Angie Thomas
Angie Thomas | |
|---|---|
 Thomas in 2019 | |
| Born | September 20, 1988 Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Language | English |
| Education | Belhaven University (BFA) |
| Genre | Young Adult Fiction, Middle Grade |
| Notable works | The Hate U Give (2017) On the Come Up (2019) |
| Website | |
| www | |
Angie Thomas (born September 20, 1988) is an American young adult author, best known for writing The Hate U Give (2017). Her second young adult novel, On the Come Up, was released on February 25, 2019.
Early life
[edit]Angie Thomas was born on September 20, 1988, in Jackson, Mississippi where she was raised.[1][2]
Thomas was subjected to multiple instances of gun violence at a young age. She grew up near the home of assassinated civil rights activist Medgar Evers, stating that her mother heard the gunshot that had killed him.[3] When she was six years old, Thomas witnessed a shootout.
In an interview with The Guardian, she recounted how her mother took her to the library the following day to show her that "there was more to the world than what [Thomas] saw that day". This inspired her to take up writing.[4]
In her adolescence, Thomas shared her skills as a rapper, although her career in music was short-lived. She was, however, the subject of an article in Right On! magazine.[5][6] Thomas went on to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts[7] from Belhaven University.[8] She was the first black teenager to graduate from her creative writing course.[8]
Career
[edit]Thomas' initial intention was to write fantasy and middle grade novels; however, she was worried that her stories would not matter. While querying her first manuscript, she began another that would soon turn out to be her first novel, The Hate U Give.[9] While she was a college student, one of her professors suggested that her experiences were unique and that her writing could give a voice to those who had been silenced and whose stories had not been told.[3] During this time, Thomas also heard about the shooting of Oscar Grant on the news.[4] This story, compounded by the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, and Sandra Bland, was a major influence on the novel.[4]
Thomas cites Tupac Shakur as inspiration for her writing. She has felt a wide range of emotions when listening to his music, and wanted to achieve a similar effect as a writer, saying, "I want to make you think at times; I want to make you laugh at times; I want to make you cry at times – so he was an influence in that way." Thomas understands that to mean, "that what society feeds into youth has a way of coming back and affecting us all."[10]
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Thomas stated that she aims to "show truth and tear down stereotypes" in her writing, and further says that it is important for the white community to listen to the grievances of the Black Lives Matter movement. After its publication, The Hate U Give was adapted into a 2018 film of the same name by Fox 2000, starring Amandla Stenberg.[8][5]
Activism
[edit]In an interview with Publishers Weekly, Thomas gives insight on her role as an activist: "I've always seen writing as a form of activism. If nothing else, books give us a glimpse into lives that we may not have known about before; they can promote empathy. There is the movement Black Lives Matter and the organization Black Lives Matter, and I respect what both are doing. I know [The Hate U Give] is an 'issue' book, but I didn't necessarily want it to be that way... I wanted to make something that is so political seem personal. While I wanted Khalil to represent these young men who lose their lives and are quickly labeled thugs, I wanted [the plot of the book] to be its own thing. I didn't want to disrespect anyone's family, anyone's memory."[11]
Novels
[edit]The Hate U Give (2017)
[edit]The Hate U Give, originally written as a short story, debuted at number one on the New York Times Best Seller list for young adult hardcover books within the first week of its release in 2017.[3] The Hate U Give was written, as Thomas says, to bring light to the controversial issue of police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement.[3] The book's plot follows a teenage girl, Starr Carter, and how her life is impacted by the death of her friend, Khalil, an unarmed black teen shot by a white police officer. The Hate U Give deals with the effect of police brutality on the communities of those around the victim.
In 2018, the Katy Independent School District in Katy, Texas, removed the book from its shelves after complaints over profanity,[12] and a South Carolina police union requested the book's removal from a school's summer reading list, because of what the union considered "almost an indoctrination of distrust of police."[13]
On the Come Up (2019)
[edit]On the Come Up was released in February 2019. Thomas wrote the book so she could discuss the costs tolled on minorities and women when they do speak-up.[14] The book tells the story of a teen rapper who becomes a viral sensation and the way that this distorts and changes who she is. It takes place in the same fictional universe as The Hate U Give.
On the Come Up was a New York Times bestseller.[15][16] Kirkus Reviews named it one of the best young adult novels of 2019.[15]
Concrete Rose (2021)
[edit]Concrete Rose is a prequel to The Hate U Give and was released on January 12, 2021, in the US and the UK. The book tells the story of Starr's father Maverick Carter.[17]
The book was a New York Times and IndieBound bestseller.[18] Kirkus Reviews named it one of the best young adult novels of 2021.[18]
Blackout (2021)
[edit]Thomas wrote a young adult novel Blackout, released in June 2021, which she co-authored with Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon. The book follows six interlinked stories about Black teen love during a power outage in New York City.[19]
Nic Blake and the Remarkables (2023)
[edit]She wrote the middle school novel, Nic Blake and the Remarkables.[20][21]
Selected awards and honors
[edit]In 2015, Thomas received We Need Diverse Books' Walter Grant,[22] which grants $2,000 to "unpublished authors or illustrators from diverse backgrounds working on children’s or young adult literature projects"[23]
The Junior Library Guild has selected the book and audiobook editions of The Hate U Give,[24][25] On the Come Up,[26][27] and Concrete Rose[28][29] for their collection.
