Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

59 reviews

zombiezami's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad tense fast-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Classism, Violence, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Murder, Death, Pregnancy, and Bullying

Moderate: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Excrement, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Stalking, Vomit, Drug use, Police brutality, Mental illness, Medical content, Death of parent, Confinement, and Addiction

Minor: Slavery, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcohol

Incarcation, Gang violence

btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Murder

Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, and Racism

Minor: Vomit, Bullying, and Cursing

asourceoffiction's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

When I read The Hate U Give a few years ago, I fell completely in love with Starr and her family, and the whole community. So it was so good to revisit them. Maverick felt like a character with a huge backstory and I loved being able to delve into that.

In THUG, Mav has his shit together and he's a calming, safe presence for his kids. So it's kind of comforting and sweet to see him as a scared kid who's in way over his head, and how he develops from one extreme to the other.

It's funny, even knowing the outcome of this book I still had my heart in my mouth at times. This is another heartbreaking story from a community beset by tragedy, but with so much love at its heart. Going so deeply into Mav's history and learning more about him made me want to go back to THUG and see how much I missed the first time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Pregnancy, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Racism

brookey8888's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow was this a good book. I’m so happy she decided to write this because maverick was probably one of if not my favorite character in the hate you give. I just really enjoyed getting his back story and to see how certain things came to be. This talks about such important topics. I really liked the characters in this especially the family. This book had me going through all the emotions. I’m so glad I finally read this one and enjoyed it. Plus the cover is gorgeous. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Classism, Murder, Racism, Drug use, Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, and Violence

vercopaanir's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It made me furious about the state of our nation and emotional and hopeful for Maverick and his family. I loved it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Grief, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Violence, and Drug use

Moderate: Addiction, Gore, Drug abuse, and Excrement

Minor: Abandonment, Biphobia, Medical content, and Slavery

cranedphoenix's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Honestly this book was real good
An emotional ride the entire way through 

Spoiler

From Dre's death, to Mav almost killing Red to all the babies to King being an ass

This books covers so many different topics and it actually works and doesn't feel like it's trying to do the most
I also love how complex all of the character relationships are

Spoiler

especially when it's obvious to everyone but Mav that his Ma and Moe are together
But I also loved Iesha, as bad as it is that she kinda left Seven with Mav, like Mav you just gotta feel for her

The only character I truly grew to dislike was ofc King, even tho he's also a bit complicated he really just ends up being reasonably and perfectly unlikeable

Spoiler

love the rose quote about cutting off what won't let them grow which is pretty much Mav needing to cut off King

I could probably go on and on but I'm surprised I ended up liking it so much considering I wasn't too sure if I would when i started

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Racism, Drug use, and Drug abuse

Minor: Abandonment

bratlingling's review

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Read it in go, really loved the characters, the plot is not really finished and more just a chapter in the main character's life

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Cursing, Gun violence, and Murder

Moderate: Death of parent, Racism, and Police brutality

storyphile's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Pregnancy, and Drug abuse

Minor: Abortion

takesthecake_'s review

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Spoiler

Beautiful rich story and beautiful characters and messages. It gave me a hug. I read it at a time when I most needed it. A story about making hard decisions when there’s no clear pathway. Maverick means independent thinker. 

Hope that it can help and resonate with young teens especially. Full of love and grace that is the glue that holds these pages together. A prequel just as engaging as Starr’s and Bree’s story. 



“I can prune them if you want. These canes don’t look good” …

…”It’s kinda like how we have to do with ourselves. Get rid of things that don’t do us any good.” 


“But maybe it’s time I start surprising myself.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Death

Minor: Drug abuse

kalzeb's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Addiction, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Murder, Grief, and Gun violence

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Abortion