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Prequel to the amazing YA, The Hate U Give. Similar metaphors: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, growth from struggle & hardship. Also reminiscent lyrics from Ben E King's 1960 song: There is a rose in Spanish Harlem. . . It's growing in the street right up through the concrete. And most obvious, the poem by Tupac Shakur: Long live the rose that grew from concrete
when no one else ever cared.
#Roses #FeelintheLove @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

4.5⭐️/5⭐️

First #bookhaul of the new school year. Damn you, BookOutlet.

5/5
So so so good. Angie Thomas does it again! ❤️

Great audiobook!!

This prequel to The Hate U Give follow‘s Starr‘s dad, Maverick, as he becomes a teenage father and tries to plan for his future. I was skeptical about liking it as much, but I really enjoyed Maverick‘s voice and journey.

“Roses can bloom in the hardest conditions.”

this is such a good prequel to “the hate that you give”. i like how this story follows the males perspective and gives insight on his circumstances. its a very real and emotional read, i cried multiple times. this is a high favorite at the moment. #bookworm #bookathon #ilovebooks

Angie Thomas writes another book that keeps me hooked and reading.
#roll100

I haven‘t read Concrete Rose yet, but I guess I better move it closer to the top of my TBR, cuz it looks like we‘ve got new Angie Thomas material coming soon!

Who else saw this announcement? Whose excited/freaking out a little bit?!?

She‘s the author who gave me a new appreciation for what we can learn from telling stories that are works of fiction when fiction reads aren‘t really my go to.

Can‘t wait for what she has for us up next!! 👏🏻

Excellent story. Angie Thomas never fails. This was emotional and very real to read. I loved that it was written from the male perspective because it really added something to the story that was unique from her other books. I loved the fact that the characters displayed so much strength and growth in their own ways and the ending was perfect!

So good! This is a sort of prequel to The Hate You Give—focusing on Maverick and Lisa at age 17. Maverick‘s story is compelling even while being about characters that are often portrayed as the “bad guys”. I couldn‘t put it down.

#AnyFlowerInTitle #BigJuneReadathon @Clwojick

Concrete rose this is a thrilling gang theme book a decision between staying in the gang or to not end up like his father and provide for his new son. Dose he change everything or go down the path his dad did. This is book very good it hooked me in right Away the theme is loyalty, theme and family the theme presents them selfs when he make his decision to take care of his new family or stay in the gang.

For my first post, I thought I'd make it about one of my favorite books of all time... Concrete Rose! 🌹

Just finished this amazing audio. The prequel to “The Hate U Give” tells the story of 17year old Maverick Carter, father to young Seven with a baby girl in the way, and a member of the King Lords. This is an excellent look at masculinity and manhood. I found myself incredibly invested in Mav‘s life and the choices he was making… even vaguely remembering the details of THUG and knowing how some things work out in the end.

3-5 Apr 22 (audiobook)
Prequel to The Hate You Give, this is the coming-of-age story of 17yo Maverick, Starr‘s dad, and the many challenges he faces as he is forced from being a teen into premature adulthood. Gang-banging, the lure of drug money, teenage pregnancy, battling the legacy of his father, the violent death of those he loves and all whilst juggling school.
I really loved this. The narrator was superb and Maverick is a great character.

A powerhouse of a book… it perfectly illustrated the struggles of a young man who is trying to balance being a father with the expectation of his family and community. Beautifully told in a way that makes you feel the struggle along with the characters!

The prequel to “The Hate U Give”. Maverick is a low level dealer until a surprise paternity test proves he has a 3 month old son. Growing up with his father in prison for dealing, Maverick wants a different future for his kid. But he struggles in school, struggles with money and the guilt of people telling him he needs to avenge the murder of his cousin. The apple doesn‘t fall far from the tree but maybe with a push, it can roll far enough away.