The Hate U Give was a number one New York Times bestseller and IndieBound besteller.[15] The Horn Book Magazine,[30] Kirkus Reviews,[31] Publishers Weekly,[32] and Shelf Awareness,[33] among others, named it one of the best young adult novels of 2017. Booklist named it one of the best books of the year regardless of genre.[34]
On the Come Up was a New York Times bestseller.[15] The Horn Book Magazine[30] and Kirkus Reviews[15] named it one of the best young adult novels of 2019. Booklist included it on their 2019 "Top 10 Arts Books for Youth" list.[35]
Concrete Rose was a New York Times and IndieBound bestseller.[18] Kirkus Reviews named it one of the best young adult novels of 2021.[18]
Further reading
[edit]- Interview in You Can’t Say That! Writers for Young People Talk About Censorship, Free Expression, and the Stories They Have to Tell. Candlewick Press, 2021, a young adult non-fiction book about book censorship, edited by young adult author and literary critic Leonard S. Marcus. ISBN 9780763690366
References
[edit]- ^ @angiecthomas (September 20, 2020). "Had I known they were throwing me a party, I wouldn't have shown up dressed as Iron Man..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Angie Thomas [ USA ] – Biography". internationales literaturfestival berlin. 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-01-09. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
- ^ a b c d Philyaw, Deesha (2017-03-14). "One-on-One with 'The Hate U Give' Novelist Angie Thomas". Ebony. Archived from the original on 2017-03-26. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
- ^ a b c Hirsch, Afua (2017-03-26). "Angie Thomas: the debut novelist who turned racism and police violence into a bestseller". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2019-11-27. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ a b Keane, Erin (2017-03-04). "'The Hate U Give': Angie Thomas' sensational debut novel should be required reading for clueless white people". Salon. Archived from the original on 2017-03-24. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ "FAQ". Angie Thomas. 2016-04-28. Archived from the original on 2020-02-05. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
- ^ "The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas, 2017 National Book Award Longlist, Young People's Literature". National Book Foundation. Archived from the original on 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
- ^ a b c Mesure, Susie (2017-04-11). "New YA sensation Angie Thomas: 'Publishing did something pretty terrible. They made the assumption that black kids don't read'". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 2019-11-27. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
- ^ "The Post. No, seriously, THE Post ~ Angie's Writing Adventures". 2019-02-07. Archived from the original on 2019-02-07. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
- ^ "'The Hate U Give' Explores Racism And Police Violence". NPR.org. 2017-02-26. Archived from the original on 2019-11-27. Retrieved 2017-11-16.
- ^ Robbins, Sarah J. (2017-02-16). "Q & A with Angie Thomas". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2020-08-02. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
- ^ Locke, Kaitlyn (2017-12-02). "'The Hate U Give' pulled from Texas school district's shelves". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 2019-05-12. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
- ^ Flood, Alison (2018-07-03). "South Carolina police object to high-school reading list". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
- ^ Arreola, Cristina (2018-10-19). "'The Hate U Give' Started A Conversation. Angie Thomas Hopes It Continues With Book Two". Bustle. Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
- ^ a b c d e f "On the Come Up". Kirkus Reviews. 2018-12-22. Archived from the original on 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
- ^ "Young Adult Hardcover Books - Best Sellers - April 7, 2019 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
- ^ "Angie Thomas' New Prequel to 'The Hate U Give' Challenges the Cult of Masculinity". Time. Archived from the original on 2021-05-11. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
- ^ a b c d "Concrete Rose". Kirkus Reviews. 2020-11-09. Archived from the original on 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
- ^ Reich, Hannah (March 9, 2021). "Writing Black Lives Matter: Maxine Beneba Clarke and Angie Thomas on their latest books for children and young people". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2021-04-12. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
- ^ "Author Angie Thomas on writing, "Nic Blake and the Remarkables" and "Black Girl Magic" - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
- ^ Chambers, Veronica (2023-04-04). "Angie Thomas's Middle Grade Debut Celebrates Black Girl Magic". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
- ^ "Celebrating WNDB's Published Walter Grantees". We Need Diverse Books. 2022-11-17. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "We Need Diverse Books Announces the winners of the 2016 WNDB Walter Grants". We Need Diverse Books. 2016-12-05. Archived from the original on 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
- ^ "The Hate U Give (Audiobook) by Angie Thomas". Junior Library Guild . Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas". Junior Library Guild . Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "On the Come Up by Angie Thomas". Junior Library Guild. Archived from the original on 2022-01-28. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "On the Come Up (Audiobook) by Angie Thomas". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas". Junior Library Guild. Archived from the original on 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "Concrete Rose (Audiobook) by Angie Thomas". Junior Library Guild. Archived from the original on 2022-08-07. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ a b "Horn Book Fanfare 1938 to present". The Horn Book. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ a b "The Hate U Give". No. December 2017. Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
- ^ "Best Books 2017". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "Our 2017 Best Children's & Teen Books of the Year". Shelf Awareness. 2017-12-20. Archived from the original on 2023-01-29. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "Top of the List: 2017". Booklist. 2018-01-01. Archived from the original on May 22, 2022. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
- ^ Hunter, Sarah (2019-10-15). "Top 10 Arts Books for Youth: 2019". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
- ^ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Audio for Youth, 2017". Booklist. 2018-01-01. Archived from the original on October 29, 2022. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
- ^ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2017". Booklist. 2018-01-01. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
