hours while comforting Officer Cruise. Starr's parents, Maverick and Lisa, take her home, where she is overwhelmed by guilt, trauma, and memories of her friend Natasha, who was killed in a drive-by shooting years earlier.

Starr wakes from a nightmare about Khalil and Natasha, then overhears a heated argument between her parents and Uncle Carlos about race, police violence, and whether she should talk to detectives. Later, she visits Khalil's grieving grandmother, Ms. Rosalie, and learns Khalil was selling drugs but wanted to stop—leaving Starr heartbroken yet determined to honor his humanity.

On the day she's set to meet with detectives, Starr navigates her grief while pretending to be her "normal" self at school, where she feels increasingly distant from her friends Hailey and Maya, and conflicted about her boyfriend Chris. That evening, at her mom's clinic, she sees Khalil's drug-addicted mother in a broken state, and despite her anger, Starr begins to understand the complicated pain of loss.

Starr gives her official statement to detectives about the night Khalil was killed, enduring a tense and emotionally draining police interrogation that subtly tries to shift blame onto Khalil rather than focusing on the officer's actions. Despite her grief and fear, Starr remains resolute and truthful, supported by her mother, but leaves the station knowing the system may already be biased against her and Khalil.

Starr struggles with the emotional weight of Khalil's upcoming funeral, her identity, and the microaggressions from her white friends, especially Hailey, whose racist remark triggers a painful confrontation. Starr also grapples with her silence about witnessing Khalil's death and confides in her Uncle Carlos, expressing both her grief and anger over the injustice and the complicity of those around her.

Starr attends Khalil’s funeral, overwhelmed by grief and guilt, especially upon learning he may have been part of a gang. The service becomes a powerful, emotional mix of mourning and protest, with community members demanding justice while Starr grapples with her place in Khalil’s life and the growing pressure to speak out.

Starr and her family bunker down in fear as riots erupt in Garden Heights following the police’s decision not to arrest Khalil’s killer, intensifying Starr’s guilt for not saying more in her testimony. The next morning, she and Seven face threats from gang members while playing basketball, revealing the everyday dangers of their environment and underscoring the complexity of Starr’s double life.

After another night of unrest, Starr discusses systemic oppression with her father, understanding how injustice breeds cycles of violence and poverty in their community. Meanwhile, Maverick brings gang-affiliated DeVante into their home for protection, sparking tension between Starr’s parents about whether to stay in their neighborhood or move for the sake of their children’s safety.

On a Monday morning, Starr encounters a protest at Williamson Prep concerning Khalil's death, but she is dismayed to learn that many students, including Hailey, are participating primarily to skip class, which deeply offends her. Later, her father, Maverick, is publicly harassed and searched by police officers who seem to recognize him as the witness's parent, activating a deeper resolve in Starr to speak out

Due to a newly imposed curfew, tanks are seen patrolling Garden Heights, prompting Starr to create a Tumblr blog titled "The Khalil I Know" where she uploads personal photos and anecdotes to counteract negative media portrayals of Khalil. Starr and her parents meet with Ms. Ofrah, a lawyer who agrees to represent Starr pro bono and facilitate a television interview to share Khalil's true story before Starr is scheduled to meet with the District Attorney.

Mr. Lewis suffers a brutal attack from King Lords for publicly identifying King on live television, leading Daddy to bring DeVante to Uncle Carlos's house for safety after DeVante admits to stealing a significant amount of money from King. At Uncle Carlos's home, Starr introduces her white boyfriend, Chris, to her family, causing a heated argument with her father, and later learns from DeVante that Khalil was not a King Lord but sold drugs to repay his mother's debt to King.

Starr confronts Hailey and Maya about their participation in the protest and Hailey's past insensitive comments, leading Maya to disclose Hailey's frequent racist remarks, which causes a significant rift with Hailey but strengthens a "minority alliance" between Starr and Maya. Starr witnesses an interview with One-Fifteen's father, who portrays his son as a victim and makes false accusations against Starr and Khalil, solidifying Starr's determination to speak out publicly; a decision supported by Uncle Carlos, who reveals he physically assaulted One-Fifteen as a result of his actions.

