A Review of "Concrete Rose," by Angie Thomas

A Review of “Concrete Rose” by Angie Thomas

Reviewed by Ronni Stiles

Concrete Rose is the latest novel by Angie Thomas, author of the bestselling The Hate U Give, whose protagonist, Starr, witnesses her best friend Khalil murdered by law enforcement.

The Hate U Give focuses mainly on the aftermath of Khalil’s death, speaking powerfully to our current crisis of police brutality against unarmed African American men, and the resistance forged against it, the Black Lives Matter movement. Concrete Rose acts as the prequel to The Hate U Give, focusing on Maverick, Starr’s father. The novel navigates through Maverick’s life as he makes his way through the obstacles of adulthood, particularly living while black.

When we first encounter Maverick, he is a young man struggling with masculinity, gang violence, drugs, and the challenges of managing fatherhood while still, himself, a student in high school. Maverick’s is the story of a young black man trying to find a way out, but lost inside the neighborhood and community he calls home. Maverick goes through many hardships, including the deaths of friends, police brutality, a father in prison, two babies, drugs, and more. However with his faith, and good people in his corner, he finds a way to overcome those struggles and becomes a man who provides for his family at all costs.

One of the central themes of Concrete Rose is resilience. As Maverick’s friend Rico tells him in an illustrative conversation,

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B O OK R E V I E W

“Tough situations don’t last. Tough People Do.” Maverick proves able to keep pushing even when the world he lives in wants him to fail. The very title of this novel speaks to this theme of perseverance—a title Tupac Shakur fans might recognize.

Shakur’s poem “The Rose that Grew from Concrete” is a metaphor for how someone can struggle in a harsh setting but still survive, and possibly even thrive. Thomas puts this theme into action in a scene where the local grocer, Mr. Wyatt, hires Maverick and has him plant roses in the garden. Maverick does not think the roses will grow in the environment they are in, but concludes they deserve a chance and plants them. The rose in this story symbolizes growth, change, patience, and development—everything Maverick needs to become the man he wants to become to provide for his family and turn his life around.

Maverick Carter is the rare black male character portrayed in a positive light. Too many stories with black fathers speak to their disappearance in their children’s lives, but not this one.

With Maverick, Thomas creates a complex and fully human man, a hero trying his best for the sake of his family.

Even though it is a “prequel” set decades ago, Conrete Rose is still speaking directly to our current moment. In addition to creating a fully-human protagonist and compelling plot, Thomas’s novel reaches beyond, speaking directly to the experience of racism and how it is finally being resisted, particularly in the Black Lives Matter movement. It is an important work. Partly because it gives voice to people who are struggling with poverty, racism, and police brutality, and partly because it presents these issues in a way that is relatable not only to similar populations, but all readers. Anyone can read this book and learn from its lessons. For this reader, it has proved important to see experiences I’ve lived through brought

RON N I S T I L E S

to the page. As a black woman, I always look for books that relate to my life and what I have been through. There simply aren’t enough books written for and marketed towards black youth. But Angie Thomas changes the game; she gives voice to our young people who live in poverty-stricken neighborhoods.

She also helps motivate young black writers who wish to get published one day. Overall, this book is a great read, and very eye-opening. The prequel showcases how the struggles Starr is living through in The Hate U Give have been going on for a long time, and that poverty and violence often breed more poverty and violence, unless extraordinary efforts or grace are visited upon us.

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