Reviews

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

beckeal's review against another edition

3.0

Well, this book wasn’t bad, but it waaaas a disappointment. It was missing the easiness and smoothness of her other two. And honestly, tho’ I hate to say it, it veered into after-school-special zone. It’s a fine line in YA when you’re trying to tell a story aaaaand make a point, and this one swayed a little too far over that line. And it was slooooowwww. Now that I lay it all out, I’m trying to figure out what kept me reading?? Maybe I wanted to see how it’d play out when Mav took the fall for King, as mentioned in THUG. But the story didn’t make it that far. Which was unsatisfying.
Aaanyway, it was still not a baaaad book. But I’m very bummed it wasn’t better.

piercethebryn's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring 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

threegoodrats's review against another edition

5.0

All I knew going into this book is that it's Maverick Carter's backstory - I didn't bother to read the description because knowing that it was a book by Angie Thomas is enough. I did not expect this to be about Maverick struggling to take care of an infant, and that was a pretty delightful surprise. He might be a tough gang member, but he's a caring person who really wants to make good choices and give his son the best life possible, and I love how he started learning about gardening. Despite all the pressure he was under from his friends, he did not worry at all about being cool. I loved this. Angie Thomas just can't write a bad book.

jemicu's review against another edition

5.0

Powerful, just like The Hate U Give. Loved the narrator and couldn’t stop listening to it. One of the best books I have read in a very long time. Important read.

mackenzie72's review against another edition

4.0

Audiobook listen

aeclark12's review against another edition

5.0

Terrific prequel to "The Hate U Give".

corinnet1's review

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

cloudyfields's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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

4.5

tinky47's review against another edition

4.0

This is Maverick’s story, set in the late 90’s.
Maverick has a beautiful girlfriend Lisa, and his boys from the Kings back him. He sells a little weed to have some money, but it’s not a big deal to him. He doesn’t really want to claim a gang, but has no choice. His father, who is serving a lengthy jail sentence, left him a legacy and he has to claim in order to be protected in the neighborhood.
Life is still pretty sweet until he finds out that he has a son by his best friend’s ex-girlfriend. With the support of his mom and older brother-like friend Dre, he starts to understand how to be a dad.
When his Dre is murdered outside his home, Maverick becomes obsessed with revenge. His life spins out of control and he starts making poor choices. Choices that make his tough life even harder.

marrenmarie's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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