Introduction

This exhibit was designed to provide insights into the temporary ban of the young adult novel, The Hate U Give. The book tells the story of a black American high school student whose life is transformed by protests and political rhetoric after her unarmed best friend is killed by a police officer. The content of the novel mirrors the present political climate in the United States, where movements like #BlackLivesMatter have sparked growing conversations on racialized police brutality. The Hate U Give was temporarily pulled from shelves within the Katy Independent School District in Katy, Texas after a parent complained about its depiction of foul language and teenage drug use. This ban was lifted after the student’s online petition gained attention and sparked public outrage on social media.  Thus, this case provides an interesting example of how readers can use online social activism to challenge decisions to ban controversial books.