Angie Thomas

Angela Thomas (born September 20, 1988) is an American young adult author, known for her contributions to young adult fiction. She gained international recognition for her novel The Hate U Give which addresses police violence and racism. Her second young adult novel, On the Come Up, was released on February 25, 2019. Her most recent novel, Concrete Rose, was released on January 12, 2021.

Early life Angie Thomas was born on September 20, 1988, in Jackson, Mississippi, where she was raised.

Thomas was subject to multiple instances of gun violence at a young age. She grew up near the home of assassinated civil rights activist, Medgar Evers, stating that her mother heard the gunshot that had killed him.

In an interview with The Guardian, she recounted how her mother took her to the library the following day to show her that, "There was more to the world than what [Thomas] saw that day." This inspired her to take up writing. Thomas went on to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts

Activism In an interview with Publishers Weekly, Thomas gives insight on her role as an activist: "I've always seen writing as a form of activism. If nothing else, books give us a glimpse into lives that we may not have known about before; they can promote empathy. There is the movement Black Lives Matter and the organization Black Lives Matter, and I respect what both are doing. I know [The Hate U Give] is an 'issue' book, but I didn't necessarily want it to be that way... I wanted to make something that is so political seem personal. While I wanted Khalil to represent these young men who lose their lives and are quickly labeled thugs, I wanted [the plot of the book] to be its own thing. I didn't want to disrespect anyone's family, anyone's memory."

Novels

The Hate U Give (2017)

The Hate U Give, originally written as a short story, debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list for young adult hardcover books within the first week of its release in 2017. and a South Carolina police union requested the book's removal from a school's summer reading list, because of what the union considered "almost an indoctrination of distrust of police."

On the Come Up (2019)

On the Come Up was released in February 2019. Thomas wrote the book so she could discuss the costs tolled on minorities and women when they do speak up. The book tells the story of a teen rapper who becomes a viral sensation and the way that this distorts and changes who she is. It takes place in the same fictional universe as The Hate U Give.

On the Come Up was 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 prequel to The Hate U Give and was released on January 12, 2021, in the US and the UK. The book tells the story of Starr's father Maverick Carter.

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

Whiteout (2023) Thomas co-authored a sequel to Blackout, titled Whiteout, with Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon. The young adult novel follows the interwoven stories of twelve Black teens navigating love and heartbreak during a holiday snowstorm in Atlanta, Georgia.

Nic Blake and the Remarkables She wrote the middle grade novels Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy (2024) and Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi (2025).

Breakout (2026) Thomas co-authored a thriller installment to the multi-authored Blackout and Whiteout collection written alongside Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon. The young adult novel follows six teens working to solve a whodunnit murder mystery on a private island.

Selected awards and honors In 2015, Thomas received We Need Diverse Books' Walter Grant, which grants $2,000 to "unpublished authors or illustrators from diverse backgrounds working on children’s or young adult literature projects."

The Junior Library Guild has selected the book and audiobook editions of The Hate U Give, On the Come Up, and Concrete Rose for their collection.

The Hate U Give was a number one New York Times bestseller and IndieBound besteller. Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and Shelf Awareness, among others, named it one of the best young adult novels of 2017. Booklist named it one of the best books of the year regardless of genre.

On the Come Up was a New York Times bestseller.

Concrete Rose was a New York Times and IndieBound bestseller. Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth Selection Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Winner Cybils Award for Young Adult Fiction Finalist Goodreads Choice Awards for Young Adult Fiction Winner Goodreads Choice Award for Debut Goodreads Author Winner

Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Top 10 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Winner Audie Award for Best Female Narrator Winner Audie Award for Young Adult Winner Carnegie Medal Honour Coretta Scott King Award Honor Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis Winner Edgar Award Nominee for Best Young Adult Winner Goodreads Choice Award Best of the Best Winner Indies Choice Award for Young Adult Book of the Year Winner William C. Morris Award Winner ALSC Notable Children's Recordings Selection Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production Winner Michael L. Printz Award Honor Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Top 10 Waterstones Children's Book Prize Winner Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Older Fiction Winner Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction & Poetry Finalist Cybils Award for Young Adult Fiction Finalist Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction Nominee Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature Finalist Amelia Bloomer Book List Selection Audie Award for Young Adult Title Finalist ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults Top 10 Carnegie Medal for Young Adult Fiction Shortlist

Cybils Award for Young Adult Fiction Finalist Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction Nominee

Michael L. Printz Award Honor Carnegie Medal for Young Adult Fiction Longlist