FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Angie Thomas, author of the novel The Hate U Give – this year’s One Book, One Community selection – will visit campus and give a public lecture on Tuesday, March 26.

The movie based on her book – and with the same title — is in theaters now – where it is still in the Top 10 at the box office after 5 weeks. It will be shown on campus as one of the events leading up to Thomas’ appearance.

The book and film both tell the story of 16-year-old Starr Carter, who is the only witness when a police officer shoots an unarmed black teenager — her best friend. She must decide whether to speak out, even if it puts her world and her life in danger.

The film will be shown for free March 25 in the Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center. More information will be available in March.

Additional events are being planned around the themes in the book – including a panel discussion. The One Book, One Community committee hopes to encourage more people to suggest events to be held either on campus or in the Northwest Arkansas community. Specifically, the committee is encouraging the development of informal discussion groups that bubble up at various times, locations, with different compositions and leadership.

An online Event Suggestion Form has been created  and the committee is encouraging invididuals to go to the One Book, One Community website to sign up to lead a discussion group next semester!

Selected events will also be posted on the website.

“We hope to see individuals on campus and across the NWA community sign up to lead discussion groups for either the book or the film, or both,” said Kevin Fizpatrick, chair of the One Book, One Community committee. “There is tremendous local interest in the themes that are dealt with in The Hate U Give and we want as many people as possible to be involved. These informal discussion groups are an important part of the ongoing plan to generate and sustain discussion around the topics of the selected book each year.”