The Hate U Give

[AICM]

My sister's daughter is reading this st school.

It's good to see a book my a non dead, non white non male being used but the language is awful and the message is political.

Some parents have complained to the school.

YABU - It's suitable year 9

YANBU - It's not suitable for year 9

I have read it and it did give me good reason to think and to question.

For the record it has replaced Of Mice and Men. I do believe Of Mice and Men is a better piece of literature but The Hate U Give is more relevant to today albeit today's America.

You don’t think it’s political to complain about books written by ‘dead white men’ being on the syllabus?

Steinbeck falls into all three categories, by the way.

I'm not sure the author would like that description. I don't like being called a non-male

At 14, that can handle language. And politics. I mean OMAM isn't apolitical is it? 1984? Animal Farm? Half of Shakespeare? Dickens? It's all social commentary.

It’s a great book written by a black woman.

My DS has read it 3 times now by choice. I’m pleased to hear it’s on the curriculum.

Thanks for the responses and perspective.

I used the phrase non...non... non as that was used in a newspaper article a read a few months ago highlighting the issue of the texts being used in schools. Sorry if the has upset.

I really liked it, I think it's a great book, I would be content for my DD to read it at school.

We recently watched the film, and although I’ve not read the book, I wouldn’t object to this being on a year 9 syllabus. We read ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ at that sort of age and that addresses racism, rape and trauma in America. I’d still want to see the classics being studied but wouldn’t object to a comparative contemporary book.

This is going to become a bigger and bigger problem because a lot of people are quite happy with the status quo. There is now an un-ironic school of thought that posits white, heterosexual males are now discriminated against.

I would’ve thought teens would love this book.

Thank you for your replies.

Very helpful to me and my sister.

Loved the book, loved the film. Think that it's actually a really good thing that kids are reading it! Important message etc

Also don't know why 'political' is after 'but'. I don't think I read a single book in school that was completely apolitical.

I think it’s a great book and I would have loved to have read something actually aimed at my age group at that age.

It's an excellent book, the film is a 12A. Your privilege is showing

I'm not sure how anyone could argue about THUG containing swear words when the N word is used throughout Of Mice & Men. As with all proper study of literature, offensive language can be handled sensitively, teaching about the context and social history of language.

Not sure I agree about privilege but I asked for opinions and will value and listen to all and think.

Thanks again.

@AICM

Not sure I agree about privilege but I asked for opinions and will value and listen to all and think.

Thanks again.

No one every does

** ever

I get what you're saying about privilege MrsT those that have it often deny it - that could be me.

But equally an accusation of privilege cannot be directly regarded as proof and a denial cannot be directly regarded as guilt.

I love Angie Thomas's books. My ds read The Hate U Give in Year 9 and loved it. It's appropriate, IME.

I'm teaching it at the moment. The class are really enjoying it. Even reluctant readers are gripped. Anyone shocked by the language should walk down a crowded school corridor. Then they would be shocked by language. I teach in a lovely state school.

I still really enjoy teaching "Of Mice and Men" but I have been teaching for a long time and love the experience of teaching a text for the first time. Steinbeck's exploration of racism, sexism and ageism is fairly political too.

There's been no complaints about my choice. The easy option for me would be "Of Mice and Men" I have scores of tried and tested resources to dip into. Even when I was a rookie there was stacks of teaching resources available. It's a novella so can be read relatively quickly so if a pupil has Covid/ is out awaiting a PCR they can catch up on the reading quite quickly.

DD read it in year 7 and was gripped. She has severe dyslexia and normally hates reading. I am not at all keen on Of Mice and Men, there is almost no analysis of the misogyny at KS3 and it's disturbing. I much prefer the new texts.

Thank you again for your replies.

Good to hear from a teacher Lid. Could I ask whether you think it is as good a piece of literature as OMAM and whether reluctant readers find the length off-putting?

Thanks

I loved the book. The film was quite flawed as the story was altered so much to fit a wider audience.

I think it's age appropriate tbh.

Reluctant readers haven't found the length off putting as the plot is fast moving. I might find some of Steinbeck's imagery (opening paragraphs of OMAM) breathtaking but many 14 year olds don't.

It's a good piece of literature but that's not how I would measure its value as a teaching text. Neither do I see many merit in comparison of the two as my reasons for teaching one or the other wouldn't be comparable either. I am in Scotland so my decisions are based on the curriculum here. Enjoyment , enrichment and enjoyment concern me more than if I (or critics) feel a text is a good piece of literature.

Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson is also good if anyone is looking for a similar read. Heartbreaking but good.