Explore the real-world places that appear in The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Carter Family Store, Big D's Party Store, Carnation Street, Williamson Preparatory School, Christ Temple Church and 7 more.
Garden Heights — Maverick's grocery store
Maverick Carter runs this neighborhood grocery store where Starr works after school. The store represents Maverick's commitment to staying in Garden Heights and serving his community despite the dangers. During the riots following Khalil's death, the store becomes a target for looters, forcing the family to defend their livelihood while grappling with the community's pain and anger.
Small independent grocery stores have been vital anchors in African American neighborhoods throughout the South, often serving as community gathering places and sources of local employment during segregation and beyond.
Independent grocery stores continue to serve as essential community hubs in many urban neighborhoods, though many struggle against competition from large chains.
Garden Heights — The party store where everything began
Starr and Khalil stop at Big D's party store on the way home from the party. This mundane errand becomes the catalyst for tragedy when they are pulled over immediately afterward by Officer 115. The store represents the normalcy of their friendship before everything changed, making their subsequent encounter with police even more devastating.
Corner stores and party stores have long been neighborhood institutions in urban communities, serving as convenient stops for groceries, snacks, and social interaction.
Similar small convenience stores continue to operate in urban neighborhoods, serving as important community gathering spots.
Garden Heights — Where Khalil was killed
This is where Officer 115 pulls over Khalil and Starr for an alleged traffic violation. Starr watches helplessly from inside the car as Khalil is shot three times by the officer while reaching for a hairbrush. This street corner becomes the epicenter of Starr's trauma and the community's outrage, transforming an ordinary residential street into a symbol of police brutality and systemic racism.
Residential streets in urban neighborhoods have unfortunately become sites of numerous police-involved shootings, leading to community memorials and calls for justice reform.
Similar streets in urban communities often become impromptu memorial sites where flowers, candles, and signs mark locations where lives were lost to violence.
Suburban area — Starr's private school
Starr attends this predominantly white private school where she feels she must code-switch, presenting a different version of herself. After Khalil's death, she struggles with her classmates' ignorant comments and their inability to understand her grief. The school becomes a battleground for Starr's identity as she decides whether to speak up about Khalil's death to her privileged peers.
Private preparatory schools have historically served affluent communities, often with limited diversity until integration efforts in recent decades.
Many private schools continue working to increase diversity and cultural understanding while addressing disparities in educational opportunities.
Garden Heights — Where Khalil's funeral is held
Khalil's funeral takes place at this church, where hundreds of community members gather to mourn. Starr sits in the front row with Khalil's family, overwhelmed by grief and the weight of being the sole witness to his death. The service becomes both a celebration of Khalil's life and a rallying cry for justice, with April Ofrah using the platform to call attention to police brutality.
Black churches have served as cornerstones of African American communities, providing not only spiritual guidance but also serving as centers for civil rights organizing and community support.
Churches continue to play vital roles in urban communities, offering services beyond worship including community outreach, social justice advocacy, and support for families in crisis.
Suburban neighborhood — Safe haven
Uncle Carlos, a police officer, lives in this suburban home where Starr and her family sometimes stay for safety. The house represents the complexity of Starr's world - Carlos loves his community but works within the system that oppresses it. Here, Starr confronts Carlos about police brutality and challenges him to see the situation from her perspective as a witness to Khalil's death.
Suburban neighborhoods have often represented upward mobility for middle-class African American families, though they sometimes come with the challenge of being isolated from extended community networks.
Suburban communities continue to be home to diverse populations, though economic and social disparities between urban and suburban areas persist.
Garden Heights — Starr's house on Rose Park
This is where Starr lives with her parents Maverick and Lisa, and her brothers Seven and Sekani. The house serves as Starr's anchor throughout her trauma, where she processes Khalil's death with her family's support. When King threatens the family, they must decide whether to flee or stay and fight for their community. The home represents both vulnerability and strength in Garden Heights.
Working-class family homes in urban neighborhoods have served as multi-generational centers where extended families gather and children learn community values and resilience.
Similar homes continue to anchor urban communities, though many families face challenges from gentrification, economic pressure, and neighborhood violence.
Garden Heights boundary — Divide between worlds
Starr crosses under this overpass daily when traveling between Garden Heights and Williamson Prep. The freeway serves as a physical and symbolic barrier between her two worlds - the predominantly Black, working-class Garden Heights and the wealthy, white suburban area where she attends school. This boundary forces Starr to constantly switch between different versions of herself.
Highway construction in the mid-20th century often divided urban communities, sometimes deliberately separating Black neighborhoods from white areas and limiting economic development in minority communities.
Urban highways continue to serve as physical barriers between neighborhoods of different economic and racial compositions, influencing patterns of development and mobility.
Downtown area — April Ofrah's organization
April Ofrah runs this civil rights organization that takes on Khalil's case. Starr visits the office to discuss her testimony and learns about the broader pattern of police violence in her community. The office becomes a place of empowerment for Starr, where she realizes her voice and testimony can be powerful tools for change and justice.
Civil rights organizations have been essential in African American communities since the early 20th century, providing legal representation and advocating for social justice reform.
Similar organizations continue to operate in communities across the country, fighting for civil rights, criminal justice reform, and police accountability.
Garden Heights — Where Starr gives testimony
Starr comes here to give her witness testimony about Khalil's shooting to detectives. The station represents the intimidating power of the system she's challenging. Despite her fear and the officers' attempts to discredit her account, Starr finds the courage to tell the truth about what she witnessed, knowing her testimony could be crucial for getting justice for Khalil.
Police stations in urban communities have complex relationships with residents, serving as symbols of both protection and, for many, systemic oppression and mistrust.
Community-police relations remain tense in many urban areas, with ongoing efforts to improve accountability and rebuild trust through reform initiatives.
Neighborhood park — Community gathering place
This outdoor court is where many young people from Garden Heights gather to play basketball and socialize. Khalil spent time here, and after his death, it becomes one of the places where community members come together to grieve and organize. The court represents the positive aspects of neighborhood life that often get overshadowed by violence and poverty.
Public basketball courts have served as important recreational and social spaces in urban communities, providing positive outlets for young people and community gathering places.
Community basketball courts continue to serve as vital spaces for recreation, mentorship, and community building in urban neighborhoods nationwide.
From Garden Heights to Police Station
After the grand jury fails to indict Officer 115, Starr joins hundreds of protesters marching from Garden Heights to the police station demanding justice for Khalil. During the protest, Starr uses a megaphone to speak out publicly for the first time, finding her voice and courage to challenge the system. The march becomes both peaceful demonstration and, later, the site of riots and police confrontation.
Protest marches have been central to the American civil rights movement, with communities using organized demonstration to demand justice and systemic change.
Peaceful protests continue to be important forms of civic engagement, particularly in response to police violence and systemic racism.
More by Angie Thomas: All Angie Thomas books
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