Some students may have read the novel in earlier grades if they were in the International Baccalaureate program at their school. The Hate U Give has been widely banned in schools in the United States due to its depictions of racism and anti-police views.

The Hate U Give has some scenes that could scare or disturb children aged over 13 years. For example: An African-American father tells his young children what to do to avoid being shot by police if the police stop them while they're driving. This scene is distressing and disturbing given the age of the children.

The Hate U Give is a 2018 American coming-of-age teen drama film produced and directed by George Tillman Jr. from a screenplay by Audrey Wells (who died the day before the film's release), based on the 2017 young adult novel of the same name by Angie Thomas.

Thomas has penned a powerful, in-your-face novel. Ultimately the book emphasizes the need to speak up about injustice. That's a message that will resonate with all young people concerned with fairness, and Starr's experience will speak to readers who know Starr's life like their own and provide perspective for others.