Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Hate U Give. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: The grand jury decides not to indict the police officer who shot Khalil, and Garden Heights erupts in protest. Starr decides to keep speaking out and vows never to be quiet.
Quick facts
– Book: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
– First published: 2017
– Type: A young adult novel
– Tone of the ending: Angry and hopeful
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Starr sees her childhood friend Khalil shot by a police officer. She struggles between two worlds and fears speaking up. She testifies anonymously before a grand jury.
What Happens at the End of The Hate U Give
After the grand jury declines to charge the officer, Starr is angry and speaks at a protest. Her father's store is set on fire, and the family decides to stay in Garden Heights. Starr tells the story on a news show and chooses to speak out.
The Ending in Five Quick Points
- After the grand jury declines to charge the officer, Starr is angry and speaks at a protest.
- Her father's store is set on fire, and the family decides to stay in Garden Heights.
- Starr tells the story on a news show and chooses to speak out.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Starr Carter | Decides to keep using her voice |
| Khalil | Killed by police |
| Maverick Carter | Stays and runs his store |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows the cost of justice not being served. It also reflects a hope that voices like Starr's can change communities.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Some readers feel the ending is bleak, while others read it as empowering. Starr's final words stress the need for action.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Speaking up. The final pages are where this idea lands hardest, and rereading the last chapters with speaking up in mind changes how the ending reads.
Police violence. Angie Thomas uses the closing events to show what police violence costs or achieves, rather than simply stating it.
Identity. The ending gives identity a final shape, which is why readers often point to it when they explain what the book is really about.
Community. Even in the last scenes, community keeps shaping the choices the characters make.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The Hate U Give as Angry and hopeful. That reaction usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Angie Thomas to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 2018 film follows the ending and highlights the protest scenes.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The Hate U Give with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about speaking up, and do you agree with Angie Thomas's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- After finishing, would you describe the book as angry and hopeful, or would you choose a different word?
Discussion Prompts by Theme
- Speaking up: Which moment in the last chapters made speaking up feel most real to you, and did it change how you saw earlier scenes?
- Police violence: How does Angie Thomas use the closing events to say something about police violence, and do you agree with that view?
- Identity: If you could ask a character about identity at the very end, who would you ask, and what would you say?
- Community: Does the ending leave community resolved, or is it something that stays unsettled after the last page?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces speaking up and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Angie Thomas leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in The Hate U Give often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The Hate U Give earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
- Would you recommend The Hate U Give to a friend who dislikes spoilers, or to one who loves a discussion?
Check price of The Hate U Give on Amazon
Books to Read After The Hate U Give
- Dear Martin by Nic Stone
- Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Related: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like The Hate U Give You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The Hate U Give?
The grand jury decides not to indict the police officer who shot Khalil, and Garden Heights erupts in protest. Starr decides to keep speaking out and vows never to be quiet.
Is the ending of The Hate U Give happy or sad?
Most readers call it Angry and hopeful.
What does the ending of The Hate U Give mean?
The ending shows the cost of justice not being served.
Is the ending of The Hate U Give the same in the adaptation?
The 2018 film follows the ending and highlights the protest scenes.
Who should read The Hate U Give before reading the ending explained?
Anyone who plans to read the book, because this post gives away the whole ending.