25 modern book-to-screen adaptations that didn’t let us down

The Hate U Give

Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give received a lot of attention for its unflinching honesty when it comes to race and police brutality, and much of the praise is warranted. The book delivers a story that’s both compelling and heartwrenching, one that serves as an eye-opener to those who haven’t experienced the issues it addresses, and a nod of recognition to those who have.

When the film adaptation of The Hate U Give was announced, there was some concern regarding whether or not the movie would successfully capture the same emotions and political commentary that the book does, but we’d say it succeeds in that endeavor.

Not only does the film stick to Thomas’ story pretty faithfully, but it evokes the same horror and outrage that the novel does — and as we’ve pointed out in previous slides, seeing horrible things play out on screen can often be more staggering than simply reading about them.

The movie also captures the characters and their relationships with one another very well, an important accomplishment given how crucial those relationships are to the plot of the book. While the book focuses on large and important themes, it also emphasizes individual struggles and relationships, and any adaptation of the novel wouldn’t be complete without those.