June 24, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica Reads To Return

Angie Thomas’s “The Hate U Give” 2019’s selection

By Keldine Hull

Santa Monica Public Library’s free community reading program returns June 29. Sponsored by the Santa Monica Public Library, the Friends of the Santa Monica Public Library and other community organizations, Santa Monica Reads invites the public to read and discuss the same book at different events throughout the city. This year’s selection is Angie Thomas’s “The Hate U Give,” a riveting story that centers around 16- year old Starr Carter, a key witness in the death of her best friend at the hands of a police officer. “The Hate U Give” draws attention to the marginalization of certain minorities, the racial injustices they face, and its impact on modern day society.

“The Hate U Give” was adapted into a feature length film last year and starred Amandla Stenberg as Starr Carter, Regina Hall, and Russell Hornsby. Carolyn Ordonez, who also had a role in the film, spoke about the story’s impact and its undeniable relevance. “I was very affected and cried twice reading the script when I first received it. I felt honored to be part of such a powerful story.”

Ordonez added, “I loved Starr’s character. It was really important to show the realness of her experience growing up as a black girl in a white school, having to have two different versions of herself. I think the storytelling was eye opening to the experience of African- Americans. Hopefully ignorant eyes were opened.” There will be a screening of the film, nominated for 5 NAACP Image Awards, followed by a discussion with director George Tillman Jr. on Sunday, June 23 at 1:30pm at the Main Library’s MLK Jr. Auditorium.

Free copies of “The Hate U Give” and resource guide with information about the author and Santa Monica Reads events are currently available at all Santa Monica Public Library locations. Other Santa Monica Reads events include: Movie Discussion: Dear White People (2014), We Read Diverse Books, Author Talk: Ghettoside with Jill Leovy, Holler if Ya Hear Me: The Impact of Tupac Shakur, Movie and Discussion: Fruitvale Station (2013), and Blackout Poetry.

For more information, visit: smpl.org/SMReads.aspx

in News
<>Related Posts

(Video) Food Fight: Chefs Join Forces to Raise Money to Protect Immigrant Families in Venice

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Estrano, Little Dynamite, Sunday Gravy, Kabob Senpai Answer the Call From Turk’s Pizza Party. Dave Turkel Put This Food Resistance...

(Video) This is Downtown Palisades Six Months After the Devastating Wildfires

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

With Only a Few Businesses Remaining and Reopened, The Once-Idyllic District is Still Mostly Charred Remains With Only a Few...

Former Ontrak CEO Sentenced to Prison in $12.5M Insider Trading Scheme

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

CEO Receives Federal Prison Sentence for Misusing Stock Trading Plans Terren Scott Peizer, the former CEO and board chairman of...

Planning Commission Approves 18-Story Residential Tower on 6th Street, Rejects Environmental Appeal

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

The 194-foot-tall building exceeds local height limits by 109 feet under California’s Density Bonus Law The Santa Monica Planning Commission...

Shooting at Waymo Car Injures Two Juveniles in Santa Monica

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Preliminary findings suggest the shooting was a targeted, isolated incident stemming from a verbal altercation earlier that evening between the...

Sculptor-Designed Marina Del Rey Beach Home Hits Market for Nearly $10M

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

The four-bedroom, six-bathroom residence, known as Shore House, features black glass windows across two wings A 6,603-square-foot beachfront home, designed...

Downtown Santa Monica Landmark Faces Uncertainty as Loan Misses Maturity Deadline

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

$26.7M Santa Monica Office Loan Moves to Special Servicing Amid Cash Flow Shortfall Morningstar Credit reported that the loan tied...

Santa Monica to Begin AI-Powered Bus Lane Enforcement in July

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

The program follows a 45-day pilot conducted earlier this year along Lincoln Boulevard, where 511 potential violations were identified, though...

A.O.C. Brentwood to Close After 16 Years on San Vicente Boulevard

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

Chef Goin and Styne Cite Unsustainably High Rent in Decision to Close  A.O.C. Brentwood, the acclaimed Westside outpost from James...

Malibu Traffic Delays Expected: REPORT

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

The warning applies to the first weekend of summer Transportation officials are warning travelers on the Pacific Coast Highway through...

Strongman to Pull 34,680-Pound Bus at Santa Monica Pier

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

Licis, also the 2022 “Arnold Strongman Classic” champion, will undertake the feat to showcase his strength  Strongman Martins Licis, the...

All Aboard to LAX: Metro Opens Game-Changing Transit Hub Ahead of Global Events

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

 New LAX/Metro Transit Center Comes Closer to Connecting Metro Directly to LAX The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)...

New Leadership at Samohi: Jane Han Named House Principal

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Equity-Focused Educator Joins Samohi Leadership Team By Diana Bouchaaya, SMMUSD Communications Specialist The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) Board...

Food Fight on the Venice Boardwalk: Chefs Stand Up for Immigrants with Food

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Turk’s Pizza Party Rallies Top Local Eateries for an Immigrant Rights Fundraiser In a bold display of culinary activism, Turk’s...

Weekend Lane Closures on PCH in Malibu Could Snarl Summer Beach Traffic

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Army Corps Work Triggers Weekend Closure on Pacific Coast Highway Motorists traveling along Pacific Coast Highway this weekend should prepare...