I'm honored to be a part of Secondary Sara's English Teacher's Instagram Book Hop and to recommend Angie Thomas's book The Hate U Give.
When I first read The Hate U Give in February, I knew it was one that I would immediately recommend to my students. First of all, I couldn't put the book down unless I was grabbing for a tissue (you'll need them nearby for those gripping, gut-wrenching moments). Thomas is brilliant in telling a great story and moving it along at a good pace.
Second, I truly empathized with the characters. If you are human, you are going to feel something while reading this book. And I really think what we all need right now is to be able to empathize with those who we may see as different in order to understand each other more.
Third, this book seriously sparks great discussions in class. There is so much misinformation about the Black Lives Matter movement and protests; Thomas's novel helps explain things in a way that those not familiar with it (or those who have been misinformed) can understand. It also tackles stereotypes from all angles.
I can see using this novel for a whole-class read or as a student-choice novel. It could also be a companion to a book like To Kill a Mockingbird. There are so many non-fiction pieces that could be read with it.
I could go on and on, but I'd love to hear your thoughts. Write in the comments what you think of The Hate U Give, how you are using it in your classroom, or ideas you may have for incorporating it into your curriculum.
For additional book recommendations for English teachers, check out the hashtag #englishteacherbookrecs on Instagram.
And don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY to win Barnes & Noble gift cards! You can enter here: http://www.secondarysara.com/2017/10/keeping-up-with-new-books-as-english.html#more