Angie Thomas: The Power Of Story

Angie Thomas: The Power Of Story

From Reppin by Evelien Kong

May 4, 2026 · 44 min

About this episode

Evelien Kong interviews Angie Thomas about her impactful storytelling and the significance of representation in literature.

Stories don’t just reflect the world—we use them to understand it. And few writers do that more powerfully than Angie Thomas. Angie is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give, the global bestseller that sparked worldwide conversation and became a major film. She’s also the author of On the Come Up and the fantasy series Nic Blake and the Manifestors. Her work consistently centers people and communities that are often overlooked—bringing their voices, experiences, and humanity into focus in a way that feels honest and grounded. She was the very first guest I ever had on Reppin… and helped launch this show. So having her back is a very special full-circle moment. In this episode, we talk about The Hate U Give, Nic Blake, why history still belongs in fantasy, and how stories travel across cultures—shaping how young readers see the world and themselves. We also get into the larger conversation happening right now around books like hers—and why it matters more than most people realize. If you care about the stories that shape how we see the world—and each other—you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of how they shape how you’re seen too. Full video on⁠…

People in this episode

Host: Evelien Kong

Guest: Angie Thomas

Topics covered

  • storytelling
  • literature
  • cultural representation
  • fantasy
  • young adult fiction

Keywords

  • Angie Thomas
  • The Hate U Give
  • storytelling
  • cultural representation
  • young adult literature
  • fantasy
  • Nic Blake

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Hate U Give, On the Come Up, Nic Blake and the Manifestors

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