This made my heart sing! I loved learning more about Mav and how he came to be the man he is in THUG.

This is exactly what I wanted it to be and more. I was sucked into Maverick's story from the first page and the only reason I didn't read it in one sitting is because I had to go to bed and go to work. Getting Maverick's (and Lisa and King and Seven and Khalil) backstory was both satisfying and moving. The voice of the book is so compelling and heartbreaking at the same time.

If you're an adult who reads YA and sometimes you wonder "I wish I had a parental backstory to find out why the parent interacts with their kid in this way...", as I find myself wondering more and more, then you'll be all in for this one.

It has been awhile since I’ve read The Hate U Give, but I was immediately sucked back into the world with Concrete Rose. I loved the metaphor of the rose growing out from concrete and reading about Maverick’s life surviving and raising his son. The book definitely sheds light on how difficult it is to abandon the world of dealing and gangs once you are so wrapped up in it and I really felt for his character. This book took me by surprise with many twists and turns with one tragedy after another without sugarcoating any of the hardships. The book takes place in the past and I enjoyed all the references to 90s culture and the appearance of characters that would play a big role in the latter book. I’m interested in rereading The Hate U Give now knowing Maverick’s backstory.

Angie Thomas continues to grow as a writer!

This is Mav's early story--about his lack of control, his charm, and his duty. The voice comes through loud and clear, and the writing is more controlled than THUG.

Huge win.

My favorite character in Angie Thomas's blockbuster "The Hate U Give" was Starr's strong, wise dad, Maverick. In "Concrete Rose," we see how Starr's half-siblings and almost-half-siblings came to be. Seventeen-year-old Mav finds himself raising an infant when a paternity test reveals that the child resulting from a one night stand with Iesha is his, not fellow gang member King's. In the course of a year, from the beginning of Mav's senior year in high school to the following summer, we watch them both grow in the midst of heartbreaking and life changing events. That child is Seven from "The Hate U Give," and his name finally makes more sense. Mav's girlfriend Lisa isn't sure whether she wants a relationship with a gangbanger teen dad--but we already know from "The Hate U Give" how that turned out. I appreciated that some characters' dialog was in urban slang, and others' in standard English--not "bougie," just coming from a different environment. Maverick, a superhero of sorts in "The Hate U Give," deserved an origin story, and this one fits him with grace.

This book has a great number of merits but here are two especially worth noting:

~This is a book with many people committing crimes. This is neither a book with villains nor is one that condones crime. This is a book that recognizes complexities and systematic issues. Each character has their own motives and their own lives with people who care.

~The dialectic approach to the writing sounds like someone talking instead of an off-putting caricature. It adds to the characterization of all the characters, interactions, and the world.

This is a great addition to teen collections!

Every thing Angie Thomas writes is pure gold. She developed the backstory of Maverick and made his tough exterior shine through as we learn more about his teens years. What an amazing prologue to The Hate U Give. Showing how Maverick became a dad and worked to stay away from the influences of the neighborhood and beyond gives the reader a true sense of his purpose. This is another must read for Young Adult readers. I can't wait to add this to my classroom library.

Angie Thomas has done it again. Honestly, she could write an entire series that just focuses on the lives of people we've already met from Garden Heights, and I would devour every one. Maverick is such an excellent character with the kind of backstory that is often used to vilify Black boys; Thomas takes it and shows that Mav an endearing teen who's simply trying to make the best of his situation. He's not perfect, he makes mistakes, and the reader is rooting for him every step of the way.

Yet another incredible Angie Thomas novel. Concrete Rose returns to Garden Heights and the Carter family, focusing on Starr's father Maverick's teen years in the late 90s. It's a story about a young Black man with the odds stacked against him and his devotion to his child, his family, and his neighborhood. It's obvious how much Thomas loves these complex, realistic, and familiar characters and their lives.

Plus, who doesn't love Easter eggs and references to a world we've visited before?

I'd love to read more about the families we've met in Garden Heights but even if we don't, Concrete Rose is a perfect companion novel to The Hate U Give. Just like that book, you will want to put this one into the hands of every teenager you know.

Reading Concrete Rose you are instantly transported back to the world of Garden Heights. The Hate You Give captivated millions of American readers with Star’s strength to fight against racism, social injustice, and police brutality for her people. Mav is Star’s father in THUG and Concrete Rose explores his backstory. Mav’s story is the gritty reality of what young Black boys experience in the streets of Garden Heights. Torn between the life the streets can offer and the future that Mav wants for his family this story brilliantly connects the pieces of Mav’s life to his daughter Star’s in The Hate You Give. You will not be able to put Mav’s story down and the entire time you will be rooting for him and life he chooses. This is not the fairytale ending you expect instead it’s the reality check you need.

