Book Review: Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

This prequel to The Hate U Give follows Star's parents Maverick and Lisa as they navigate the end of high school and start dreaming about life beyond. But there are things that Mav can't escape, pressure to live up to his father's reputation on the streets, the responsibilities of becoming a parent, and the realization that what he wants may not be the image that he projects. 

This story really gives depth to Star's father, Maverick, and helps the reader better understand his feelings and motivations in The Hate U Give. He comes from the streets and his father is in jail because of that life but you can feel the conflict this causes for Mav as he tries to navigate life and to realize what and who he wants to be. Thomas is so diligent in building her characters and making the reader feel for their hopes, dreams, and struggles. You can feel the fear Mav feels at the idea of becoming a young father and the desperation he feels to prove himself in a world that is not always kind. There is so much care and honesty in the representation of the characters and their struggles and triumphs in this story. While the streets are a part of Mav, that is not all that he is and because of this, Thomas has provided a decisive yet tender novel about growing up black.

Book Information:

Thomas, A. (2021). CONCRETE ROSE. New York: Balzer + Bray. ISBN 9780062846716

What Next?

Read On the Come Up and The Hate U Give also by Angie Thomas! Both stories have also been brought to the screen!