Starr Carter is a 16 year old African American living in Garden Heights (the hood). She's met up with her old friend Khalil at a party and, when gunshots ring out, he gets Starr out of there and into his car to take home. Khalil and Starr have know each other since they were babies. Khalil is a good kid but there are rumors that he's been selling drugs. On the way home, Khalil is pulled over by the police for a broken taillight. If you've paid a bit of attention to the news, you know what happens. I was still upset when it happened. Due to "circumstances" (white prejudice), Khalil is shot in the back 3 times. He's unarmed, there are no weapons in the car, but a 16 year old kid is laying on the street dying from being shot repeatedly in the back by a cop. Starr has the gun turned on her as well, until the cop's backup arrives.
The journey from that night to the end, riots in Garden Heights, is Starr's story of how she has dealt and is dealing with seeing two of her best friends murdered. Natasha, her other friend, was killed in a driveby when she was 10. Now Khalil at 16 is murdered. My heart broke a thousand times over for Starr and for everyone in her neighborhood.
This is such a worthwhile read and, actually, so important to read and understand that what you read in the news or see on TV isn't the real story. People get into situations they can't get out of, but that doesn't make them bad or make them deserve to be murdered.
Starr is one of my literary heroes. She shines.
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