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A review by deereadstoo
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
5.0
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas is the prequel to The Hate U Give that follows the life of seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter as he navigates through the perils of Garden Heights and young fatherhood.
This book was something that was held really close to the heart for me because sometimes we don't get to see young Black men who are suddenly thrust into the world of fatherhood come out on the other side in the way that Maverick did. Some tend to walk away and some stay but struggle to make ends meet on the 'straight and narrow' similar to Maverick. Nobody, including Mav, said it was easy to raise a child on corner store pay or go straight when you are known as the son of a gang legend but he made the decision to do so (regardless of what may come) because he didn't want his son to see him like he sees his own father--behind bars.
The element of fatherhood is intertwined throughout this book so beautifully. From Mr. Wyatt to Big Mav, Maverick was cared about and protected by the older men in his community as he was navigating fatherhood. They made sure that Maverick understood that life wouldn't always be easy but that he would always come out on the other side with the right people helping him along. They loved this seventeen-year-old boy unapologetically and that warmed my heart because you definitely don't see that enough in the Black community and he needed it more than ever.
Maverick Carter's development throughout this book was truly magnificent to watch. He became someone that he never thought he would be all because he had people around him that truly believed in him but also he believed in himself. This book was such a great read and I highly recommend it to my young Black men out there who are struggling to find faith in themselves when life throws a curve ball your way.
This book was something that was held really close to the heart for me because sometimes we don't get to see young Black men who are suddenly thrust into the world of fatherhood come out on the other side in the way that Maverick did. Some tend to walk away and some stay but struggle to make ends meet on the 'straight and narrow' similar to Maverick. Nobody, including Mav, said it was easy to raise a child on corner store pay or go straight when you are known as the son of a gang legend but he made the decision to do so (regardless of what may come) because he didn't want his son to see him like he sees his own father--behind bars.
The element of fatherhood is intertwined throughout this book so beautifully. From Mr. Wyatt to Big Mav, Maverick was cared about and protected by the older men in his community as he was navigating fatherhood. They made sure that Maverick understood that life wouldn't always be easy but that he would always come out on the other side with the right people helping him along. They loved this seventeen-year-old boy unapologetically and that warmed my heart because you definitely don't see that enough in the Black community and he needed it more than ever.
Maverick Carter's development throughout this book was truly magnificent to watch. He became someone that he never thought he would be all because he had people around him that truly believed in him but also he believed in himself. This book was such a great read and I highly recommend it to my young Black men out there who are struggling to find faith in themselves when life throws a curve ball your way.