Saturday 2 January 2021

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Concrete Rose (The Hate U Give, #0)

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.
 

Concrete Rose (The Hate U Give, #0)


If you're reading this review, you're already familiar with THUG, Angie's record breaking first book. This book serves as a prequel, showing us Starr's parents seventeen years before they were born as they - mostly her father, Maverick - are thrown into parenthood before they're remotely ready. If you haven't read THUG, don't worry, this stands completely on its own as a read.

Angie writes realistic characters in realistic situations, and this one is no different. Maverick's fear and frustration come through clearly as he struggles to raise a child and faces having another. He's very clearly a boy in over his head, trying to do his best without necessarily knowing what that is. He does make mistakes, but they're very understandable.

I enjoyed this very much. There were a few spots where I genuinely couldn't tell what was going to happen, and I love that. This is a fantastic addition to the Garden Heights series and I can't wait to see what Angie gives us next.



Concrete Rose publishes on the 12th January, 2021 in both the USA (top image) and the UK (lower image).

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