Concrete Rose

by Angie Thomas

eBook, 368 pages

English language

Published Jan. 1, 2021 by Balzer + Bray.

ISBN:: 978-0-06-284675-4
OCLC Number:: 1237161311

(9 reviews)

International phenomenon Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give in this searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood.

If there’s one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it’s that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad’s in prison.

Life’s not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav’s got everything under control.

Until, that is, Maverick finds out he’s a father.

Suddenly he has a baby, Seven, who depends on him for everything. But it’s not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child. So when he’s offered the chance to go straight, …

International phenomenon Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give in this searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood.

Life’s not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav’s got everything under control.

Until, that is, Maverick finds out he’s a father.

Suddenly he has a baby, Seven, who depends on him for everything. But it’s not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child. So when he’s offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. In a world where he’s expected to amount to nothing, maybe Mav can prove he’s different.

When King Lord blood runs through your veins, though, you can't just walk away. Loyalty, revenge, and responsibility threaten to tear Mav apart, especially after the brutal murder of a loved one. He’ll have to figure out for himself what it really means to be a man. (source)

7 editions

pithypants reviewed Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Review of 'Concrete Rose' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

If you enjoyed The Hate U Give, then add this prequel to your list. It's told from the perspective of Starr's dad, Maverick, and provides the backstory on how he became a father so young (twice!) and how he navigated the gang/drug turf. For anyone who has ever judged teen parents, this book does a good job helping you see the world from their shoes... and the tough decisions they face in trying to make ends meet.

Angie Thomas does a great job capturing her characters' voices, and I highly recommend the audio version of this book – the performance really brings those voices to life.

loppear reviewed Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Fitting prequel, without too much overlap

4 stars

Wonderful voice to a teenager growing up fast, and a real sense of agency, mistakes, and learning. Lightly set in the past, strikes a good balance of nostalgia and relevance.

Tsundoku reviewed Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Prequels can still surprise you

5 stars

Content warning slight spoilers; CW: gun violence

As you know from THUG; Maverick is involved with a gang at this point in his life. It's partially for his own protection (his father was a member and having a gang at your back is really helpful safety wise) but he switches back and forth between selling drugs for financial reasons (and as you should know from the THUG, he has two infants he needs to care for) and trying to be what he feels is a good person.

I should say, this book does not end with Maverick going to prison for the bogus gun charge. That's alluded to. it's gonna happen.

This book is ultimately hopeful, and I would recommend it alongside Dear Martin and Dear Justyce. And of course, read THUG if you haven't already.