Reviews with content warning for Police brutality - Concrete Rose

I loved “The Hate U Give” audiobook when it first came out and was so excited when Thomas wrote a prequel, centering around Starr’s beloved father’s teen years. It did not disappoint!

Seventeen year old Maverick is dealing drugs and part of a gang, just like his incarcerated father. He’s trying to help his mother out with the bills and be the man of the house: when suddenly, he becomes a father himself. Maverick realizes how much is at stake and wants to stay on the right side of the law, but needs money to support his family. He quickly has to learn to grow up and navigate parenthood, school, and leaving a gang all at once.

Maverick is one of my favorite characters from “The Hate U Give” and it was so fulfilling to see his roots. Thomas, as usual, writes about racism, class, and gangs with expert complexity - especially for a YA novel. This novel even folds in bisexuality in the Black community. She is an auto buy author for me and I can’t wait to read what she writes next.

If you like audiobooks, I highly recommend this series in this medium. The narrators cast are perfect, bringing these characters to life fully.

⚠️Trigger Warning: Infidelity, Drugs, Gang Violence, Blood, Death, Gun Violence, Police Brutality

Content Warnings

morganperks's review

Go to review page

emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

kthedestroyer's review

Go to review page

challenging hopeful informative 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

4.0

Okay so... I don't really have much to say about this book.
I really liked the pacing and the writing style which is probably the main reason that I really enjoyed reading it. I wasn't really expecting the whole novel to be around very convenient baby-making but okay, whatever. It was fine I guess. The story isn't something that I would normally enjoy but as I said earlier, there are other attributes to it.
The characters are enjoyable and they usually feel like real people in real-life situations. I like Thomas's representation of black people and their life in her books but still... how can no one use a condom on those streets? Like, everyone has babies at 17. And then they repeat their mistakes. Yeah, it's very convenient but that's just a minor observation.
Overall the book was good and would be great to get me out of a reading slump.

Content Warnings

memorable's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective fast-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

4.75

I really liked learning more about Maverick, the struggles he faced and how he overcame them to become the man he is in THUG. Reading this book also makes me wanting to reread THUG. I loved Mav's development to become a father to Seven and also to Star (just as we know from THUG). And I think his depiction is also a pretty important one.
Can't wait for the next Angie Thomas' book for sure!

Content Warnings

shannonigans322's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful 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

3.75

I am always a fan of an origin story. I wish I had given the hate u give a re-read/listen before diving into this audiobook to ensure I caught every single reference, but it was still very enjoyable. Angie Thomas has a way of examining the privilege of others in a very sophisticated manner; it never feels prescriptive or shoved in your face. I absolutely loved how the first-person narration allowed us to experience the intense emotions right along with Maverick; he even acknowledges that Black men are raised not to show vulnerability, which makes his thought processes even more poignant. Bonus points for unexpected bisexuality!

Content Warnings