Book Review: Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

 


1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Thomas, A. (2021). Concrete Rose. Balzer + Bray, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.

ISBN: 978-0062846716

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

If there’s one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it’s that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad’s in prison.

Life’s not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav’s got everything under control. Until that is, Maverick finds out he’s a father. Suddenly he has a baby, Seven, who depends on him for everything. But it’s not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child. So when he’s offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. In a world where he’s expected to amount to nothing, maybe Mav can prove he’s different. When King Lord blood runs through your veins, though, you can't just walk away. Loyalty, revenge, and responsibility threaten to tear Mav apart, especially after the brutal murder of a loved one. He’ll have to figure out what it really means to be a man.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This novel is a prequel to “The Hate U Give”. I have not read that book, but I wish I had started with that novel first. I initially found this book to be a bit stereotypical and the front covered added to my initial thoughts. However, I enjoyed this novel about the everyday struggles of a young African American boy trying to provide for his family. As I kept reading I found that Mav had so much depth. This book was excellently written, and honestly, it took me down a roller coaster of emotions. As a parent, I can relate to doing everything I can to provide for my children, whom I adore more than anything. This novel also did an excellent job of characterizing Mav. As a reader, I really enjoyed learning more about him as a person. In certain situations, we saw the different emotions Mav was going through, making him more relatable. This story starts by depicting Mav, the main character, as being born into the world of gangs and becoming a drug dealer because that is how he can help provide for his family, but then discovers he’s a dad and decides to make an honest living. Life is not easy; it is full of choices, and I think this book showcases that by presenting Mav with different obstacles he must overcome.   Thinking about the African American culture, I think this book is stereotypical as it depicts Mav. However, as we begin to see how Mav changes, those stereotypical characteristics begin to disappear.  I also think some language used, like “homie,” is also stereotypical.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

* A Printz Honor Winner                                                            

Starred review in Publishers Weekly: “Thomas brings her trademark wit, nostalgic love of the 1990s and all things R&B and hip-hop, and her penchant for heartfelt characterization to this first-person exploration of Maverick Carter’s coming-of-age.”

Starred review in Horns Book: "Authentic to the point of heartbreak, Maverick’s voice is earnest as he wrestles with his decisions. Fans of Thomas’s work will not be disappointed in this intense portrayal of this phase in the Carter family’s story."

Starred review in School Library Journal: “This is the perfect example of a narrative that straddles the beauty and pain of belonging and having the courage to make your own choices…. Thomas writes with a depth of humor and clarity that really allows readers to bond with the characters.”

Starred review in Kirkus Review: “This literary DeLorean transports readers into the past, where they hope, dream, and struggle alongside beloved characters from Thomas’ The Hate U Give…. Thomas proves Game of Thrones–esque in her worldbuilding ability, deepening her landscape without sacrificing intimacy or heart.”

5. CONNECTIONS

* Engage students to analyze some of the character traits that describe Maverick Carter. Have students discuss what those traits represent and how they help develop Mav’s character.

* Have students think about and reflect on the different choices Maverick had to make. Ask them think about how his choices develop his character. Have students write a narrative explaining how his choices impact their judgement of Mav’s character. Encourage them to use examples from the text.

*Other books by Angie Thomas

Thomas, A. (2020). On the come up. Balzer + Bray, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN: 978-0062498588

Thomas, A., & Sternberg, A. (2022). The hate u give. Harper Collins Publishers.

ISBN: 978-0062498540

This book review was written for an SHSU MLS course. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

Image
  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Green, J. (2014). The fault in our stars. Penguin Random House Australia. ISBN: 014242417X 2.  PLOT SUMMARY This novel is written from the perspective of a 16-year-old girl, Hazel, who is diagnosed with cancer. At the beginning of the story we learn that Hazel suffers from depression because of her cancer and her parents force her to join a support group.  This is where she meets Augustus, a 17-year-old boy who is in remission and attends the meeting in support of his friend Isaac, who also has cancer. Hazel and Augustus begin to develop a strong bond and during a trip to Amsterdam both teenagers confess their love for one and other. Shortly after the trip, Augustus tells Hazel that his cancer has returned and as his health worsens. He is then admitted to the hospital where he later dies. 3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS Well, where to start…to be honest this was not one of my top choices when deciding on which novel to read. I obviously knew what the story was about to some exten
Read more

Book Review: A Home for Mr. Emerson

Image
  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Kerley, B., & Fotheringham, E. (2014). A home for mr. Emerson. Scholastic Press. ISBN: 0545350883 2.  PLOT SUMMARY The book tells the wonderful life story of Ralph Waldo Emerson, young boy who “longed to live amid broad, open fields and deep, still woods” and later went on to become a great writer. The story starts by sharing his life as a young boy and continues through the different stages of his life from meeting his wife to losing his home to a fire. 3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS This biography is fantastic! Kerley and Fotheringham do an outstanding job of writing this book like a story not so much a biography, but it has all the components of a great biography. Kerley and Fotheringham provide readers with a joyful portray of Mr. Emerson’s through the use of inspirational quotes. As an added touch, the author’s note also gives readers additional information about Mr. Emerson, the influence he had on people, and how others helped support him through difficult life changi
Read more

Book Review: The Book Thief

Image
  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Zusak, M. (2005). The book thief . Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN: 0375842209 2.  PLOT SUMMARY Narrated by death, this book tells the story or a young foster girl, Liesel Meminger is surrounded by death. As we learn throughout the story, everyone she loves and builds relationships with end up dying. This novel also shares Liesel’s character development as a 10-year-old who steals books but is unable to read at first. As time goes on, and with the help of her foster dad, she learns to read and comprehend her surroundings, which happen to be during World War II.  As the story continues, readers see how Liesel finds comfort in these books in the words she reads. 3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS This book was such an interesting read. There were so many themes present throughout the story that engaged readers and had them flipping through each page. I though Zusak was a total genius for having death narrating this novel. What I found the most interesting about this story was how deat
Read more