A review by gracew
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • 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

5.0

This book is incredible and timely and perfect. Thomas is a master at mixing in the poetic with colloquial, turning seemingly simple sentences into literary punches that strike hard and fast, leaving the reader breathless. It brought me to tears multiple times.  I think the world needs more stories about this. Mav is a complicated person because all Black young men are complicated. He struggles with doing the right thing because we all do at some point. The way Thomas depicts his struggles is so touchingly real. I felt like I could reach through the book and hold these young people. Also, the (slight spoiler) twist of having this tie in loosely with the Dear Martin universe is AMAZING. Angie Thomas is I suspect the best living author of YA and I'm so glad that she exists to put these incredible stories out into the world. 
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