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4.42 AVERAGE
4.42 AVERAGE
I went into this book thinking I knew what I was getting into. I didn’t. The honesty and rawness in this story touched me deeply, and the new perspectives on characters from The Hate U Give reminded me yet again that there is so much I don’t understand - cannot wholly understand - and so much I must still learn.
4.5 stars. Just slightly below THUG for me, but only slightly.
It took me a minute to get started as I was listening to it, and I’m always a slow starter with audiobooks. But once I got about 30% in, I couldn’t stop. I listened to it while brushing my teeth, driving to work, packing my daughter’s lunch - I listened all. The. Time.
I cried multiple times. I laughed with the characters. My heart ached for their losses. Concrete Rose needed to be told. A story for the black boys in the inner cities who get railroaded into gangs and drug dealing, often told they can’t do anything else. Mav thought that too, but then he believed in himself, and he fought his way out. It might sound corny as hell (as Mav would say) but it’s not. Highly, highly recommend.
It took me a minute to get started as I was listening to it, and I’m always a slow starter with audiobooks. But once I got about 30% in, I couldn’t stop. I listened to it while brushing my teeth, driving to work, packing my daughter’s lunch - I listened all. The. Time.
I cried multiple times. I laughed with the characters. My heart ached for their losses. Concrete Rose needed to be told. A story for the black boys in the inner cities who get railroaded into gangs and drug dealing, often told they can’t do anything else. Mav thought that too, but then he believed in himself, and he fought his way out. It might sound corny as hell (as Mav would say) but it’s not. Highly, highly recommend.
My favorite part of this book was the interaction between Maverick and his family - Seven, Ma, and Adonis. I do feel like this is only half a book - there is no a resolution as to what transpired between King and Mav that was he was able to leave the gang. Maybe there's a book 2?
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked it. It was solid. I suffered with Maverick.
Not as good a The Hate U Give but also better then On The Come Up. All these books are amazing and you should definitely read them all!
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this prequel to THE HATE U GIVE. It had been a few years since I read it, so I watched the movie. I think doing so helped keep this family’s storyline in perspective. Maverick is a character worth admiring. Lots of life lessons in this story.