Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

 

Bibliography

Thomas, A., & Thomas, A. (2021). Concrete rose. First edition. Balzer + Bray, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.

ISBN: 9781668835357

Plot Summary

Maverick is a 17-year-old boy and that is hit with a lot of life changes. His father is in prison, he is a part of a gang, and he finds himself thrown into fatherhood. In the story, we watch him beat the odds like the rose that he is because of his community, love and accountability. 

Critical Analysis

In this story, we follow Maverick’s life. He’s a 17-year-old boy caught up in gang life and early fatherhood. He learns the hard way, through a lot of trial and error, what it means to be a parent. His mom is such a strong character. she gives him just the right amount of tough love that helps shape him into the man he’s growing to be. Maverick’s growth in embracing fatherhood challenges the stereotypes around young men in his situation. His decision to be a present and nurturing father breaks the cycle of absent fathers in his community.

That brings me to Dre. I love that Maverick has Dre in his life, and I felt like he was such an important part of the story. When Maverick was spiraling—feeling like his life wasn’t going the way he wanted, and overwhelmed with raising Seven—Dre was the one who pulled him back. Dre reminded him that he was still young and deserved to laugh and be a kid sometimes. The water gun scene especially stood out; you could feel the love and bond they shared. Dre was exactly the friend Maverick needed. It broke my heart when he lost him. That part of the story crushed me. I cried. Dre held Maverick together and pushed him to see a better path for himself. In a way, Dre’s death is what truly pushed Maverick to step up as a father, because Dre couldn’t be there for his own daughter anymore. To me, Dre symbolized what Maverick’s life could turn into if he stayed on the same destructive path.

Maverick’s mom reminded him that he was still a child, but that his choices meant he had to step up. Lisa, on the other hand, was his hope. She helped him imagine a future bigger than what he believed possible for himself.

This was a hard story to read at times because it felt so real, and it could easily be a teenager’s reality. I also know this book is being pulled off shelves in some school libraries because of the topics it brings up. I don’t agree with that at all. Teenagers can learn from this story. Taking it away only hides the tough conversations that some kids may never get from their parents.

Overall, Concrete Rose is a powerful book. I found myself feeling mad, frustrated, and sad with Maverick. At times I wanted to step into the story, to shake him, to tell him to stop, or sometimes just to hug him. That’s what made it such a great read: it pulled me in and made me care about his journey.

Review Excerpts

A heartfelt exploration of Black manhood and the power of possibility.” — People

"Thomas delivers a poignant prequel to The Hate U Give…. Maverick's story is one that offers hope, encouragement, and optimism." — Booklist (starred review)

Awards and Recognitions

2022 Michael L. Printz Award - Honor Book

2022 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults – Top Ten

Connections

• Have students put themselves in Mavericks' shoes and write about his decisions and which ones they felt were difficult. 

• Have students write about their Rose in the Concrete moment. If they haven’t had one, then write about Maverick's triumphs.