Starr Carter, a 16-year-old African American girl, leads a double life straddling two worlds: the poor, mostly black neighborhood where she lives, and the affluent, predominantly white prep school she attends. Her precarious balance between these disparate realms is shattered when she witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend, Khalil, at the hands of a white police officer during a traffic stop. Starr's trauma is compounded by the pressure to maintain her school persona, while navigating the grief and outrage of her community.

As the only witness to the incident, Starr faces scrutiny from all sides. Her community calls for justice and sees her as a potential beacon of hope, urging her to speak out against police brutality. Meanwhile, the local police and some in her school community attempt to discredit Khalil to justify his killing, placing Starr at the center of a cultural and media storm. Torn between staying silent to protect herself and her family or raising her voice to honor Khalil's memory, Starr must find the courage to stand up for what she believes is right, while grappling with the impact her choice will have on her family, community, and her own sense of identity.