Top 12 Books Like The Hate U Give Updated 04 /2024

The Hate U Give has been a New York Times Best Seller since its release in 2017. The novel is destined to be a classic because of the novel's impactful and personal approach to social justice issues. Angie Thomas' debut novel depicts a realistic and shocking account of anti-Black racism and police brutality, told from the point of view of a Black teen girl whose friend is killed by a police officer. It is imperative that young people read these books to gain a better understanding of systemic racism and the challenges that African-Americans face in today's society.

Notably, there are trigger warnings on many of these books for things like racism, police brutality, and other kinds of assault and abuse.

1. This is My America, by Kim Johnson

Tracy Beaumont has been writing letters to the Innocence X organization for seven years in an attempt to free her father, who is serving a life sentence for a crime he didn't commit. However, the clock is ticking on her. Accusations that her older brother, Jamal, killed a white girl tarnished his reputation as a promising track star. Tracy vows to uncover the truth and clear her brother's name in a town that treats her family with fear and scorn. This Is My America is a gripping novel that examines the American justice system, intergenerational trauma, and mass incarceration in a way that will keep you turning pages.

2. Dear Martin, by Nic Stone

But the police officer who accosts Justyce McAllister one night doesn't seem to care about his academic achievements. His journal contains letters he writes to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. seeking advice and encouragement as a way to deal with the trauma he has experienced and the subsequent judgment of his peers. An off-duty cop confronts him and his friend while they're out driving, leading to a violent altercation. Even as Justyce struggles to come to terms with what happened, the media portrays him as the villain. Toxic masculinity, racism, and racial profiling are just some of the topics addressed in Stone's Dear Martin.

3. Tyler Johnson Was Here, by Jay Coles

To keep his brother out of trouble, Marvin Johnson reluctantly accepts Tyler's invitation to a party and joins him. A gang shooting and subsequent police raid bring the party to a screeching halt. The following day, Marvin is shocked to learn that Tyler had been fatally shot by a police officer. Tyler Johnson Was Here tells the story of Marvin, a young African-American boy who is forced to confront his fears and seek justice while coping with the grief of losing his brother.

4. Grown, by Tiffany D. Jackson

At seventeen, Enchanted Jones has no recollection of the night before, and R&B star Korey Fields is lying dead in a pool of his own blood. She knows only two things: Enchanted is an aspiring singer and the only African-American student at her new school before she becomes the prime suspect. Her life takes an unexpected turn for the worse when Korey Fields, an aspiring singer he spotted at an audition, offers her lessons and a chance to join his tour. Tiffany D. Jackson's latest novel, Grown, is a breathtaking and thrilling read that should be on your bookshelf.

5. All American Boys, by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

Only the fact that Rashad is an African-American boy in baggy clothing who dropped some chips at the convenience store is enough to warrant a police officer's brutality. Currently, he's recuperating in the hospital and not attending school as he muses over the unfairness of his ordeal. Because he knows the officer and believes he was misled, Quinn, a white boy who witnessed the abuse, keeps his account to himself. In order to stay on the right side of history, Quinn realizes he can't be a bystander and decides to take a stand. An African-American boy and a white boy's journey to find their place in a racist society are explored in All American Boys.

6. Slay, by Brittney Morris

Kiera Johnson, an honours student, is one of the school's few African-American students. Only place where she feels at home is an online, Black-centric role-playing card game called SLAY. An anonymous troll has threatened to sue Kiera for excluding white people from the game when someone is killed in a dispute over the game. Kiera learns to embrace her identity even when others try to vilify it while she tries to keep her game and herself out of the public eye. This STEM-focused book also tackles issues of toxic masculinity and intersectional feminism. It is called Slay.

7. Punching the Air, by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam

Using verse to tell Amal Shahid's story, Punching the Air explores the injustices of a criminal justice system that is biased against him. While enrolled in art school, Amal, a poet and artist, is still subjected to racist stereotypes. One of Amal's friends is left in a coma after an altercation with a group of racist boys. Unlike the white boys, Amal is punished for a crime he didn't commit and is sent to prison. As a means of protest and self-definition, he turns to his art, hoping that the words he writes will have the ability to effect change.

8. The Black Kids, by Christina Hammonds Reed

Ashley Bennett and her senior classmates are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the long, lazy days of summer. Protests erupt in Los Angeles after four police officers are acquitted of beating a black man with excessive force. Ashley is uncomfortable with the attention she receives because of her race, so she tries to make it seem like nothing has happened. In the midst of the riots, her sister gets involved, her family's affluent social status is threatened, and Ashley unintentionally spreads an untruth about an African-American classmate that could have a devastating effect on him. Before things come to a crashing halt, Ashley must make a decision about where she belongs. The Black Kids, a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the 1992 Rodney King riots, explores the protagonist's personal development as much as it makes a social commentary.

 

9. I’m Not Dying with You Tonight, by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal

Although Lena and Campbell are both students at the same school, they don't share any interests or bonds with one another. The popular Lena wants to conquer the world with her boyfriend by her side, while Campbell just moved to the area and wants to get through high school unscathed. When they both attend a football game where a fight escalates into neighborhood riots, they have to rely on each other to get home safely. ' As well as exploring a budding friendship between two girls of different races, I'm Not Dying with You Tonight also touches on the issue of racial tension in their neighborhood.

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