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Quick answer: If you loved The Hate U Give, read Angie Thomas's On the Come Up and Concrete Rose, then try All American Boys, Dear Martin, Long Way Down and Ghost Boys. All are powerful young adult novels about race, police violence and finding your voice.
Angie Thomas's debut follows Starr Carter, a teen who witnesses a police shooting of her unarmed friend and must decide whether to speak. It is honest, funny and moving. The books below share its themes of justice, family and community. All are for teens, and all are real, in-print books. Several deal with violence and loss.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| On the Come Up | Angie Thomas | Teen | more Angie Thomas |
| Concrete Rose | Angie Thomas | Teen | prequel |
| All American Boys | Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely | Teen | two viewpoints |
| Dear Martin | Nic Stone | Teen | letters and reflection |
| Long Way Down | Jason Reynolds | Teen | verse novels |
| Ghost Boys | Jewell Parker Rhodes | Teen | ghost story |
| Monster | Walter Dean Myers | Teen | YA classics |
| Piecing Me Together | Renée Watson | Teen | art and identity |
| Punching the Air | Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam | Teen | wrongful conviction |
| Tyler Johnson Was Here | Jay Coles | Teen | twin brothers |
| Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You | Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi | Teen | nonfiction for teens |
| Dear Justyce | Nic Stone | Teen | prison stories |
| Black Brother, Black Brother | Jewell Parker Rhodes | Middle grade and teen | younger readers |
| Children of Blood and Bone | Tomi Adeyemi | Teen | fantasy readers |
| Between the World and Me | Ta-Nehisi Coates | Teen and adult | older teens |
1. On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
A teen rapper in Garden Heights fights to be heard while her family struggles. Thomas's second novel, loud and warm.
Best for: more Angie Thomas.
2. Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
A prequel that follows Starr's father Maverick as a teen facing fatherhood. Tender and gritty.
Best for: prequel.
3. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
Two teens, one Black and one white, deal with the aftermath of a police beating at their school. Told in alternating voices.
Best for: two viewpoints.
4. Dear Martin by Nic Stone
A Black teen at a mostly white prep school writes letters to Martin Luther King Jr. after a police incident. Short and sharp.
Best for: letters and reflection.
5. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
A boy rides an elevator down seven floors on his way to avenge his brother's death. A novel in verse that is quick and gripping.
Best for: verse novels.
6. Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
A Black boy is shot by a police officer and watches as a ghost. Gentle but heartbreaking.
Best for: ghost story.
7. Monster by Walter Dean Myers
A teen on trial for murder tells his story as a film script. A classic of YA about justice.
Best for: YA classics.
8. Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson
A Black girl on a scholarship in a mostly white school finds her voice through art. Quiet and strong.
Best for: art and identity.
9. Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
A teen wrongly convicted tells his story in verse, co-written by an exonerated member of the Central Park Five. Powerful and poetic.
Best for: wrongful conviction.
10. Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles
A teen searches for his twin brother after a police shooting. Honest and raw.
Best for: twin brothers.
11. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
A teen-friendly history of racist ideas in America. Clear and fast.
Best for: nonfiction for teens.
12. Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
A teen in juvenile detention writes to his old friend Justyce. A companion to Dear Martin.
Best for: prison stories.
13. Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes
A boy with lighter skin than his brother faces racism at a prep school. Short and honest.
Best for: younger readers.
14. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
A fantasy about a girl fighting to bring magic back to a land where it has been destroyed. Inspired by West African myth.
Best for: fantasy readers.
15. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
A letter to the author's son about being Black in America. Lyrical and urgent.
Best for: older teens.
How to Choose
For more Thomas, begin with On the Come Up. For similar novels, All American Boys and Dear Martin. For short verse, Long Way Down. For history, Stamped. These books are heavy, so read them with time to talk and think. Books like these are good for discussion in classrooms, families and book clubs. Read a chapter, then talk about what Starr or her friends could do differently. Libraries often provide free discussion guides, and Thomas has shared resources on her website.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Hate U Give about?
Sixteen-year-old Starr sees her friend Khalil shot by a police officer and must choose whether to speak out.
What does THUG LIFE mean in the book?
It stands for The Hate U Give Little Infants F***s Everybody, a phrase Tupac used to describe how society's treatment of children harms everyone.
What age is it for?
It is written for ages 14 and up and includes strong language.
Is it a true story?
It is fiction, inspired by cases such as the death of Oscar Grant.
Is there a movie?
Yes. A 2018 film starred Amandla Stenberg.
Is The Hate U Give appropriate for school?
Many schools teach it in high school, though it has been challenged in some districts for language and content.
Who is Angie Thomas?
An American author from Jackson, Mississippi, whose debut became a number one bestseller.