Reviews with content warning for Racism - Betoniruusu

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Betoniruusu by Angie Thomas

80 reviews

amradio's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.5

Honestly this book was real good
An emotional ride the entire way through

From Dre's death, to Mav almost killing Red to all the babies to King being an ass

This books covers so many different topics and it actually works and doesn't feel like it's trying to do the most
I also love how complex all of the character relationships are

especially when it's obvious to everyone but Mav that his Ma and Moe are together
But I also loved Iesha, as bad as it is that she kinda left Seven with Mav, like Mav you just gotta feel for her

The only character I truly grew to dislike was ofc King, even tho he's also a bit complicated he really just ends up being reasonably and perfectly unlikeable

love the rose quote about cutting off what won't let them grow which is pretty much Mav needing to cut off King

I could probably go on and on but I'm surprised I ended up liking it so much considering I wasn't too sure if I would when i started

Content Warnings

bratlingling's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective 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

4.0

Read it in go, really loved the characters, the plot is not really finished and more just a chapter in the main character's life

Content Warnings

rachel1's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional inspiring reflective 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

4.25

Concrete Rose tells the story of Maverick Carter, the father of the Starr from The Hate U Give, as a seventeen-year-old. The story is not a list of everything that happens to the character before the events of The Hate U Give, as a lot of big events happen after this story takes place. If that's what you were expecting, it may disappoint you. Instead, it focuses on this one year of his life, the year that his eldest son Seven is born and the year Lisa becomes pregnant with Starr. The book shows us his family, something we never see in The Hate U Give. But what this book is really about is to shine a light on the experiences of black teenage boys in lower-income neighbourhoods and to humanise them when others will demonise them, and to depict a different side of black life than The Hate U Give. The book serves humanise gang members and shows why people get stuck in gangs and why it may often be necessary, while not shying away from the inherent violence involved. It subverts stereotypes of black teenage parents -- Maverick, instead of abandoning his son like is stereotypical, instead raises him almost on his own. Lisa, instead of being portrayed as an irresponsible slut, is intelligent and responsible and trying desperately to do what she thinks is right for her unborn daughter. While she wants to have and keep this baby rather than have an abortion or give her up for adoption, the book doesn't depict either of the other two options as bad options, nor does it judge her for choosing to keep the baby. Iesha, Seven's mother, is also given a more sympathetic portrayal than she was in The Hate U Give, depicted as a teenage mother going through post-partum depression. That was one of my biggest issues with The Hate U Give, where Iesha was depicted as a whore and a gold-digger and was only really given any sympathy towards the end. While those issues are not gotten rid of entirely, she is still depicted as a gold-digger and judged for her sexuality, the added dimension to her character is an improvement. One of my issues is that the book ended quite abruptly. I didn't expect everything to happen in this book, we know the important stuff that happens to Maverick from The Hate U Give, we don't need to see it all, but I would like to see just a little more

perhaps ending with the birth of Starr

Content Warnings

shoelady523's review against another edition

Go to review page

reflective

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

jessthanthree's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

carolinalopezwatt's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

kelly_e's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful 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

4.0

Title: Concrete Rose
Author: Angie Thomas
Series: The Hate U Give, #0
Genre: YA
Rating: 4.0
Pub Date: January 12, 2021

T H R E E • W O R D S

Authentic • Vital • Revealing

📖 S Y N O P S I S
Concrete Rose returns to Garden Heights where young Maverick Carter knows the importance of family. The son of a former gang legend, Mav does the only thing he knows: dealing for the King Lords. Mav thinks he has everything under control, that is until he finds out he is a father. When offered the opportunity to get it out, he takes it, but it isn't easy.

💭 T H O U G H T S

Another extremely powerful story from Angie Thomas! Tackling similar topics, this one follows Mav as he tries to navigate being a father, a son, a high school student, and a gang member. I really enjoyed getting to know his character more and the offering of a new perspective. It tackles pervasive stereotypes about young black men, and for me, it really humanizes the young black male experience. There is so much realness to the characters, and the pacing is spot on.

Some of the aspects I really appreciated were Mr. & Mrs. Wyatt as parental figures - they endeared themselves to me instantly. Secondly, I absolutely loved the metaphorical and symbolic nature of the title (revealed at the end), as well as, the chapter headings. Sometimes it is the little things that can be so powerful.

On a personal note, I tend to struggle with prequels that come out afterwards, and in the beginning I had trouble keeping track of the characters in relation to THUG. I'd be curious if this would have been the case it I'd read this one first. With that said, it can easily be read as a standalone, but my advice would be to read it before THUG for context.

I didn't love Concrete Rose as much as The Hate U Give, there is so denying Angie Thomas is a supremely gifted writer and I will without a doubt be picking up anything and everything she writes.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• THUG fans
• contemporary readers

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Bushes? Them things look like twigs. 'You only putting roses in this bed?'
'That's the plan. Roses need space to grow. Why you ask?'
He got greens, green beans, tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries - all kinds of fruits and vegetables out here. 'Seems like a lot of space to give something you can't eat.'
'You might be right,' he admits. 'I like to be reminded that beauty can come from much of nothing. To me that's the whole point of flowers.'"

Content Warnings