21 March 2019
Multiple award winning American author Angie Thomas visited Manchester in March to promote her new book On the Come up. The visit to Manchester Central Library, was part of a UK wide tour for Angie, who has taken the Young Adult book world by storm in the last few years, so it provided the perfect opportunity for a library trip.
Angie’s first novel, The Hate U Give rocketed to the top of the New York Times bestseller lists, staying there for one hundred and six weeks! It has been just as popular at Chorlton High School, with Ms Hockey having to buy more books to cope with the demand. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement in America, the story features, sixteen year-old Starr, who’s world is shattered when she is the only witness to the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend, Khalil, by a police office. What she knows could destroy her community, but it could also get her killed. It’s a gripping and powerful novel about one girl’s struggle for justice. It was made into a film in 2018.
Students from Year 9 and 10 were invited on the trip and were treated to a funny, inspiring and unapologetically radical talk/interview between Angie and Shirley May, from Young Identity poets. She was even persuaded to perform a rap at the end. Hours were spent afterwards waiting for her to sign books as everyone wanted pictures with Angie. Why not grab yourself a copy from the library and find out what all the fuss is about!
