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Concrete Rose, the prequel to The Hate U Give, follows 17-year-old Maverick Carter as he navigates the transition to adulthood as a young Black man. Mav thinks he knows everything about looking out for family. By dealing drugs- a secret shared only between him and his closest friend, King- he is able to provide for his overworked mother and imprisoned father. It isn’t until he gets news that he is a father himself that he realizes what it truly means to be a man. Break-ups, gang involvement, and the hardships of trying to balance fatherhood with school make him question his values and everything he believes in. Author Angie Thomas does an excellent job telling Maverick’s inspiring story through this hilarious, cute, and suspenseful book.
Concrete Rose is undoubtedly one of the best books I’ve ever read. It had a perfect blend of suspenseful, hilarious, and cute moments that kept me on the edge of my seat and enjoying every part of it. I also really enjoyed experiencing the plot through the eyes of Maverick and getting to see his character development firsthand. As a fan of The Hate U Give, I really loved learning about the characters’ early backgrounds and how they influenced their adult lives. However, it’s worth noting that Concrete Rose can stand as an incredible book on its own and can be enjoyed after reading or without ever having read The Hate U Give.
One central theme that stuck with me from this book is the importance of looking at situations from multiple perspectives. Oftentimes, we make assumptions about people without seeing all the sides of their story. Concrete Rose opened my eyes to new perspectives on issues such as racism and police brutality that are very relevant today.
Reviewed by Cathy at Tuckahoe Library
HCPL TeenScene's Read + Review 