Starr confides in her mother, revealing that Khalil sold drugs to help his mother pay off a debt to King and discussing her lingering feelings for him amidst her grief. Later, after a direct threat from King at their store regarding Starr's upcoming testimony, her father declares his intention to move the family out of Garden Heights for their safety.

Starr prepares for a national news interview and decides to reveal that Khalil sold drugs to help his mother pay off a debt to King. During the interview, she also reveals that Officer One-Fifteen pointed his gun at her after shooting Khalil, a detail she had not shared with her parents or Ms. Ofrah before

Starr's interview garners widespread attention, with both support and backlash. At prom, Chris confronts Starr about keeping her identity as the witness a secret, leading her to reveal personal details about her past, including the death of her friend Natasha and her family's struggles with poverty

Starr's parents take the family to see a house in Brook Falls, signaling their intention to move out of Garden Heights for the family's safety and well-being. Later that night, their house is shot at and a brick is thrown through the front window, which Daddy interprets as a threat connected to Starr's upcoming grand jury testimony.

On the day of her grand jury testimony, Starr is supported by her family and the Cedar Grove King Lords, who provide security after the incident at their home. Starr bravely testifies to the grand jury, recounting the detailed events of Khalil's shooting despite her nervousness and the intimidating setting.

Starr is suspended from Williamson after punching Hailey for making racist and insensitive remarks about Khalil's death, with Seven also suspended for defending Starr against Hailey's brother. Daddy convenes a meeting with leaders from rival gangs, the Cedar Grove King Lords and Garden Disciples, urging them to unite and prevent destructive riots if Officer One-Fifteen is not indicted.

At Seven's graduation/birthday party, a confrontation between Seven and his biological mother, Iesha, escalates as Seven expresses his shame and anger over her past actions and neglect. Starr and Kenya discuss their challenging family dynamics, and despite the tensions, the party resumes, highlighting moments of family unity and support.

Starr is at Chris's house grappling with the impending grand jury decision regarding Khalil's death and discussing their relationship, which highlights their stark differences in upbringing. Seven calls, expressing worry about DeVante, prompting Starr, Chris, and Seven to rush to Garden Heights where DeVante has been beaten by King's men, and they learn the grand jury decided not to indict Officer Brian Cruise Jr..

Following the non-indictment, Seven and Starr are enraged and contemplate rioting, with Chris ultimately joining them in protest. They drive to Magnolia, witnessing widespread chaos, including the burning of a police car and looting of businesses like McDonald's and drugstores, which makes Starr question the effectiveness of such destruction while they head to protect her father's store.

Their car runs out of gas in the riot-torn east side of Garden Heights, forcing them to abandon it and walk, during which they encounter Ms. Ofrah leading a "Just Us for Justice" protest where Starr, after "firing" Ms. Ofrah as her attorney, gives a powerful speech and throws tear gas back at the police. They escape in Goon's truck to Starr's family store, which is protected by "black owned" tags, only for it to be firebombed just as they prepare to call Starr's mother.

Their car runs out of gas in the riot-torn east side of Garden Heights, forcing them to abandon it and walk, during which they encounter Ms. Ofrah leading a "Just Us for Justice" protest where Starr, after "firing" Ms. Ofrah as her attorney, gives a powerful speech and throws tear gas back at the police. They escape in Goon's truck to Starr's family store, which is protected by "black owned" tags, only for it to be firebombed just as they prepare to call Starr's mother.

Their car runs out of gas in the riot-torn east side of Garden Heights, forcing them to abandon it and walk, during which they encounter Ms. Ofrah leading a "Just Us for Justice" protest where Starr, after "firing" Ms. Ofrah as her attorney, gives a powerful speech and throws tear gas back at the police. They escape in Goon's truck to Starr's family store, which is protected by "black owned" tags, only for it to be firebombed just as they prepare to call Starr's mother.