What the community thinks
summary of 183 ratings (see reviews)
Content warnings
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Gun violence (19 reviewers), Death (13 reviewers), Violence (11 reviewers), Grief (9 reviewers), Blood (6 reviewers), Drug use (5 reviewers), Drug abuse (3 reviewers), Murder (3 reviewers), Cursing (2 reviewers), Gore (2 reviewers), Racial slurs (2 reviewers), Addiction (1 reviewer), Bullying (1 reviewer), Confinement (1 reviewer), Racism (1 reviewer), and Medical trauma (1 reviewer)Moderate
Drug use (8 reviewers), Gun violence (7 reviewers), Death (6 reviewers), Racism (6 reviewers), Grief (6 reviewers), Cursing (5 reviewers), Drug abuse (5 reviewers), Addiction (4 reviewers), Violence (4 reviewers), Sexual content (3 reviewers), Murder (2 reviewers), Child death (1 reviewer), Hate crime (1 reviewer), Infidelity (1 reviewer), Mental illness (1 reviewer), Racial slurs (1 reviewer), Blood (1 reviewer), Police brutality (1 reviewer), Medical content (1 reviewer), and Stalking (1 reviewer)Minor
Addiction (5 reviewers), Death (3 reviewers), Gun violence (3 reviewers), Racial slurs (3 reviewers), Drug use (2 reviewers), Drug abuse (1 reviewer), Infidelity (1 reviewer), Racism (1 reviewer), Sexism (1 reviewer), Sexual content (1 reviewer), Violence (1 reviewer), Police brutality (1 reviewer), Grief (1 reviewer), and Abortion (1 reviewer)Moods
emotional 95%
hopeful 62%
inspiring 46%
reflective 41%
challenging 30%
tense 30%
sad 29%
funny 24%
dark 21%
informative 7%
adventurous 2%
lighthearted 2%
mysterious 0%
relaxing 0%
hopeful 62%
inspiring 46%
reflective 41%
challenging 30%
tense 30%
sad 29%
funny 24%
dark 21%
informative 7%
adventurous 2%
lighthearted 2%
mysterious 0%
relaxing 0%
Pace
fast 58%
medium 39%
slow 2%
medium 39%
slow 2%
Plot- or character-driven?
Character: 84% | A mix: 15%Strong character development?
Yes: 97% | It's complicated: 1% | No: 0%Loveable characters?
Yes: 87% | It's complicated: 9% | No: 2% | N/A: 0%Diverse cast of characters?
Yes: 95% | It's complicated: 1% | No: 1% | N/A: 0%Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 94% | It's complicated: 3% | No: 1%Average rating
Buy Concrete Rose
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International phenomenon Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give in this searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood.
If there’s one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it’s that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad’s in prison.
Life’s not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav’s got everything under control.
Until, that is, Maverick finds out he’s a father.
Suddenly he has a baby, Seven, who depends on him for everything. But it’s not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child. So when he’s offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. In a world where he’s expected to amount to nothing, maybe Mav can prove he’s different.
When King Lord blood runs through your veins, though, you can't just walk away. Loyalty, revenge, and responsibility threaten to tear Mav apart, especially after the brutal murder of a loved one. He’ll have to figure out for himself what it really means to be a man.
If there’s one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it’s that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad’s in prison.
Life’s not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav’s got everything under control.
Until, that is, Maverick finds out he’s a father.
Suddenly he has a baby, Seven, who depends on him for everything. But it’s not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child. So when he’s offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. In a world where he’s expected to amount to nothing, maybe Mav can prove he’s different.
When King Lord blood runs through your veins, though, you can't just walk away. Loyalty, revenge, and responsibility threaten to tear Mav apart, especially after the brutal murder of a loved one. He’ll have to figure out for himself what it really means to be a man.
Buy Concrete Rose
United States
Bookshop US
Other countries
Bookshop UK
Blackwell's
The StoryGraph is an affiliate of the featured links. We earn commission on any purchases made.
International phenomenon Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give in this searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood.
If there’s one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it’s that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad’s in prison.
Life’s not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav’s got everything under control.
Until, that is, Maverick finds out he’s a father.
Suddenly he has a baby, Seven, who depends on him for everything. But it’s not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child. So when he’s offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. In a world where he’s expected to amount to nothing, maybe Mav can prove he’s different.
When King Lord blood runs through your veins, though, you can't just walk away. Loyalty, revenge, and responsibility threaten to tear Mav apart, especially after the brutal murder of a loved one. He’ll have to figure out for himself what it really means to be a man.
If there’s one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it’s that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad’s in prison.
Life’s not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav’s got everything under control.
Until, that is, Maverick finds out he’s a father.
Suddenly he has a baby, Seven, who depends on him for everything. But it’s not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child. So when he’s offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. In a world where he’s expected to amount to nothing, maybe Mav can prove he’s different.
When King Lord blood runs through your veins, though, you can't just walk away. Loyalty, revenge, and responsibility threaten to tear Mav apart, especially after the brutal murder of a loved one. He’ll have to figure out for himself what it really means to be a man.
What the community thinks
summary of 183 ratings (see reviews)
Content warnings
View warnings
Graphic
Gun violence (19 reviewers), Death (13 reviewers), Violence (11 reviewers), Grief (9 reviewers), Blood (6 reviewers), Drug use (5 reviewers), Drug abuse (3 reviewers), Murder (3 reviewers), Cursing (2 reviewers), Gore (2 reviewers), Racial slurs (2 reviewers), Addiction (1 reviewer), Bullying (1 reviewer), Confinement (1 reviewer), Racism (1 reviewer), and Medical trauma (1 reviewer)Moderate
Drug use (8 reviewers), Gun violence (7 reviewers), Death (6 reviewers), Racism (6 reviewers), Grief (6 reviewers), Cursing (5 reviewers), Drug abuse (5 reviewers), Addiction (4 reviewers), Violence (4 reviewers), Sexual content (3 reviewers), Murder (2 reviewers), Child death (1 reviewer), Hate crime (1 reviewer), Infidelity (1 reviewer), Mental illness (1 reviewer), Racial slurs (1 reviewer), Blood (1 reviewer), Police brutality (1 reviewer), Medical content (1 reviewer), and Stalking (1 reviewer)Minor
Addiction (5 reviewers), Death (3 reviewers), Gun violence (3 reviewers), Racial slurs (3 reviewers), Drug use (2 reviewers), Drug abuse (1 reviewer), Infidelity (1 reviewer), Racism (1 reviewer), Sexism (1 reviewer), Sexual content (1 reviewer), Violence (1 reviewer), Police brutality (1 reviewer), Grief (1 reviewer), and Abortion (1 reviewer)Moods
emotional 95%
hopeful 62%
inspiring 46%
reflective 41%
challenging 30%
tense 30%
sad 29%
funny 24%
dark 21%
informative 7%
adventurous 2%
lighthearted 2%
mysterious 0%
relaxing 0%
hopeful 62%
inspiring 46%
reflective 41%
challenging 30%
tense 30%
sad 29%
funny 24%
dark 21%
informative 7%
adventurous 2%
lighthearted 2%
mysterious 0%
relaxing 0%
Pace
fast 58%
medium 39%
slow 2%
medium 39%
slow 2%
Plot- or character-driven?
Character: 84% | A mix: 15%Strong character development?
Yes: 97% | It's complicated: 1% | No: 0%Loveable characters?
Yes: 87% | It's complicated: 9% | No: 2% | N/A: 0%Diverse cast of characters?
Yes: 95% | It's complicated: 1% | No: 1% | N/A: 0%Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 94% | It's complicated: 3% | No: 1%Average rating