That shoutout to Nic Stone’s character Justyce! Reading on my kindle I saw the last name MacAllister and thought no way did she... only to turn the page to see that’s exactly what she did. Aggghhh so good!
But seriously, this book is an excellent window ( or mirror) for readers to reflect upon. More thoughts to come later.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy

While "Concrete Rose" is its own story with a unique flavor, it was good to read the background stories of some characters from "The Hate U Give." To me, this story was a little more downtrodden with one bad thing after another happening to Maverick. Even with a semi-hopeful ending and knowing where the characters end up in the future, it was a rough ride experiencing everything through his eyes. It was, however, good to read a male POV where he actively tried to reject toxicity and do the things he felt were right, even if he did make mistakes from time to time. Recommended for fans of her other novels or series like Bluford High.

Maverick has learned all he knows from being Lil' Don, son of King Lord Adonis Carter. His father has been in prison since Maverick was eight, but being a King Lord is in his blood. When Maverick finds out that he's a teenage father, he is torn between being a King Lord and providing for his son.

Concrete Rose tells a story that will eventually lead to The Hate U Give, but it is it's own complete story. Readers do not have to have read The Hate U Give first, and Maverick has his own story to tell. His story is compelling and hopeful, and Angie Thomas does not disappoint in her writing. There were several times that I had to stop and reread sentences because they were just that powerful. I can't wait to share this one with students.

Back to Garden Heights

DISCLAIMER: As I said at the beginning of my review for We Had a Little Real Estate Problem, I’m a straight white dude. If I write anything that is not PC or accurate, please let me know so I can correct it. I’m still learning and I will continue to learn with your help. Enjoy!

A few years ago, I read a book called All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. It was one of the rawest, most gripping books about police brutality I’ve ever read. Around that same time, a little book called The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas also came out. You may have heard of it. Yet another scathing look at the way police interact (read: harass) young Black boys, leading to their unnecessary deaths. Both of these books were set in modern times, with references to social media and current movies.

But what did it look like when we were growing up? What did it look like to be a young Black man in the early ’00s? Angie Thomas gives us a crystal clear picture in Concrete Rose.

In this prequel to THUG, we learn about Maverick’s past and how he escaped from the King Lords. Maverick’s life is turned upside down when he finds out that the kid who everyone thought was his boy King’s is actually his. On top of that, Iesha, the mother, is struggling with her own demons and leaves Maverick high and dry with a bundle of joy who is named after his best friend. Not to mention, Maverick has to break the news to Lisa, his girl.

On top of that, he has to quit slinging drugs behind the set’s back thanks to his cousin Dre. Dre is trying to teach Mav to grow up, go straight, be a dad for his son. After getting a job with a local store, Mav starts to learn what hard work looks like all while learning how to take care of a very cranky (and sassy) baby. Soon enough, Maverick feels he can really make it and do the right thing.

But tragedy is always around the corner in the Garden. Mav hopes his commitment to his son will keep him from getting pulled under.

This book was incredible. As a parent, I could really connect with not only Maverick learning to deal with a newborn, but also his mom who just wants what’s best for her son. Maverick’s struggle as a single parent can really resonate with a lot of readers.

Parenting is obviously one of the main themes of the book, but it also deals heavily with loss, shame, fear, and rage. We see Mav try to overcome these hurdles even when everything is stacked against him. I don’t want to get in spoiler territory, so I’ll leave it at that. 5/5, 10/10

Definitely pick this book up on January 21st, 2021!

Angie Thomas has done it again. Concrete Rose is the perfect prequel to The Hate You Give. The 90s nostalgia really brought me back, and it really added to the setting of this book. This story takes you on the journey of Maverick, a seventeen year old boy who learns how to quickly become a man. After a loss in his family, and the unexpected news of becoming a father, Maverick must decide what he wants for his future. Does he follow in the footsteps of his father, or does he forge his own path? This book is a must read.

I wasn't sure any Angie Thomas book could be as good as, "The Hate You Give", but boy was I wrong. "Concrete Rose," tells the story of Maverick Carter, the father of Starr Carter when we was her age. We see Maverick struggle to do well in school, support his mom, but also take care of his kids. "Concrete Rose" was a fantastic novel that showed the struggles African American men have growing up. I cannot wait to buy this book when it out in print.

