JEA selects ‘The Hate U Give’ as 2018-2019 One Book

As advisers, we teach our students to share their voices and that good journalism is active in nature. If something our students write evokes change or sparks conversation then they’ve succeeded. We’ve seen our students cover — and be at the center of — movements such as  #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo and #NeverAgain. And while nonfiction can be a powerful source of change, sometimes a novel comes along at the exact moment that it’s impossible to ignore.

JEA believes “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas is this book and has selected it as its 2018-2019 One Book.

In “The Hate U Give,” 16-year-old Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. Throughout the novel, Starr learns to use her voice to stand up for what’s right. Read as a political and social commentary on our times, “The Hate U Give” is the perfect companion text to the journalism produced in our own classrooms.

Instead of two selections an academic year, JEA has moved to a one book per year model, which will allow our members more time to read and engage. We hope members will read “The Hate U Give” and encourage their students to read it as well. JEA will host sessions on the book during the fall and spring NSPA/JEA national conventions in Chicago and Anaheim, respectively.

JEA has set up a Facebook Group as a way for members to interact with each other as they read “The Hate U Give.” To join, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/109542133071041/. In addition, make sure to follow @JEAOneBook on Twitter for more information.

The JEA Bookstore will offer members a special sale on the One Book: $13.50, plus shipping. Members should log in to the members-only area before ordering to get the discount code. Then go to the JEA Bookstore and insert the code at checkout.

You can follow Angie Thomas on Twitter or visit her website.