Starr's world
This is the predominantly Black, lower-income neighborhood where Starr lives.
What is Garden Heights?
The first name of the main character and narrator of the story.
Who is Starr?
The name of Starr's childhood best friend who is killed by a police officer.
Who is Khalil?
Starr's white boyfriend from Williamson Prep.
Who is Chris?
The setting where Khalil and Starr are together before they are stopped by the police.
What is a house party?
This is the affluent, predominantly white private school that Starr attends.
What is Williamson Prep?
The name of the father, who spent time in prison before turning his life around.
Who is Maverick (or Big Mav)?
The item the police officer mistakenly believes is a gun, leading to Khalil's death.
What is a hairbrush?
This is Starr's other best friend from Garden Heights, who is also Seven's sister.
Who is Kenya?
The name of the organization that helps Starr's family and encourages her to speak out.
What is the Just Us for Justice? (or Just Us for Justice organization)
Starr's parents sent her to this type of school to give her a "better chance," though she often feels like two different people there.
What is a private school?
Starr's half-brother, who has a job and lives with their grandmother.
Who is Seven?
The police officer who shoots and kills Khalil.
Who is Officer One-Fifteen (or Brian Cruise)?
Starr's two best friends at Williamson Prep are Hailey and this person, who is Asian-American.
Who is Maya?
Starr throws one of these at the police during the riots, representing her choice to speak up.
What is a can of tear gas?
The name of the fried chicken and fish restaurant owned by Maverick (Big Mav).
What is Big D's? (or Big D's Grill)
Starr's younger brother.
Who is Sekani?
This is the phrase the book is named after, which is explained by Tupac Shakur's tattoo.
What is T.H.U.G.? (or "The Hate U Give")
This girl from Williamson Prep unfollows Starr online and later makes a racist comment about Khalil.
Who is Hailey?
After a gang-related incident, the Carter family strongly considers doing this to keep Starr and her brothers safe.
What is move (out of Garden Heights)?
The important room in their house where Starr, Sekani, and Seven often hang out.
What is the den?
This is the job that Starr's mother, Lisa, has.
What is a nurse?
This is what Khalil told Starr they were supposed to be the night of the shooting, which is why he was driving.
What is Romeo and Juliet?
This is the powerful leader of the King Lords gang in Garden Heights, who is also Kenya and Seven's father.
Who is King?
This girl was shot and killed by a drive-by shooter when Starr was ten, which is why she knows how to handle being questioned.
Who is Natasha?