First we met Starr Carter in The Hate U Give. In the prequel, Concrete Rose, we understand who Maverick Carter is and what it was like growing up in the Garden.
Concrete Rose is Thomas’ third novel and serves to provide more insight into who Maverick Carter is. Mav was a teenage father struggling to finish school, provide for himself and his son, trying to choose between the street life and living the straight and narrow, as well as expecting a second child. Trying to juggle all these things, he meets the crossroads of living up to his father’s street reputation or forging a path for himself.
My Review
I love Angie Thomas’ writing style. There is an ease when reading her books that truly connects you with the characters. With the success of The Hate U Give, both book and film, it seemed dire that we need more information on The Carters. As I was reading the book, I was trying to connect the dots with what I know from T.H.U.G. and Concrete Rose.
I do appreciate a new perspective on teenage parenting. So often we hear stories of teenage mothers, so much that it is a whole reality show franchise about it, but we rarely hear of the experiences of teenage fathers. Additionally, the subtle messaging of being a teenage mother that was suffering with postpartum depression and not exactly knowing how to cope with it.
Another aspect that I appreciated was the idea that you do not need to walk in your parent’s shadow. Maverick’s father was a hood legend which put pressure on Maverick to emulate his father’s reign, but he just did not have it in him and that is okay. It’s kind of like how Michael Jordan had sons that did not also become basketball superstars. While that must hurt Jordan’s ego just a bit, his children had to live in their own truth and maybe basketball just was not it.
My overall rating for the book was ⅘ stars. While I loved the plot, the climax and ending left me wanting more, of course. It definitely did what a prequel is expected to do. I also think Thomas’ could have written with film or TV adaptation in mind. I look forward to whatever else she puts out!
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