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Concrete Rose

 

 (Picture from Goodreads.com)


1.       1.       Bibliography

Thomas, Angie. 2021. CONCRETE ROSE. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publisher.
              ISBN 978-0-06-284671-6

2.       Plot Summary

Maverick Carter is a young man who must take care of his family because his dad is in prison. Unfortunately, this means following in his father’s crimes of selling drugs for the King Lords. But, when Maverick’s girlfriend gets pregnant, and he finds out he already has another baby, he has to make a decision, to keep selling drugs, or go on the straight and narrow.

After his son is abandoned by the mother, he has to juggle selling drugs, finishing school, and raising a son when the mom refused to take the baby back. When he gets ANOTHER girl pregnant, he gets scared and has to look to the people closest to him for help. He wants a better life for his family than the situation he grew up in.

A dynamic cast of characters helps Maverick through young adulthood, and help him become a respectable man, free from the drugs and crime, until he has to talk the fall for someone else in order to be free.

3.       Critical Analysis

 

Messages of struggles with loyalty, revenge, and responsibility are key elements to this page turning tale. Thomas tells the story of Maverick Carter, the father of her main character, Starr, in The Hate You Give. Thomas goes back in time, telling the story of the teenage father that so many were intrigued by. Questions are answered about Mav’s past that satisfy the reader of Thomas’ sequel.

 

Thomas takes risks in thrusting Maverick into loss after loss and showing how his confining situation leads him to make choices that go against his character. Maverick contemplates the choices that young men are forced into in order to survive and provide in the poverty ridden neighborhood he lives in.

 

Not many fictional books are written about young, black men in a positive light. Thomas engages the reader by submersing them into the world of love and community many have but is never shown. Maverick is greeted with compassion and love despite the trauma and grief he is feeling. Seeing that the right choices can be made is essential to young readers who could be in similar situations. Violence and aggression do not have to be the answer to every situation, and while getting out of a dangerous lifestyle can be hard, it is possible.

4.     Awards/ Reviews

“A heartfelt exploration of Black manhood and the power of possibility.” — People

“In Concrete Rose, Thomas casts a loving eye on the lives and realities of Black people, which is a powerful continuation of one of her most moving endeavors as a writer: her challenge to readers to affirm the goodness of all types of characters and to greet them with compassion at every turn, no matter where those turns may lead.”? — New York Times Book Review

“Thomas brings her trademark wit, nostalgic love of the 1990s and all things R&B and hip-hop, and her penchant for heartfelt characterization to this first-person exploration of Maverick Carter’s coming-of-age.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Authentic to the point of heartbreak, Maverick’s voice is earnest as he wrestles with his decisions. Fans of Thomas’s work will not be disappointed in this intense portrayal of this phase in the Carter family’s story." — Horn Book (starred review)

“This is the perfect example of a narrative that straddles the beauty and pain of belonging and having the courage to make your own choices…. Thomas writes with a depth of humor and clarity that really allows readers to bond with the characters.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“This literary DeLorean transports readers into the past, where they hope, dream, and struggle alongside beloved characters from Thomas’ The Hate U Give…. Thomas proves Game of Thrones–esque in her worldbuilding ability, deepening her landscape without sacrificing intimacy or heart.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Thomas delivers a poignant prequel to The Hate U Give…. Maverick's story is one that offers hope, encouragement, and optimism." — Booklist (starred review)

"Thomas’ genius is her ability to craft one man’s history in a way that illuminates the forces that brought us to this critical juncture." — Time

 

5.       Connections

Students interested in this book may like Angie Thomas’ other books (newest addition information):

·       Thomas, Angie. 2022. THE HATE YOU GIVE. New York, NY. HarperCollins Publishers.
              ISBN 978-0-06-249854-0

·       Thomas, Angie. 2020. ON THE COME UP. New York, NY. HarperCollins Publishers.
              ISBN 978-0-06-249858-8

Students might also like Tupac’s book of poetry:

              Shakur, Tupac. 2009. THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE. MTV Books.
                             ISBN 988-0-67-102845-9

Young men looking for a black protagonist they can relate to may enjoy this novel. Fans of Thomas’ THE HATE YOU GIVE would also enjoy learning about Starr’s father and his journey into adulthood that made him the mentor many teens admire.

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