I'm going to keep this simple.

This is a must read and a must have in every single ELA classroom and library across the United States and beyond. Angie Thomas does a brilliant job at telling stories that need to be told and need to be shared. In Concrete Rose, she gives a voice to characters that don't often have their voice shared, only their stories (and well after the point they should be shared). Concrete Rose is a narrative we don't see in the media or as an educator, but we should.

I binge read the novel in one day, devouring the narrative, appreciating the language, and passionate about the story it told. It is my hope that you, as the reader, feel the same and that my fellow educators feel the need to speak about this book and make it a necessity in every classroom and library.

Another groundbreaking and eye opening book from Angie Thomas, giving the backstory of Maverick Carter (Starr's father, The Hate You Give), and is a poignant representation of Black manhood. Excellent flow and compelling character development. Thomas deals with heavy topics (teen sex and pregnancy, gang violence, death) in a way that is relatable to teens who need this book most.

Maverick Carter thinks he’s got things figured out. He’s got an amazing girlfriend, a profitable side-hustle, and friends/family to watch his back (even if his basketball skills could use some improvement). But when life comes at you, it can come at you fast, and it’s not long before Mav’s world--and everything he thought he knew--is turned upside down by surprise parenthood and heart wrenching loss.

This is the story of Big Mav (aka “the dad” in The Hate U Give) when he was still Lil Don, but in so many ways, it’s also the story of the entirety of Garden Heights. Angie Thomas does an amazing job of breathing life into her characters. Everyone has a unique voice and Maverick’s narration will suck you right in; honestly, he might as well have been sitting in the room with me, telling me his tale. It’s all so conversational and real. (The audiobook of this is bound to be amazing!)

Fans of THUG are sure to be delighted by all of the cameos and connections established or reestablished in this prequel. I often found myself wishing THUG was fresher in my memory (read that as an ARC too, so it’s been awhile) because I am sure I missed out on some details. But there were at least two moments that made me go, “Ohhhh!” with recognition of the implications they created for the future.That said, knowledge of The Hate U Give is not required. (And, honestly, having glossed back over THUG, I’m kind of glad I’d forgotten some things because it just meant I got to be surprised when the backstory played out.)

All in all, a worthy prequel and entertaining standalone.

Oh man, this book. This book is incredible, phenomenal, and groundbreaking in so many ways. Before we even get to the story, let's just focus on that cover. We have Maverick Carter, a Black man in a durag, on the cover of a novel. This is incredible, and it's going to mean so much to so many people. THIS COVER IS GORGEOUS AND BEAUTIFUL AND I WILL BE PREORDERING IT IMMEDIATELY.

Full disclose - I'm a white female educator, and I recognize that in many ways, this novel is not for me. This novel for me is a window, rather than a mirror. This is good; we absolutely, 100% need diverse books. I need more mirrors for my students so I can show them that they can be anything, do anything, dream anything. Being able to give my students The Hate U Give and On the Come Up was the best gift - this novel only adds to those stories. But this novel is for all of the young men who want to see themselves when they pick up a book. It's for all the young people trying to figure out what it means to be an adult, what it means to be "a man", and in a large part what it means to break away from our past and the pressure of what we think we should be.

*Minor Spoilers Ahead*
I want to say upfront that I absolutely loved this novel. Thomas wrote authentically and without thought for what some people (we all know which ones) were going to say. Maverick Carter sounds like a young man from Garden Heights who is trying to figure his stuff out. He's not prepared to be a father - he's certainly not prepared for two children with two different girls. He sees dealing as a way out of his problems, but as the novel goes on, he starts to question whether or not this is really what he wants, what he needs to be doing. Maverick is seriously smart, and Thomas's writing provides a window into what it means to be 17/18 and a father and trying to provide for a child while still somewhat a child yourself. How do you go to school, and work, and care for an infant? What is important, really important to you, and what gets left behind?

We know that, in the timeline of THUG, Maverick Carter does some time as a way to escape the King Lords. I was worried as I was reading that the climax of this novel was going to be that event, but it isn't and what Thomas does is much more meaningful. The final line of the novel is perfection, as is every character interaction that she writes. There's a moment late in the novel (you'll know which one once you read it) where Maverick has to make a choice and I was convinced, absolutely convinced that he had. Nope, I'm wrong. It was a phenomenal turn and I honestly cannot say enough good things about this book.

Angie Thomas is a phenomenal author, a queen of words and story. Pre-order your copies now - this is a full 5 start novel.