The audio reader definitely brought the characters to life. The main character, Maverick, & his girlfriend, Lisa, reminded me of some of a few people I met and befriended along my adolescence and, at times, myself. As a black youth, growing up in the inner city, one is constantly faced w/ the question, am I this, or am I this. We look to the elders in our environment to support our belief in ourselves until we can stand without the scaffolding♥️

Over the next few weeks, Maverick worked hard to be the father his son deserved; he focused on school, worked for Mr. Wyatt and took care of his son, whom he renamed Seven. All seemed to be going well for Mav, but it all fell apart just as things began to improve. After an evening with his cousin Dre, Maverick quickly ran inside to check on his son but was caught by the sounds of gunshots echoing in his street.

Angie Thomas is my hero, I swear. I‘ll read anything she writes and I‘m SO glad I finally got to this one. Amazing book 🌹♥️

During Wider Reading ( silent reading of a book of choice) I began this book. Only 39 pages in and I am hooked. #AngieThomas #booksandcoffee

I truly enjoyed this story of young parenthood. Maverick tried so hard to be a man and I appreciated his journey.

Sequel to The Hate you Give, Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas follows the life of seventeen year old Maverick Carter as he experiences the struggles of adulthood. Being the son of a former gang member, Mav struggles to find his balance between school, life and the King Lords. When an unexpected DNA test confirms he is the father to a 3 month old, Maverick‘s whole life turns upside down.

Wowza, @MidnightBookGirl ! You sure know how to spoil a fellow Litten! I was reading @wanderinglynn ‘s post about it being the 30th in Japan, and my son (who is usually too cool to bother) ran to get the #HHS package. From dancing solar skeleton to The Raven chocolate bar and pumpkin spice candle to fuzzy socks, there are so many awesome goodies! Then there are also 4 books that look fantastic! You really captured my style! I‘m spoiled. Thank you!

Absolutely perfect. A perfect gift book because I honestly can‘t think of a person who wouldn‘t enjoy it. I didn‘t know it was the prequel to The Hate U Give until halfway through. It‘s wonderful that it is, but it stands alone just fine.

I am loving every second of this one. Absolutely perfect.

A great backstory to The Hate U Give! Glad I finally read it! #bookspinbingo

I love when books can help me see how someone else lives. 🌹🌹🌹
This book follows a teen boy who becomes a dad. Not having had this experience myself, I can‘t say if it was accurately written, but it felt real when I was reading it. The characters and relationships were deep and complex and so fulfilling to follow through the story. Well written, wouldn‘t change a thing. Thanks to the author for sharing this world with me! :)

This was SUCH a perfect prequel to The Hate U Give. 👏👏

Finally finished my #bookspin! Absolutely loved it, like I thought I would. Angie Thomas is a brilliant author.

Happy Sunday 🤗 Has anyone taught Angie Thomas in a high school setting? I have a group of students who would respond really well to her writing, I think.

I ordered Concrete Rose from Book Outlet, and they sent me a signed first edition. 😍 I totally didn't expect that!

This was hard to read, but SO worth it. In The Hate U Give Maverick Carter is the no-nonsense father of the MC. He‘s an ex gang member, formerly incarcerated man who fathered two children as a teenager. He has become a pillar of the community and works hard to help his kids avoid the kinds of mistakes he made.
In THIS book though, we meet him as a teenager as he is learning all these difficult life lessons. Great book. Makes me want to reread THUG

Loving this book so far- especially these details that make Garden Heights come to life. Lawless the MC‘s father in On the Come Up- set in the same neighborhood.

Liked Maverick‘s story better than I thought I would. I want to rewatch The Hate U Give now that I know the back history.

Thank you for the tag, @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🌹 💗

I'm tagging all my friends that come along here 💗 🌹

#ThinkPositiveBePositive

I rarely give 5 stars, it needs a lot, but this book deserved each and every star. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me forget the world. In the midst of mostly 2.5-3 stars books, this book saved me from a reading slump. I just couldn't get enough of Mav, and adore the way Thomas describes his development ❤

Excellent! Angie Thomas comes through again with such an impactful book as we get to learn Maverick's backstory. Definitely recommend!

Book 20 #YApril Maverick‘s younger days...a hopeful coming of age story amidst the harsh throes of Garden Heights.

Starting this new purchase

Angie Thomas really makes characters come alive.

#YApril book 13