If you haven’t read a book by Angie Thomas, you are missing out. I was late to the party reading The Hate U Give but I was profoundly changed by it. While it is a prequel to THUG,Concrete Rose was outstanding and absolutely stands on its own while also adding a whole new level of experience to THUG.
We follow Maverick Carter at 17 years old. Mav's experiences in a gang, why he is a member to begin with, the loss of those who meant the world to him to gun violence, as well as how he chooses to balance school and fatherhood. Then there is the part-time job he didn't want to take in the first place that turns out to be a source of salvation for him.
As THUG did, Concrete Rose will be a catalyst for many important conversations. Thomas masterfully deals with weighty topics like toxic masculinity and stereotypes against black families (especially black men) and young parenthood. You are given Maverick, all of him. He isn't always perfect and isn't always likeable but he is very real. Thomas is a master at making the reader feel just as invested in his struggles and doubts as he is.
Understanding how Maverick Carter came to be the man we knew from THUG, adds another dimension. You will laugh, cry, cheer and grow right along with him.
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Customer reviews
Hit every emotional button on my heart’s dashboard!
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2021
An aimless teenager wading through a broken home, broken dreams, and a broken system, navigates his way towards manhood in a world that doesn't make it easy for black boys to live long enough to see 18 as free men.Concrete Rose, a prequel to The Hate U Give, takes us on this journey with Maverick, father of THUG’s protagonist, Star, as he struggles with the challenges of being a teenaged father to Star’s older brother.This story hit every emotional button on my heart’s dashboard. I laughed, cried, fumed, denied, embraced, gasped, and cheered from page to page as I followed along with Maverick’s reactions and choices.Set in 1998, the backdrop will pull you back to a time before smart phones and Internet with old school hip-hop, fashion, and lingo. I identified closely with these very relatable characters. Not only could I see myself in some of them, I could also see my relatives and friends in this well developed cast.Angie Thomas never fails to deliver a thought-provoking and entertaining read. And Concrete Rose is no different.
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2021
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Whispering Stories Book Blog
This is a book that you must read if you read and loved the first.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 26, 2021
Anika May
The perfect prequel: moving, important, and enjoyable in every way!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2021
Anika May
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2021
Maverick was a fascinating character in The Hate U Give, so I was excited to explore his story in Concrete Rose. As Starr’s father, he often acted like the grounded voice of reason, but subtle hints to his upbringing suggested he wasn’t always so level-headed. And in Concrete Rose, the reader gets a chance to learn about the trials, challenges, and lessons Mav faced as a young man. It’s also interesting to see appearances from other characters featured in The Hate U Give, including King and Carlos. Seeing where bonds and tensions began, only increases the nostalgia for the first book.
Angie Thomas’ remarkable voice is in full form in Concrete Rose. Like The Hate U Give and On the Come Up, this book is written in the first person narrative. But it never falls flat, never loses heart, and never waivers. Mav’s voice feels defined and independent, stirring up the same inspirational determination Starr and Bri’s did. Additionally, the dialogue flows beautifully, and the personalities feel authentically full.
I love the way emotion is explored in relation to Black boyhood. Mav has this nagging insecurity around appearing weak, especially as the son of a King Lord. It’s a very relevant and familiar stereotype, and the protagonist’s inner emotional outbursts and raw expressions give the book a strong sense of heart in the face of expectation. The concept of ‘manliness’ is written with sensitivity, as are the books other themes: racism, teen pregnancy, and grief.
Naturally, I’m comparing this book with The Hate U Give. Concrete Rose is not quite as eventful and the pace is slower, but it’s just as moving. Maverick’s story is well worth telling. And I’ll always be captivated by Angie Thomas’ tales of Garden Heights.
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Kristel Greer
Compelling story with realistic and interesting characters
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 16, 2021
Kristel Greer
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 16, 2021
His girlfriend dumps him, is failing his classes in school and he loses contact with his friends and his old life. When a devastating event rocks his world, the choices he makes afterwards lead to more difficulties, hardships and stress in his life. The constant lure of the drug world to earn decent money makes Mav face tough decisions but the threat of violence that comes with that world is also a factor he needs to consider. When the opportunity for revenge shows up, will Mav take the shot and risk his life, the lives of his loved ones and his connection with his son or will he find a different path out of his problems and away from a life of crime? With a strong female role model in his mother who pushes him to be a better man, can Maverick resist repeating the mistakes that his father made?
🌟🌟🌟🌟. The characters especially Maverick were compelling to read. The dynamics within his family were intriguing as he had a strong support system but yet they still pushed him to learn the hard way how to deal with the consequences and triumphs of his decisions. He was a little frustrating at times with how naïve he was but he is a teenager so that’s to be expected. Mav's mother was a strong woman and mainly raised him alone and considering all the obstacles she had to overcome to do it, she was an amazing influence on his life. I look forward to reading THUG later this month.
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If you liked THUG, you'd like this
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2021