- ^ "Past Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Winners". The Horn Book. 2022-01-10. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "2017 Cybils Finalists". Children's and Young Adult Book Lover's Literary Awards. Archived from the original on 2023-03-25. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
- ^ "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Young Adult Fiction!". Goodreads. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ a b Woodsbury, Jessica (December 5, 2017). "Announcing the Winners of the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards". Bookriot. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- ^ "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Debut Goodreads Author!". Goodreads. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ Kellog, Carolyn (September 12, 2017). "The 10 books in the running for the National Book Award for young people's literature". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- ^ "2017 NBA Longlist for Young People's Literature Announced". Publishers Weekly. 2017-09-12. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults: 2018". Booklist. 2018-04-01. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
- ^ "2018 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award Winner & Finalists Announced". Teachers Who Read. 2018-08-01. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ a b "2018 Audie Award Winners Announced". the American Booksellers Association. 2018-06-01. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ a b Eyre, Charlotte (March 22, 2018). "Angie Thomas wins Waterstones Children's Book Prize". The Bookseller. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ "Shortlists for 2018 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals Announced". The Yoto Carnegies. 2018-03-15. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "Carnegie Honour winner 2018". Amnesty International UK. 2020-05-18. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ "A Great Day for CSK!". CSK Blog. 16 February 2018. Archived from the original on December 21, 2022. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
- ^ "The Hate U Give | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ "Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis für Roman über das Aufwachsen in der DDR". Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk. Archived from the original on October 14, 2018. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
- ^ "Sechs Nominierungen für Gerstenberg". Boersenblatt. March 15, 2018. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- ^ "Category List – Best Young Adult | Edgars Database". Mystery Writers of America. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best of the Best!". Goodreads. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ "2018 Indies Choice and E.B. White Read-Aloud Award Winners Announced". the American Booksellers Association. 2018-05-09. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ "2018 Morris Award". Young Adult Library Services Association. American Library Association. 2018-12-11. Archived from the original on December 21, 2022. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
- ^ Morales, Macey (2018-02-12). "'The Hate U Give' wins 2018 William C. Morris Award". American Library Association. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ "Morris Award Winner: 2018". Booklist. 2018-02-12. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
- ^ "Notable Children's Recordings: 2018". Booklist. 2018-04-19. Archived from the original on September 24, 2022. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
- ^ Morales, Macey (2018-02-12). "HarperAudio wins 2018 Odyssey Award for 'The Hate U Give'". American Library Association. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ "Odyssey Award Winner: 2018". Booklist. 2018-02-12. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
- ^ "Michael L. Printz Winners and Honor Books". Young Adult Library Services Association. 15 March 2007. Archived from the original on March 26, 2014. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
- ^ "The Hate U Give | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ "Top 10 Quick Picks: 2018". Booklist. 2018-04-01. Archived from the original on January 9, 2022. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
- ^ "Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2018". Waterstones. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
- ^ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2019". Booklist. 2020-01-01. Archived from the original on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
- ^ "Past Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Winners". The Horn Book. 2022-01-10. Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "2019 Cybils Finalists". Children's and Young Adult Book Lover's Literary Awards. Archived from the original on 2022-11-05. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
- ^ "On the Come Up". Goodreads. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ^ "2020 Top Ten Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). American Library Association. 2020-01-06. Archived from the original on 2021-04-28. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
- ^ "On the Come Up | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
- ^ "2020 Audie Awards". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "2020 Top Ten Best Fiction". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). American Library Association. 2020-02-05. Archived from the original on 2020-05-01. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
- ^ "Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2020". Booklist. 2020-03-15. Archived from the original on 2023-01-23. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
- ^ "Shortlists for 2018 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals Announced". The Yoto Carnegies. 2018-03-15. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "2021 Cybils Finalists". Children's and Young Adult Book Lover's Literary Awards. Archived from the original on 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ "Concrete Rose". Goodreads. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ Morales, Macey (January 24, 2022). "American Library Association announces 2022 Youth Media Award winners". American Library Association. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ "Longlists Announced for Yoto Carnegie Greenaway Awards 2022". The Yoto Carnegies. 2022-02-16. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Angie Thomas at Wikimedia Commons
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
- 1988 births
- Living people
- 21st-century American novelists
- 21st-century American women writers
- African-American novelists
- American young adult novelists
- American women novelists
- Belhaven University alumni
- Novelists from Mississippi
- Writers from Jackson, Mississippi
- 21st-century African-American women
- 20th-century African-American writers
- 20th-century American women
- African-American women writers
- William C. Morris Award winners
- American women writers of young adult literature