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4.42 AVERAGE
4.42 AVERAGE
What other author can write a story that most people already know (if you've read THUG) and yet still draw you in and lose you in the story. Angie Thomas that's who. It was wonderful and infuriating to watch Maverick evolve from a good but dumbest kid to a man who knows what it means to have family. Loved this.
"I like to be reminded that beauty can come from much of nothing."
I genuinely didn't believe that a third Angie Thomas book could possibly make me feel as many things as The Hate U Give and On the Come Up did. Like, the magic's gotta run out eventually, right? But no. Concrete Rose, the backstory of Maverick Carter (Starr Carter's father from The Hate U Give), brought me to tears just as many times as Thomas's other books did. The magic is alive and well.
"Mr. Wyatt says grief hit you in waves. Sometimes it pull me out to sea and take me under."
In this story, we see young Maverick becoming a teen father, struggling to support his growing family, and grappling with whether or not he should sell drugs for an additional income source. Maverick has lost a loved one to gang violence and has a father in prison. All of his decisions are made through the lens of wanting to avoid such a future for himself, and instead wanting to become a man that his family can be proud of.
"Ma shouldn't have to see me cry when she the one with the broken heart."
Concrete Rose is a moving, deeply empathetic tribute to the daily burdens that Black men bear: the inescapable consequences of systemic racism, the generational impact of poverty, the pressure to hide their emotions under a mask of perpetual strength, the constant fear for their & their families' lives. It may be a YA book, but in signature Angie-Thomas style, this book is deep and deserves a much broader audience than just teens / young adults.
"One of the biggest lies ever told is that black men don’t feel emotion. Guess it’s easier to not see us as human when you think we’re heartless."
Thomas's ability to bring depth and dimension to her characters is unparalleled. She shows you who they are at their core and how they got that way. In this book, she gets to the heart of Maverick's multifaceted identity and reveals who he really is: a supportive son, a loyal friend, a devoted father. He is steadfast, resilient, and caring; despite gang ties and a life in poverty, he is not who the stereotypes would have us believe him to be.
"Tough situations don’t last. Tough people do."
I loved everything about this book, and the narration provided by Dion Graham for the audiobook version added another level of depth and personality that brought the story to life even more.
——
Follow @letteredlibrary on Instagram!
I genuinely didn't believe that a third Angie Thomas book could possibly make me feel as many things as The Hate U Give and On the Come Up did. Like, the magic's gotta run out eventually, right? But no. Concrete Rose, the backstory of Maverick Carter (Starr Carter's father from The Hate U Give), brought me to tears just as many times as Thomas's other books did. The magic is alive and well.
"Mr. Wyatt says grief hit you in waves. Sometimes it pull me out to sea and take me under."
In this story, we see young Maverick becoming a teen father, struggling to support his growing family, and grappling with whether or not he should sell drugs for an additional income source. Maverick has lost a loved one to gang violence and has a father in prison. All of his decisions are made through the lens of wanting to avoid such a future for himself, and instead wanting to become a man that his family can be proud of.
"Ma shouldn't have to see me cry when she the one with the broken heart."
Concrete Rose is a moving, deeply empathetic tribute to the daily burdens that Black men bear: the inescapable consequences of systemic racism, the generational impact of poverty, the pressure to hide their emotions under a mask of perpetual strength, the constant fear for their & their families' lives. It may be a YA book, but in signature Angie-Thomas style, this book is deep and deserves a much broader audience than just teens / young adults.
"One of the biggest lies ever told is that black men don’t feel emotion. Guess it’s easier to not see us as human when you think we’re heartless."
Thomas's ability to bring depth and dimension to her characters is unparalleled. She shows you who they are at their core and how they got that way. In this book, she gets to the heart of Maverick's multifaceted identity and reveals who he really is: a supportive son, a loyal friend, a devoted father. He is steadfast, resilient, and caring; despite gang ties and a life in poverty, he is not who the stereotypes would have us believe him to be.
"Tough situations don’t last. Tough people do."
I loved everything about this book, and the narration provided by Dion Graham for the audiobook version added another level of depth and personality that brought the story to life even more.
——
Follow @letteredlibrary on Instagram!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love that Angie Thomas decide to give us Maverick's story
FRTC
MAV. All I want to do is just help him after what he's been through. This was one of those books that makes you sit back and check your privilege (mine, at least). Looking forward to reading The Hate U Give.
BTW King is sketchy AF. And I need confirmation on Now time for a fantasy book.
MAV. All I want to do is just help him after what he's been through. This was one of those books that makes you sit back and check your privilege (mine, at least). Looking forward to reading The Hate U Give.
BTW King is sketchy AF. And I need confirmation on
Spoiler
who really killed Dre - I'm still convinced there's more to it than just Red.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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:
Complicated