Concrete Rose - Angie Thomas

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Bibliography: 

Thomas, A. (2022). Concrete Rose. Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers. 

Plot Summary: 

A gang leader's son finds his effort to go straight for the sake of his child challenged by a loved one's brutal murder.

Critical Analysis:

This novel is full of symbolism with the title and how it relates to Maverick’s character. A prequel to "The Hate U Give," this novel is a well-written, character-driven story about the art of growing up. I love Maverick's voice as he navigates becoming a man and a father and figuring out what both of those roles will look like for him. While he doesn't always make the smartest decisions, Maverick's love for his family shines through, and he's able to use his intelligence to plan a better life for himself and the family he loves so much. I adored this book and felt transported back in time to the late 90s with Maverick's use of a pager. My only critique is that some of the slang felt a bit too new for the 90s (the use of "a minute" to mean "a while" or "a long time" for example) but most younger readers for whom this novel is marketed won't notice.

Review Excerpt: 

Publisher’s Weekly (starred 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.

Horn Book (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.

School Library Journal (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.

Connections:

Black History Month - February

Work with both Concrete Rose and The Hate U Give. You can read the prequel first or after The Hate U Give. It would give a good discussion throughout both books.

SEL - Racism, Community, The Black Lives Movement, Family, Activism, Justice, Law Enforcement, Identity, The Complexity of Gang Culture, Teenage Pregnancy, Class Equity