msethna's review
5.0
Concrete Rose is a MUST read for those who loved The Hate You Give. The prequel takes us back to when Maverick Carter is a 17 year old boy, struggling to find his way, living in the shadow of his gang leader father. Between gang life, a girlfriend who wants more out of life than the gang, and his best friend/cousin Dre who keeps him out of trouble, Maverick was doing okay until he found out he is a teenage father.
I now need to go back and reread The Hate You Give as now I understand Star and Seven's father so much better.
***Thank you Angie Thomas for releasing your new novel to NetGalley early.*** I can't wait to purchase several copies of this for students in my classroom.
I now need to go back and reread The Hate You Give as now I understand Star and Seven's father so much better.
***Thank you Angie Thomas for releasing your new novel to NetGalley early.*** I can't wait to purchase several copies of this for students in my classroom.
ireallywantobeareader's review
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
akvolcano's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I read The Hâte U Give a couple years ago, and I really loved that book. I think the author did an amazing job of telling the fathers story! I don’t know which book I enjoyed more, but both are definitely worth the read. I listened to this book, and I could picture everything going on. Felt like an interactive movie. Would greatly recommend.
bibliophilehag's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
carlys987's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The character work in this one is so dang good. You can tell how much Angie Thomas has grown as a writer since The Hate U Give, which is saying something because I also really loved that book back in the day. Maverick is a character who will you be so frustrated with, even while you want to let him cry on your shoulder and give him a juice box. He, and everyone in his community, deserve so much more than they have been dealt, and I'm glad that Thomas is telling the stories of people like him.
paigedc's review
4.0
If you've been living under a rock and haven't read The Hate U Give, it's time to start there. The story of Starr finding her voice in the wake of police brutality and divisive violence is a must. Concrete Rose is the prequel, the origin story of Starr's father Maverick and how he came to be the influential man in her life. It was a very tough road for him.
Growing up male in Garden Heights means that you are likely destined to 1) belong to a gang, 2) sell drugs, 3) die young, 4) struggle. Mav embodies several of these stereotypes, already a member of a gang, flunking out of high school, witnessing his best friend's murder, and fathering two kids with two different girls--all before he's 18. Through this book, we see him struggle to make ends meet, work a basic job and "sling" on the side, and wonder if his life will ever end up being different. It's cool to read how his life ebbs and flows, knowing how things are in The Hate U Give.
Angie Thomas is an excellent writer, and she completely captures an entirely different voice from Starr here in Mav's book. It's written in a slang style, perfect for someone in his situation. It is raw and honest, and Thomas chooses to examine how the toxic cult of masculinity influences Mav. He's taught to "keep his head up", to not cry, to do what he has to do, to keep his feelings in check, etc. It's a very insightful look into how men (especially what I presume inner-city Black men) are taught to act.
You really should read T.H.U.G., and then go back for this one. They're eye-opening and powerful.
Growing up male in Garden Heights means that you are likely destined to 1) belong to a gang, 2) sell drugs, 3) die young, 4) struggle. Mav embodies several of these stereotypes, already a member of a gang, flunking out of high school, witnessing his best friend's murder, and fathering two kids with two different girls--all before he's 18. Through this book, we see him struggle to make ends meet, work a basic job and "sling" on the side, and wonder if his life will ever end up being different. It's cool to read how his life ebbs and flows, knowing how things are in The Hate U Give.
Angie Thomas is an excellent writer, and she completely captures an entirely different voice from Starr here in Mav's book. It's written in a slang style, perfect for someone in his situation. It is raw and honest, and Thomas chooses to examine how the toxic cult of masculinity influences Mav. He's taught to "keep his head up", to not cry, to do what he has to do, to keep his feelings in check, etc. It's a very insightful look into how men (especially what I presume inner-city Black men) are taught to act.
You really should read T.H.U.G., and then go back for this one. They're eye-opening and powerful.
dana_dew's review
4.0
Read the book in 2 sittings... would have been one if not for the fact I needed to sleep.
Ready to read The Hate U Give ... just picked it up from the library.
Ready to read The Hate U Give ... just picked it up from the library.
lynndeeslibrary's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0