'Thomas delivers a poignant prequel to The Hate U Give…. “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.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Thomas writes with a depth of humor and clarity that really allows readers to bond with the characters.” - School Library Journal (starred review) “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…. Fans of Thomas’s work will not be disappointed in this intense portrayal of this phase in the Carter family’s story.' - Horn Book (starred review)

'Authentic to the point of heartbreak, Maverick’s voice is earnest as he wrestles with his decisions. “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.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“In Concrete Rose, Thomas casts a loving eye on the lives and realities of Black people, which is a powerful continuation of one of her most moving endeavors as a writer: her challenge to readers to affirm the goodness of all types of characters and to greet them with compassion at every turn, no matter where those turns may lead.”? - New York Times Book Review “A heartfelt exploration of Black manhood and the power of possibility.” - People He’ll have to figure out for himself what it really means to be a man. Loyalty, revenge, and responsibility threaten to tear Mav apart, especially after the brutal murder of a loved one. When King Lord blood runs through your veins, though, you can't just walk away. In a world where he’s expected to amount to nothing, maybe Mav can prove he’s different. So when he’s offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. But it’s not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child.

Suddenly he has a baby, Seven, who depends on him for everything. Until, that is, Maverick finds out he’s a father. Life’s not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav’s got everything under control. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad’s in prison. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. If there’s one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it’s that a real man takes care of his family. International phenomenon Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give in this searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood.

Concrete rose paperback