Reviews
'Angie Thomas returns to the world of her award-winning debut The Hate U Give in one of the most awaited books of 2021. […] Thomas smashes stereotypes at every turn in the lives of her raw, complex and unforgettable characters, her writing underpinned by immense humanity. A powerful and important novel.' The Observer
'This is searing, moving, but never sentimental.' The Irish Examiner
'A blistering, unputdownable look at black boyhood in the US, and what it means to be a man. It can be read as a standalone, but knowledge of The Hate U Give will make for a richer reading experience.' The Bookseller
'Thomas’s prequel to the award-winning The Hate U Give investigates the pride and pain of being a black boy on the brink of man hood with humour, clarity and pathos.' The Guardian
'Like Thomas’s other work, this is a book that will stay with you.' The Irish Times
'Thomas’s prequel to the award-winning The Hate U Give investigates the pride and pain of being a black boy on the brink of manhood with inimitable humour, clarity and pathos.' The Guardian
'It is notoriously difficult to write a prequel to a much-loved book. For it to work, the prequel has to add something to a well-known story, deepening our understanding of a character or telling us something we didn’t already know. Concrete Rose, Angie Thomas’s prequel to her bestselling debut The Hate U Give, pulls off the challenge with aplomb. Indeed, it is arguable that this enthralling novel, which tells the story of Maverick, father of The Hate U Give’s protagonist Starr, is the better book. […]
The result is a lovely, sensitive portrayal of young, black masculinity, which never talks down to its audience and perfectly captures often ignored and unrecorded lives. It should be read everywhere.' The i
'The queen of American young adult fiction is known for her galvanising stories of stymied youth, impoverished projects and institutional racism.' The Times
'Get your YA fix with Angie Thomas' sequel to the bestseller, The Hate U Give. […] P.S. It's out in January 2021, so you can get your first new read of the year under your belt this month.' The Sun
'Thomas proves Game of Thrones-esque in her worldbuilding ability, deepening her landscape without sacrificing intimacy or heart. Garden Heights doesn't contain dragons or sorcerers, but it's nevertheless a kingdom under siege, and the contemporary pressures its royalty faces are graver for the realness that no magic spell can alleviate ... A resounding success.' Kirkus, starred review
'Exploring the world of the Carters in the late 90s, it’s a tale of evolution set against a world of race, drugs and redemption and one that underlines Thomas’ ability to unflinchingly reflect the truth of race, politics and family in the US.' Stylist
'Heartened myself with Angie Thomas’ amazing new book Concrete Rose. […] Dialogue, setting, humour, heartbreak – there is absolutely no one else who writes like Angie. Phenomenal.' Imogen Russell Williams
'Featured in an interview with Angie Thomas for Buzzfeed.' Buzzfeed
'The prequel to The Hate U Give, this is the coming-of-age story from a guy's perspective you never thought you needed to read, but you should. Another winner from Angie Thomas.' Heat
'Featured in The i’s ‘75 books for 2021’.' The i
'Raw, sharp and so very real, Concrete Rose packs an unforgettable punch. Evocative writing reveals an intimate view on what it means to live as a young black man in a place where opportunities to even cut your own path in life are few and far between. […] An unvarnished and powerful story of life; gripping and simply brilliant!' Fallen Star Stories Blog
'A gripping exploration of life as a young black man in the US.' The Irish Examiner
'Indeed, Thomas' trademark wit and heartfelt characterisation make getting to know these characters a true privilege. It does what the best sequels should - in adding layers of insight and emotion it enhances and extends the existing fictional world in a meaningful way and yet still manages to surprise you.' The School Librarian
'You’ll be thinking about this hard-hitting novel – a painful but hopeful tale of survival – long after you’ve finished reading it.' South China Morning Post
'This book is about relationships, positive and negative; perceptions from differing points of view; poverty and deeply ingrained hopelessness; racism; and what it means to be an adult... It is a compelling read...' Read Plus
'I absolutely adored The Hate U Give and loved Maverick in particular, so I really enjoyed the insight into his more formative years.' Leigh Briar Books
'There is just always something about an Angie Thomas book that makes you not want to put it down. The writing style in this was completely unique to anything I’ve ever read, with prose that reflects the inner dialogue of the MC. I devoured this book in a single sitting and am grateful to learn more from books with Black representation I’m not sure any review I could write about this book will do it justice so take my word for it and add it to your TBR’s immediately.' shaerikieads
'What I did not expect was the sadness and hope that I felt for Maverick….Five stars for a thought provoking, view shaking and heart stopping YA read.' Sam the Fangirl
'Concrete Rose, is powerful, gritty and raw. It tugs at your heart and provokes questions about your own life. … From start to finish, Concrete Rose is a powerful book with a powerful message. It shows you the strength of humanity, the power of perseverance and the gift that is children. This isn’t sn easy book to read, but it is an important one. The language and speedy pace, keeps pages turning until you are lost in Maverick’s world, fighting along side him for a better life.' Bookish Intoxication
'equal parts heartbreaking and empowering; it’s the perfect excuse to revisit The Hate U Give, but also stands tall as an excellent novel in its own right' readings
'Concrete Rose - from the international phenomenon Angie Thomas comes a hard-hitting return to Garden Heights with the story of Maverick Carter, Starr’s father, set seventeen years before the events of the award-winning The Hate U Give.' Kids Book Review
'Concrete Rose will draw you in completely and not let go, Angie Thomas’ writing completely tugs at ones heartstrings. 5/5' bookish.brooklyn
'So I say we need diverse literature, I say we need more authors like Angie Thomas and I want more books like Concrete Rose.' The Bibliophile Diaries
'One of the most highly anticipated releases of the year sees Angie Thomas return to Garden Heights with the story of Maverick Carter, Starr’s father, set 17 years before the events of The Hate U Give on 12 January. Exploring the world of the Carters in the late 90s, it’s a tale of evolution set against a world of race, drugs and redemption and one that underlines Thomas’ ability to unflinchingly reflect the truth of race, politics and family in the US.' Stylist
'A stunning prequel.' The Irish Independent
'[...] Concrete Rose is an immersive read, giving voice to the often invisible [...] It is inspiring to see Maverick on a journey where he must decide the sort of man he wants to be. We feel invested in his story, an insight into black masculinity[...]' National Association for the Teaching of English