Plots and Events
At what type of event does Starr see Khalil for the first time in a long time at the beginning of the novel?
A House Party
What is the name of the Black neighbourhood where Starr and her family live?
Garden Heights
According to 2Pac’s phrase “T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E.,” what happens to everybody when society gives hate to children?
That hate against kids hurts everyone
When Starr says, “I can’t believe I’m the one who saw him die,” which event is she talking about?
Khalil’s shooting by the police
What number do people use instead of the officer’s name who shot Khalil?
One‑Fifteen
What is Khalil doing when Officer One‑Fifteen shoots him?
He is leaning into the car to ask Starr if she is okay.
What is the name of the mostly white private school Starr attends?
Williamson
Which major theme is shown when Starr feels like “Williamson Starr” at school and “Garden Heights Starr” at home?
Identity/double identity/code-switching
When Starr compares her life to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, what is she trying to explain about her identity?
She's living between two different worlds—her neighbourhood and her private school
Starr gives her testimony in front of which legal group responsible for deciding whether to press charges against the officer?
A grand jury
Where does Starr first give an official account of what happened after the shooting?
At the police station
For which gang leader is Khalil accused of selling?
King
What big social issue is at the center of the story, illustrated by Khalil’s death and the protests?
Police violence/racism/police brutality
When Starr thinks, “I always said that if I saw it happen… I would have the loudest voice. Now I am that person, and I’m too afraid to speak,” what internal conflict is she experiencing?
Her fear of speaking out as a witness versus her desire for justice
What do many TV reports and articles say about Khalil that makes Starr angry?
That he was a “suspected drug dealer” or gangbanger
With what kind of journalist (job/role) does Starr do a TV interview that makes her story national?
A national news anchor or reporter
What is the name of one gang mentioned in the novel (you only need one)?
The King Lords or the Garden Disciples
What does Starr’s father’s store symbolize for the community?
A place of community, survival, and resistance (a safe space)
When Starr says in the TV interview, “I didn’t know a dead person could be charged in his own murder,” what is she criticizing?
The way the media focuses on Khalil’s past instead of the cop’s actions/victim-blaming
What kind of public action do people in Garden Heights organize after Khalil’s death to demand justice?
Protests (and later a riot)
What does Starr publicly do during the final protest to show that she fully accepts her role as a witness?
She climbs on a car and shouts Khalil’s name / tell the crowd she is a witness
To what kind of neighbourhood is Starr’s family trying to move to (describe it)?
A safer, more middle‑class, suburban, mostly non‑Black neighbourhood
How does Starr realize at the end that her two identities aren’t enemies, and what does she do to bring them together as one?
Starr shows she accepts her two identities by being honest, speaking up, and acting the same way everywhere. She no longer hides parts of herself to fit in.
What are two concrete ways Starr uses her voice to “fight” in the story?
Speaking to the police/DA, giving the TV interview, and chanting/speaking at the protest or to the grand jury
Even though there is no criminal trial for the officer, what kind of “justice” or change does the book suggest is still possible?
Community organizing, speaking out, breaking silence, and changing the system over time