"The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give is a YA contemporary inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. A 16-year old Starr witnesses her friend Khalil being shot by a white police officer during a routine traffic stop. Khalil was unarmed and did not do anything threatening towards the officer. Now Starr is suddenly thrown into the spotlight as the only witness to the murder.

This is a very powerful and timely novel. It is also phenomenally well written. The characters are superbly developed and relatable. I listened to this book on audio and I highly recommend this format. The narrator was outstanding. She did a great job changing voices - there are a lot of dialogues in this book - and I never had any trouble following them. If you are considering picking up this book - and even if you are not - please read it. It is poignant, heartbreaking and powerful.

5 out of 5 stars. Hands down: the best book I've read this year so far.