Angie Thomas, New York Times bestselling author known for her impactful young adult novels, joins the discussion to tackle pressing social justice issues. She reflects on the role of literature in understanding race, emphasizing the need for honest storytelling in YA fiction. Angie also delves into the intersection of faith and social justice, critiques media representation, and shares personal connections to Tupac's work, highlighting themes of resilience and empathy. Plus, she reveals her three formative books that shaped her worldview.
48:47
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Inspiration for The Hate U Give
Angie Thomas found herself represented in Mildred D. Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.
This book's impact inspired her to create a contemporary family like the Logans in The Hate U Give.
insights INSIGHT
Exposing Kids to Harsh Truths
Exposing children to harsh realities in books can be beneficial.
Kids grasp what they can understand, and the rest goes over their heads, fostering awareness.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Violent Commercials and Kids
Neil Pasricha was disturbed by violent commercials on an airplane.
He questions whether such exposure is appropriate for young children.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a novel that follows the Logan family as they navigate the challenges of racism and economic hardship during the Great Depression. The story, narrated by Cassie Logan, highlights the family's efforts to maintain their land, fight against racial injustices, and uphold their dignity. The novel emphasizes the importance of material independence, family values, and the different tactics the Logans use to cope with and resist racism. It won the Newbery Medal in 1977 and was a finalist for the National Book Award[2][4][5].
The Rose That Grew From Concrete
Tupac Shakur
This book offers a glimpse into Tupac's sensitive side through his poetry, which explores themes of love, social justice, and personal growth. Written during his teenage years, these poems provide insight into his complex thoughts and emotions.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Malcolm X
The Autobiography of Malcolm X is a spiritual conversion narrative that outlines Malcolm X's philosophy of black pride, black nationalism, and pan-Africanism. The book, based on over 50 in-depth interviews conducted by Alex Haley between 1963 and Malcolm X's assassination in 1965, covers Malcolm's childhood, his young adulthood in Boston and New York City, his involvement in organized crime, his prison sentence, and his subsequent involvement with the Nation of Islam. It also details his disillusionment with the Nation of Islam, his pilgrimage to Mecca, and his travels in Africa. The book is known for its candid and introspective narrative, offering a personal and historical perspective on the civil rights era and the life of one of its most influential figures.
No one does it like Angie.
Racial tensions, police shootings, citizen uprisings. Does this sound like the setting of a YA novel? How about three of them? Her debut 'The Hate U Give,' her sophomore release 'On The Come Up,' and her third 'Concrete Rose' were all on The New York Times bestseller list, and her fantasy middle school-level book 'Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy' was *also* an instant New York Times bestseller!
In this classic chapter of 3 Books, we sat down together at the busiest hotel in downtown Toronto on the tail end of Angie’s 15-city book tour to discuss how we find the truth for ourselves, when do we bring up harsh realities to kids, and what place media and religion have in society today.
We dive deep into the heightened racial and political tensions today and we search for a way out and, as always, we get to learn Angie Thomas’s three most formative books.
3 Books With Neil Pasricha 
