If You Liked The Hate U Give...

I work in a middle school that with a predominantly African American population and right now The Hate U Give is a big deal at school.  Of course the reason kids  are asking for the book in the library is because they have seen the movie trailer or already been to the movie. I'm not picky about what gets them into the library and wanting to read, I'm just glad they want to pick up a book. 

However, even though I've purchased a few copies of The Hate U Give, I can't keep up with the demand. Some libraries might order a few more copies. Some might have a hold list a mile long.  Both of those options work, but I'm also offering a third option and providing a list of books that complement The Hate U Give and could be recommended to students.

And since so many great books with that same theme were published last year, this really isn't all that hard to do.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone - Justyce looks to the teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr., as he tries to navigate life.  He's a black teenager with a white girlfriend, going to a school that is mostly white. Justyce has to deal with things like racist jokes, racial profiling, affirmative action, and being seen for the color of his skin.  This is an important book that unfortunately presents a picture of what many of our black males have to deal with.

After the Shot Drops by Randy Ribay - Bunny gets a scholarship to play basketball at a white prep school, leaving his buddies and his neighborhood behind.  Nasir feels betrayed by Bunny's decision, but his cousin, Wallace, has been evicted and needs his help.  Bunny is confronted with a horrible- and dangerous - decision, that will impact everyone around them.  You'll be rooting for all of these boys- even Wallace - in this sports book that is about so much more than winning and losing a basketball game.

Trell by Dick Lehr - Trell's father has been in prison for as long as she can remember.  Despite the fact that he was convicted of murdering an innocent teenage girl who was sitting on her front steps, Trell and her mother have never doubted his innocence. Now Trell is old enough to start asking questions and doing some research on her own so that her dad can one day walk free.  Lehr's novel is based on a true story which makes it that much more compelling, and was hard to put down.  

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes - the reading level of this novel is lower (fourth through sixth grades) but the content is definitely discussion worthy and not for young readers. Jerome, a black twelve year old  is killed by a white cop who believed he had a gun. Jerome narrates this story as he watches his family grieve and meets up with other ghost boys who have also been killed.  He also talks with the daughter of the policeman who shot him and realizes that many people are affected by his death. This is an important and timely story that all students should read.

Just Mercy: A True Story of The Fight For Justice by Bryan Stevenson - this non-fiction book adapted for young readers provides an interesting look at the criminal justice system and the ways it is broken. Stevenson, an attorney, has spent his life working to help people who are wrongly convicted get out of prison. The stories he tells are heartbreaking and a sad reality we must all work to correct.  

Readers won't be disappointed with any of these books which are all powerful and eye-opening.