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4.42 AVERAGE
4.42 AVERAGE
“Living your life based on what other people think- aint living at all”
After reading The Hate U Give and it becoming one of my favorite books of all time I knew I had to real the prequel right away. Just as with The Hate U Give, I adored this book. After reading Concrete Rose I have establish that there is nothing Angie Thomas can write that I will not like.
In Concrete Rose, we revisit Garden Heights seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give in this searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood.
This book is a masterpiece, not only is it beautifully written, the themes it touches upon are so important. Honestly there is nothing I can write in this review that hasn’t already been said. This book is so important, so needed, so beautiful and so well written. This book although beautiful, it is not pretty, it is honest, heartbreaking, thought provoking and it shines light on topics that are so important in today’s political world.
Aside from the incredibly important political topics this book touches upon. Concrete Rose has an amazing cast of characters. To begin with, the main character of this book was one of my favorite characters from The Hate U Give, Maverick Carter. Maverick is such a strong yet sweet father and the love he has for his children filled my heart. Being able to see him 17 years before he became the adoring father of Starr was amazing. We get to see him growing up and stepping up his game the minute he knew he was going to be a father. The secondary characters are great as well, but Maverick stole my heart.
Even though this book deals with serious topics such as race, fatherhood, unplanned pregnancies and so forth, this book made me laugh out loud. Maverick is such a sweet and funny man and the banter between him and Lisa just made me smile. The plot in Concrete Rose is quieter than the plot in THUG, but I ended up really appreciating that. It was comforting to just read about a man becoming a father, and although THUG is such an important and essential book, so is this one, it is just less action packed.
My favorite part of the book by far was the ending. If you have read THUG then you know something about Maverick´s life. That moment of his life is not included in Concrete Rose, and although at first I was a bit thrown off, it ended up being by favorite thing about the story. Angie Thomas ended the book on her terms and on the moment that felt most significant to their characters and I applaud her for that.
Overall, this book was outstanding, even though I still like THUG a little bit more, this book was still a masterpiece. Angie Thomas has a way of writing stories and characters that just fell real and tug at your heartstrings. I am sad to let these characters go but I loved every minute of my reading experience.
After reading The Hate U Give and it becoming one of my favorite books of all time I knew I had to real the prequel right away. Just as with The Hate U Give, I adored this book. After reading Concrete Rose I have establish that there is nothing Angie Thomas can write that I will not like.
In Concrete Rose, we revisit Garden Heights seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give in this searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood.
This book is a masterpiece, not only is it beautifully written, the themes it touches upon are so important. Honestly there is nothing I can write in this review that hasn’t already been said. This book is so important, so needed, so beautiful and so well written. This book although beautiful, it is not pretty, it is honest, heartbreaking, thought provoking and it shines light on topics that are so important in today’s political world.
Aside from the incredibly important political topics this book touches upon. Concrete Rose has an amazing cast of characters. To begin with, the main character of this book was one of my favorite characters from The Hate U Give, Maverick Carter. Maverick is such a strong yet sweet father and the love he has for his children filled my heart. Being able to see him 17 years before he became the adoring father of Starr was amazing. We get to see him growing up and stepping up his game the minute he knew he was going to be a father. The secondary characters are great as well, but Maverick stole my heart.
Even though this book deals with serious topics such as race, fatherhood, unplanned pregnancies and so forth, this book made me laugh out loud. Maverick is such a sweet and funny man and the banter between him and Lisa just made me smile. The plot in Concrete Rose is quieter than the plot in THUG, but I ended up really appreciating that. It was comforting to just read about a man becoming a father, and although THUG is such an important and essential book, so is this one, it is just less action packed.
My favorite part of the book by far was the ending. If you have read THUG then you know something about Maverick´s life. That moment of his life is not included in Concrete Rose, and although at first I was a bit thrown off, it ended up being by favorite thing about the story. Angie Thomas ended the book on her terms and on the moment that felt most significant to their characters and I applaud her for that.
Overall, this book was outstanding, even though I still like THUG a little bit more, this book was still a masterpiece. Angie Thomas has a way of writing stories and characters that just fell real and tug at your heartstrings. I am sad to let these characters go but I loved every minute of my reading experience.
Ever since I read the book, The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas, I have been wanting to read the prequel, Concrete Rose. What better time to read it than during #BlackHistoryMonth?
The storyline focuses on 17-year-old Maverick, the father of Starr in The Hate You Give. As a high school senior, we learn of his relationship with Starr's mother, Lisa, their family history, and his life as a member of the King Lords gang.
In a life filled with drugs, guns and murder, it packs a powerful message about the choices we make and the consequences of our actions.
I highly recommend this heartfelt story. It's so realistic, thought-provoking and emotional — it gives you all the feels!
The storyline focuses on 17-year-old Maverick, the father of Starr in The Hate You Give. As a high school senior, we learn of his relationship with Starr's mother, Lisa, their family history, and his life as a member of the King Lords gang.
In a life filled with drugs, guns and murder, it packs a powerful message about the choices we make and the consequences of our actions.
I highly recommend this heartfelt story. It's so realistic, thought-provoking and emotional — it gives you all the feels!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
sad
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
Blew me away. I'd usually never go out of my way to read a book following a teenage boy (let alone set in the 1990s...I don't care for 'historical' genres) but my faith in Thomas's writing was rewarded as she knocked it out of the park once again. I will read anything she publishes.
I loved this book! What an excellent companion to The Hate U Give.
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Cursing
Hi
As prequels go, I thoroughly loved this book. (For THUG fans, this is the story of Starr's father, Maverick.) Angie Thomas is a gifted YA novelist who counties to tell beautiful, relevant, and important stories. In Concrete Rose, she touches on the topic of masculinity in the Black community, as well as teen parenthood, gangs, and the US education system. I found it insightful and touching.
I loved this prequel! I was nervous it wouldn’t be as good as The Hate U Give but it held up!
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced