Concrete Rose
Thomas, A. (2021). Concrete Rose. NY: Balzer+Bray.
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas centers around Maverick Malcolm Carter, who is the son of one of the original King Lords in Garden Heights. He hangs out with his cousin, Dre, his best friend, King, and Shawn, Rico, P-Nut, and Junie. They are all members of the King Lords.
One day Maverick finds out that a one-night stand with Iesha, King's on and off again girlfriend, ended up with her getting pregnant--with his baby. After a DNA test proves the baby is not King's, Iesah abandons King Jr. with Mav and disappears. Later, Dre, who had cleaned up his lifestyle to care for his family, helps Mav by getting him a part-time job with Mr. Wyatt. Mav comes clean to his current girlfriend, Lisa, about the baby and she breaks up with him. For the next month, Mav focuses on school and working for Mr. Wyatt. One night, Dre surprises Mav with a water gun fight and pizza, which they eat in Dre's car. While Mav is in the house checking on his son, Seven, he hears gunshots outside. By the time Mav gets back to the car, Dre is dead. Mav has a hard time dealing with Dre's death and after the funeral ends up having unprotected sex with his ex, Lisa.
After Dre's death, all Mav thinks about is finding out who killed him. But later, Lisa finds out she is pregnant. Mav has to figure out what it takes to be a man, even though he is only 17 with a son and another baby on the way. He has to decide if the gang and drug life is for him, or if he can change his future.
Concrete Rose is a powerful novel about hardships and perseverance. Angie Thomas has a way with words and is able to pull you in the story. You can feel, hear, and be a part of every chapter. You can't help but feel empathy for Maverick as he struggles with being a teen parent and I love that it was told from a male point of view.
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