Most prominent, of course, is teen parenthood, going hand-in-hand with poverty and how it invades Mav’s life. Throughout the story, each of these aspects remains interconnected. She writes about teen parenthood and the specific experience of Black teen parents, family, grief, poverty, and racism. Thomas wastes no time covering the hard-hitting topics that populate Maverick’s life. We’re still able to see Maverick hold on to his youth, despite having to grow up. Regardless of being pushed into adulthood, Maverick is still a teenage boy, and, thankfully, that doesn’t get lost in the story. Both young ladies force Maverick to think more compassionately, especially with Iesha, as he begins to realize what a major responsibility caring for an infant is. It’s interesting to see the dynamic Mav has with each of them play out and how his strong sense of loyalty extends beyond the King Lords. Two other important relationships Maverick has is with Iesha, his son’s mother, and Lisa, his girlfriend. Each person offers a glimpse into the different traits that make up Maverick without taking away from his uniqueness. She also establishes the importance of Mav’s blood relations – his son, his parents, and his cousin, who’s more of a brother. What may seem like the ideal option is not always the best one, and Thomas does an excellent job carrying that idea through the novel. He understands the sense of family (albeit a dysfunctional one) that comes with being a King Lord, but he’s also torn: Mav can continue dealing for the King Lords and earn enough money to help support his mother and his son, or he can get out of the King Lords and become the man he hopes to be for his son but face the consequences of breaking his bond with the King Lords. He relays the hierarchy within the King Lords, explaining how being part of them creates a deep sense of loyalty and responsibility. We learn about many of the significant relationships in Maverick’s life and the role each of them holds. The book reads as if Maverick is a real-life person sharing his story. Now, Maverick must learn to carefully balance every aspect of his life as they threaten to collapse.įrom the get-go, Thomas establishes the tone, setting, and most of the relationships Maverick has with others. The novel is set 17 years before the events of THUG and follows a 17-year-old Maverick, whose life has been relatively under control – until he learns he’s a father. This year, Thomas shines the spotlight on Maverick Carter, Starr’s father, in Concrete Rose.
In 2017, Angie Thomas made her debut with her bestselling novel The Hate U Give (THUG), introducing readers to Starr Carter.
“Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete?” –Tupac Shakur, “The Rose That Grew from Concrete”
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