Angie Thomas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Angie Thomas
Thomas in 2019
Born	(1988-09-20) September 20, 1988 (age 36) 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)

Angie Thomas, born on September 20, 1988, is an American writer. She is famous for her books for young adults. Her most well-known book is The Hate U Give, released in 2017. She also wrote On the Come Up (2019) and Concrete Rose (2021).

About Angie Thomas

Her Early Life

Angie Thomas was born and grew up in Jackson, Mississippi. This was on September 20, 1988.

She experienced gun violence when she was young. Her childhood home was near where civil rights activist Medgar Evers was killed. Thomas shared that her mother heard the gunshot. When she was six, Thomas saw a shootout between groups.

The next day, her mother took her to the library. Her mother wanted to show her "more to the world" than what she had seen. This moment inspired Thomas to start writing.

Becoming a Writer

As a teenager, Angie Thomas was a rapper for a short time. She even had an article written about her in Right On! magazine. Later, she earned a degree in Fine Arts from Belhaven University. She was the first Black student to graduate from her creative writing program.

Her Writing Career

How Her Stories Began

Angie Thomas first wanted to write fantasy books. She also thought about writing for middle schoolers. But she worried if her stories would truly matter. While trying to get her first book published, she started writing another. This second story became her famous novel, The Hate U Give.

A college professor told her that her experiences were special. The professor said her writing could help people whose stories were not often heard. During this time, Thomas learned about the shooting of Oscar Grant. This event, along with the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, and Sandra Bland, greatly influenced her novel.

Inspiration for Her Books

Thomas says that the musician Tupac Shakur inspired her writing. She felt many emotions listening to his music. She wanted her own writing to have a similar effect. She said, "I want to make you think at times; I want to make you laugh at times; I want to make you cry at times." She believes this means that what society teaches young people can affect everyone.

In her books, Thomas wants to "show truth and tear down stereotypes." She also believes it is important for everyone to listen to the concerns of the Black Lives Matter movement. After The Hate U Give was published, it was made into a movie in 2018. The film was made by Fox 2000 and starred Amandla Stenberg.

Angie Thomas as an Activist

Angie Thomas sees her writing as a way to be an activist. She believes books help us understand lives different from our own. This can help people feel more understanding towards others.

She respects the Black Lives Matter movement and organization. She wanted The Hate U Give to feel personal, even though it deals with big issues. She wanted the character Khalil to represent young men who are unfairly judged. She also wanted to honor the memories of real people.

Her Novels

The Hate U Give (2017)

The Hate U Give started as a short story. It quickly became a number one bestseller on the New York Times list for young adult books in 2017. Thomas wrote this book to highlight police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement.

The story is about a teenage girl named Starr Carter. Her life changes after her friend, Khalil, an unarmed Black teen, is shot by a white police officer. The book shows how police brutality affects the people and communities around the victim.

In 2018, some schools faced challenges with the book. A school district in Katy, Texas, removed it due to complaints about language. A police union in South Carolina asked for it to be removed from a summer reading list. They felt it promoted distrust of police.

On the Come Up (2019)

On the Come Up was released in February 2019. Thomas wrote this book to talk about the challenges faced by minority groups and women when they speak out. The story is about a teen rapper who becomes very popular online. The book explores how this fame changes who she is. This novel takes place in the same made-up world as The Hate U Give.

On the Come Up also became a New York Times bestseller. Kirkus Reviews named it one of the best young adult novels of 2019.

Concrete Rose (2021)

Concrete Rose is a story that happens before The Hate U Give. It was released on January 12, 2021. This book tells the story of Starr's father, Maverick Carter, when he was younger.

This book was also a New York Times and IndieBound bestseller. Kirkus Reviews listed it as one of the best young adult novels of 2021.

Blackout (2021)

Angie Thomas co-wrote a young adult novel called Blackout. It was released in June 2021. She wrote it with Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon. The book has six connected stories about Black teen love during a power outage in New York City.

Nic Blake and the Remarkables (2023)

She also wrote a book for middle schoolers called Nic Blake and the Remarkables.

Awards and Honors

In 2015, Angie Thomas received the Walter Grant from We Need Diverse Books. This grant gives money to new writers or artists from diverse backgrounds who are working on children's or young adult books.

The Junior Library Guild has chosen the book and audiobook versions of The Hate U Give, On the Come Up, and Concrete Rose for their collections.

The Hate U Give was a number one New York Times bestseller. Many groups, including The Horn Book Magazine, Kirkus Reviews, and Publishers Weekly, named it one of the best young adult novels of 2017. Booklist called it one of the best books of the year overall.

On the Come Up was a New York Times bestseller. The Horn Book Magazine and Kirkus Reviews named it one of the best young adult novels of 2019. Booklist also put it on their "Top 10 Arts Books for Youth" list in 2019.

Concrete Rose was a New York Times and IndieBound bestseller. Kirkus Reviews named it one of the best young adult novels of 2021.

See also

In Spanish: Angie Thomas para niños