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Angie Thomas, author portrait
Photo:Larry D. Moore·CC BY 4.0·
Commons

Angie Thomas

American
Born 1988
Born and raised in Mississippi before making Atlanta her home, Angie Thomas burst onto the literary scene with her groundbreaking debut The Hate U Give in 2017. Armed with a BFA in Creative Writing from Belhaven University and what she playfully calls "an unofficial degree in Hip Hop," Thomas draws from her own experiences to craft stories that resonate with young readers navigating complex social realities. Her subsequent novels, On the Come Up (2019) and Concrete Rose (2021), have solidified her position as one of the most important voices in contemporary young adult literature.
Thomas masterfully weaves themes of race, identity, and social justice into compelling narratives that don't shy away from difficult conversations. Her work has earned numerous accolades, including the William C. Morris Award and recognition as a National Book Award longlist selection, while The Hate U Give became both a #1 New York Times bestseller and a major motion picture. What makes Thomas's writing particularly powerful is her ability to blend authentic dialogue—often influenced by hip-hop culture—with urgent social commentary, creating stories that both entertain and educate. As an inaugural winner of the Walter Dean Myers Grant from We Need Diverse Books, she continues to champion representation in literature while proving that young adult fiction can tackle the most pressing issues of our time.
On LuvemBooks, we've reviewed The Hate U Give.
1
Books Reviewed
In order

Angie Thomas books in order

1 books; 1 reviewed on LuvemBooks. Dates and covers from Amazon.

  1. The Hate U Give cover
    2017
    The Hate U Give
    Our review →
Cover of The Hate U Give
The Hate U Give

4.7/5

reader rating · 51,070 ratings

Angie Thomas's debut young adult novel, The Hate U Give, follows sixteen-year-old Starr Carter as she navigates two worlds — the poor neighborhood she calls home and the elite private school she attends — until a white police officer shoots and kills her childhood friend Khalil before her eyes, thrusting her into a national reckoning. Originally published in 2017 by HarperCollins imprint Balzer + Bray, the novel debuted at number one on the New York Times young adult best-seller list and stayed there for 50 weeks, drawing widespread critical praise for Thomas's writing and the timeliness of its subject matter. It remains one of the most celebrated and most challenged YA novels of its era.

Reviewed Feb 10, 2026

Ask LuvemBooks about Angie Thomas

LuvemBooks highly recommends Angie Thomas for readers who appreciate contemporary voice and social commentary. With an average rating of 4.0/5 based on our review of one title, her work is known for its incredibly raw emotional depth and timely themes.
Where should I start?
We strongly recommend starting with The Hate U Give. This novel is her breakout work and provides a perfect introduction to her unique blend of YA drama, social realism, and deeply personal character journeys. It immediately immerses the reader into powerful conflict.
What's their writing style?
Angie Thomas possesses a voice that is incredibly authentic, urgent, and conversational. Her prose excels at balancing high-stakes drama with intimate internal monologue, making the characters feel profoundly real while tackling immense subject matter.
Books we've reviewed
To date, we have focused on her groundbreaking debut. The Hate U Give is a powerful exploration of code-switching and activism that resonated deeply with readers worldwide.
What genre do they write?
Angie Thomas primarily writes in the Young Adult (YA) Fiction category. However, her work transcends typical YA tropes by integrating elements of social realism and contemporary literary fiction, giving it a powerful edge.
What themes dominate her work?
The core thematic pillars of her writing include racial identity, the struggle for self-acceptance (code-switching), and the necessity of speaking truth to power. Her stories are fundamentally about finding your voice.
Who is Angie Thomas?
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