Thomas, Angie: *1988

The Hate U Give, 2017 - Chapter Summaries

The chapters are grouped into manageable sections.
Chapters 1–2: The party and Khalil’s death
Starr attends a party in Garden Heights with her friend Kenya, where she reconnects with her childhood friend Khalil. After gunshots cause the party to break up, Khalil drives Starr home, but a police officer pulls them over. The officer orders Khalil out of the car and searches him before returning to his patrol car. When Khalil opens his door to check on Starr, the officer shoots him several times. Starr is horrified as she watches Khalil die and realizes that she is the only witness to what happened.
Chapters 3–4: Grief, fear, and family tensions
Starr struggles with the trauma of witnessing Khalil’s death and remembers the earlier loss of her childhood friend Natasha, who was killed in a gang-related shooting. Her parents, Maverick and Lisa, try to support her while discussing whether she should cooperate with the police. Her uncle Carlos, who is a police officer, becomes involved in the disagreement about the shooting. Starr also visits Khalil’s grandmother, Ms. Rosalie, and learns more about Khalil’s difficult circumstances. Although she discovers that Khalil had been involved in drug dealing, Starr worries that the media will use this information to justify his death.
Chapters 5–6: Starr’s two worlds
Starr returns to Williamson Prep, the predominantly white private school she attends, where she feels pressured to behave differently from how she does in Garden Heights. She struggles with her friendships with Hailey and Maya and worries about her relationship with her white boyfriend, Chris. Starr eventually goes to the police station with her mother to give a statement about Khalil’s death. During the questioning, she becomes increasingly uncomfortable as the detectives focus on Khalil’s possible drug dealing rather than the officer’s actions. Starr begins to suspect that the investigation will not treat Khalil fairly.
Chapters 7–8: The funeral and the first signs of protest
At school, Hailey makes a racist joke that upsets Starr, who is already struggling with grief and guilt. Starr is afraid to tell her classmates that she knew Khalil because she worries about how they will judge him and her. At Khalil’s funeral, Starr is overwhelmed by sadness and remembers their shared childhood. Attorney April Ofrah announces that the police have not arrested the officer responsible and encourages the community to protest. The funeral also reveals the influence of King, the leader of the King Lords gang, over parts of Garden Heights.
Chapter 9: Protests and difficult conversations
News spreads that the police will not arrest the officer who killed Khalil, leading to anger and protests in Garden Heights. Starr blames herself for remaining silent and worries that she is failing Khalil. She spends time with her brother Seven and encounters DeVante, a young member of the King Lords who helps them when they are threatened. Later, Starr struggles to explain her feelings to Chris because she believes he cannot fully understand what it means to experience racism as a Black person.
Chapters 10–11: Finding the courage to speak
Starr discusses Tupac Shakur’s idea of Thug Life with Maverick and begins to understand how poverty, racism, and inequality contribute to problems in communities like Garden Heights. She realizes that remaining silent will not help Khalil or prevent similar tragedies. Meanwhile, tensions rise in the neighborhood as residents express their anger to the media. When Maverick confronts Mr. Lewis, a local resident who speaks publicly about the situation, police officers intervene and force Maverick to the ground. Starr witnesses how quickly Black people can be treated as threats, even when they are not committing a crime.
Chapters 12–13: Starr begins to tell Khalil’s story
Starr creates a blog post called The Khalil I Know to show the public that Khalil was more than the negative image presented in the media. The post receives widespread attention, and Starr begins to recognize the power of her voice. She agrees to speak with the district attorney about the shooting. At the same time, her family faces difficult decisions about their future, including whether to leave Garden Heights for greater safety. Starr also continues to struggle with the tension between her relationship with Chris and her family’s expectations.
Chapters 14–15: Pressure and personal conflict
Starr watches an interview in which the police officer’s father portrays his son as a victim, increasing her anger about how Khalil is being represented. She becomes more aware of the racism surrounding her and confronts her own doubts about her friendships. Meanwhile, King threatens Maverick because Starr is preparing to testify, fearing that the investigation could expose the gang’s activities. Starr also reveals her relationship with Chris to Maverick, who struggles to accept it. The pressure surrounding the testimony forces Starr to confront her fears and decide whether she will continue seeking justice.
Chapters 16–17: Speaking to the world
Starr gives a television interview about Khalil’s death and describes him as a real person rather than the criminal portrayed by the media. She explains the circumstances of the shooting and challenges the assumptions used to justify police violence. Her interview attracts widespread attention. At prom, Starr and Chris argue because he is hurt that she concealed her connection to Khalil. Starr finally explains her childhood, her fear, and the trauma she has experienced. Chris begins to understand her situation, and the two become closer as Starr learns to be more open about her life.
Chapters 18–19: Family, safety, and uncertainty
Starr’s parents take the family to see a house in a different neighborhood because they are worried about their safety in Garden Heights. However, Starr remains emotionally connected to her home and community. Tensions continue to rise as the family waits for the grand jury to decide whether the officer who killed Khalil will face charges. Starr prepares for her testimony while reflecting on the risks of speaking publicly. Her family’s disagreements about moving reveal the difficult balance between protecting loved ones and remaining loyal to the community.
Chapters 20–21: Friendship, anger, and belonging
After Starr gives her testimony to the grand jury, she continues to struggle with the waiting and uncertainty. At school, Hailey confronts her about Khalil, dismissing his death because of his involvement in drug dealing. Starr finally stands up for Khalil and refuses to accept Hailey’s racist assumptions, resulting in a physical fight. Later, Starr attends a family barbecue at Uncle Carlos’s house, where she sees how the people from her different worlds can get along. However, King’s threats and the family’s concerns about Garden Heights continue to cast a shadow over their lives.
Chapters 22–23: The grand jury’s decision
Tensions in Garden Heights intensify as the community waits for the grand jury’s decision. Starr and her family discover that DeVante has been badly beaten by King, highlighting the danger faced by those who try to leave gang life. When the grand jury decides not to indict the officer who killed Khalil, anger spreads throughout the community. Protests erupt, and police respond with force. Starr witnesses the growing violence and realizes that the decision has deepened the community’s sense of injustice.
Chapters 24–25: Protest, danger, and resistance
Starr joins the protests and speaks directly to the crowd, declaring that Khalil deserves to be remembered for his life rather than reduced to the circumstances of his death. As the demonstrations grow more dangerous, Starr and her friends face tear gas, police violence, and the threat of further destruction. King sets fire to the Carter family’s store, putting the family and the community at risk. The community comes together to confront the crisis, and King is eventually arrested. Starr realizes that her voice can help others challenge injustice, even when the outcome is uncertain.
Chapter 26: Hope for the future
In the final chapter, Starr reflects on Khalil’s death, the protests, and the changes she has experienced. Although the grand jury’s decision has denied Khalil the justice she hoped for, Starr refuses to give up. She recognizes that her identity as a Black girl from Garden Heights is something to value rather than hide. Starr also commits herself to continuing the fight against injustice and preserving Khalil’s memory. The novel ends with a sense of hope, emphasizing that change begins when people refuse to remain silent.