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4.42 AVERAGE
4.42 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
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:
Yes
This books rating is spot on. I think you really need to have read The Hate U Give before you could fully appreciate this story. I can’t believe I waited so long to read it and I’m glad I finally made myself put it in my rotation. So many good books out there but if you’ve been waiting to try this one, don’t wait any longer!
How Can You Not Love Maverick?
This story needed to be told. There are so many Mavericks out here trying to navigate this cruel world. I wanted to feel sad for him, but we already know how he blossomed. I tried not fall into the trap of comparing this to The Hate U Give. I wanted to just take this story for what it is. I did enjoy connecting the dots on the characters relationships and back stories. I absolutely love Seven’s character in both books. I’m glad that I read the first installment again. It really helped to prepare for Concrete Rose.
This story needed to be told. There are so many Mavericks out here trying to navigate this cruel world. I wanted to feel sad for him, but we already know how he blossomed. I tried not fall into the trap of comparing this to The Hate U Give. I wanted to just take this story for what it is. I did enjoy connecting the dots on the characters relationships and back stories. I absolutely love Seven’s character in both books. I’m glad that I read the first installment again. It really helped to prepare for Concrete Rose.
Concrete Rose is a lot slower and more character driven than the author's other books but I love some good introspection and it delivers! The main character fucks up so bad but you still root for him through it all because his motivations and feelings are laid out so well. The tenderness and love for these characters and their issues jump of every single page. Toxic masculinity has been dissected AND murdered. The author is just extremely talented. She can't do a book wrong.
To conclude, Angie Thomas is the only valid YA author. Sorry, I don't make the rules.
To conclude, Angie Thomas is the only valid YA author. Sorry, I don't make the rules.
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.
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
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
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.
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
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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.