Concrete Rose Discussion and Concrete Rose Curriculum written by the Ent on. This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog.
Know Before You Read Concrete Rose
Book: Concrete Rose
Author: Angie Thomas
Genre: YA, Teen, Historical Fiction
Age suggested : 14 and up
Release Date: January 12th, 2021
Themes: Personal responsibility, improving society, gang representation, entering adulthood
Warnings: Death of friends, Several instances of sexual discussion, some sexual encounters, lots of cussing, gang violence, plot heavily revolves around drugs (taking and selling)
Quick Summary of Concrete Rose:
In this prequel to The Hate U Give, we are now following Maverick Carter, who is trying to deal with repercussions of his actions while entering adulthood in Garden Heights. Maverick just wants to take care of his family, but he knows that it will be dangerous to do that. Even if you have read The Hate U Give and think you know his story pretty well, it’s still a dynamic and interesting read with a couple of surprises. Angie Thomas is a gifted author and these stories are good and important.
Concrete Rose Parent Review
(Contains Light Spoilers)
-Is Concrete Rose Appropriate?-
Concrete Rose contains a lot of serious and heavy topics ranging from the murder of a friend to sexual encounters. There is also a lot of cussing, gang violence, and discussions around abortion. This is all done to really throw you into the world of Maverick, with all of its complexities and rough edges. Concrete Rose provides a lot of very important details in order to paint a realistic, not a pretty, world. It’s a good one to read and discuss together, just like The Hate U Give (full review here). But we still highly suggest it for 14+ with a responsible adult.
–Why Read Concrete Rose–
Angie Thomas has the ability to completely immerse the reader into the culture of the characters. This book can either be a great comfort and relatable to readers or be a window into a completely different world. This obviously changes based on the reader. Either way, the message and importance of Concrete Rose and its ability to provide context in other people’s life cannot be underestimated. Concrete Rose also does an amazing job with fighting back against racial stereotypes in very powerful manner. Perspective and understanding are invaluable tools in the fight for empathy and anti-racism.
Continue reading for more parent review and Concrete Rose discussion questions.
-Concrete Rose Story/Plot- *Light Spoiler Reminder*
Being the prequel to The Hate U Give, there aren’t a lot of big immediate surprises (for those who have read The Hate U Give). Because of this a lot of the book is a bit predictable in terms of the bigger events in Maverick’s life. With that said, there are still several unpredictable occurrences through the book that push the plot along very well. On top of all of that, Angie Thomas does an amazing job at creating a continuously engrossing story. You really want Maverick to do well and make it out ok!
There are two major story plots throughout Concrete Rose. The first revolves around Maverick fathering two children and the second revolves around the murder of Maverick’s cousin and friend. These interweaving storylines and the accompanying murder mystery aspect to the story play perfectly along with each other to keep the reader engrossed in the story. Neither storyline detracts from the other one. The name of the book came from Tupac’s song The Rose That Grew From Concrete, which the book conveys beautifully. It tells the story of a boy who becomes an upright man, despite his surroundings and temptations.
-Characters in Concrete Rose-
Maverick takes the spotlight in this book and seeing his character growth from irresponsible boy into respectable man is something incredible to behold. We see his inner struggle to constantly want to push against his societal expectations (drug dealing) while also needing a way to support his new family. This character growth is seen most vividly with the climax of the story as Maverick confronts the murderer of his cousin. Maverick’s choice was his ultimate turning point internally; To focus on the future of his kids and himself.
There are several characters in Maverick’s life that come along side him (for better or worse). It was really cool to see the characters from The Hate U Give as young adults (or babies in some cases) and the choices they made to get them where they end up in that story. The two characters that struck me as pivotal to Maverick’s life was his mom and a grocery store owner named Wyatt. Despite not being perfect, they are always there for Maverick, even when he thinks he doesn’t need them. This consistent support is what ultimately encourages Maverick to aim for more.
Continue reading for the Concrete Rose Discussion Questions
Concrete Rose Curriculum
We’ve got a curriculum aide for the Concrete Rose book!
It’s a digital download that come with:
-10 question multiple choice quiz WITH answers.
-Short answer question page
-Essay and project prompts
-1 & 2nd book comparison Venn diagram.
Grab it from Teachers Pay Teachers right here!
You can also get the Angie Thomas Bundle here
*We have also create an Angie Thomas Bundle that you can find in our store or at Teachers Pay Teachers
Concrete Rose Discussion Questions
- Which character did you relate to the most and why?
- Imagine your life growing up in Garden Heights. What would be different? What would be the same?
- Who in Maverick’s life do you think had the most positive influence on him?
- Who has the most positive influence in your life?
- Maverick learns through several mistakes what it means to take personal responsibility. What have you been through in your life that has taught you about personal responsibility?
If you have read The Hate U Give:
- Which character’s backstory was most interesting to you? Which was most surprising?
- In what ways is the city of Garden Heights similar and different to the Garden Heights of Starr?
- How do you think the actions of Maverick in Concrete Rose lead to his parenting skills in The Hate U Give?
- Despite knowing how the story would end up for Maverick, what most surprised you while reading?
- Which of the books would be your favorite if you had to pick one? Why?
Before you go- check out some of our other book reviews!
–The Hate U Give Review and Curriculum
–On the Come Up Discussion Guide
–New Kid and Class Act Review
–Talking your Teens through Just Mercy
–Stamped Remix review and discussion questions
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