Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

CONCRETE ROSE by Angie Thomas is the subject of her featured 7pm talk TONIGHT hosted by Family Action Network. In this latest young adult novel set 17 years before her award-winning The Hate U Give, Thomas offers the background story of  Maverick Carter as a young unwed father making courageous choices related to the King Lord gang.  Being totally honest, I personally found it challenging to read this text due to feeling at times as though I had to “translate” phrases and expressions in the dialogue which Thomas employs. However, I recognize that I am certainly not her primary intended audience and the voice was clearly an authentic one. CONCRETE ROSE received starred reviews from Booklist (“shows those going through difficult times of their own that they can take control of their own destiny”), Kirkus (“A resounding success”), Publishers Weekly (“heartfelt characterization”), and School Library Journal (“Thomas writes with a depth of humor and clarity”). We will have multiple copies on our shelves soon.