Author | Angie Thomas |
---|---|
Country | Africa |
Published | January 12, 2021 |
Publisher | Balzer + Bray |
Pages | 368 |
ISBN | 9780062846716 |
Followed by | The Hate U Give |
Concrete Rose is a young adult novel by Angie Thomas, published January 12, 2021, by Balzer + Bray.
Concrete Rose was generally well-received, including starred reviews from Booklist, [1] Kirkus Reviews, [2] School Library Journal, [3] and Shelf Awareness. [4]
Time's Cleyvis Natera stated, "Thomas' genius is her ability to craft one man's history in a way that illuminates the forces that brought us to this critical juncture." [5] Nic Stone of The Washington Post echoed the sentiment, saying,
[O]ne of my favorite things about Angie Thomas is that she's always willing to dig a little deeper, to peel back another layer. This is what makes her latest novel, Concrete Rose — her best, in my opinion — a gift. It not only eviscerates the 'fast Black girl' stereotype and debunks the myth of the Bailing Black Baby Daddy, it gives us insight into the life of a boy most people wouldn't even attempt to look at beyond the surface. [6]
The audiobook, narrated by Dion Graham, also received a positive review from Booklist, which said,
Graham is a natural and convincing storyteller. Graham's solo narration showcases a keen ability to embody both the innocent and the often-troubled side of Maverick. Graham's voice also adapts well to fast-moving scenes, acquainting listeners to the edginess of street life as well as the unrelenting wisdom of a community that continues to grow amid adversity. [7]
Concrete Rose was a New York Times and IndieBound bestseller. [2] Kirkus Reviews named it one of the best young adult novels of 2021. [2] Both the book and audiobook editions are Junior Library Guild selections. [8] [9]
Year | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | Cybils Award for Young Adult Fiction | Finalist | [10] |
Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction | Nominee | [11] | |
2022 | Michael L. Printz Award | Honor | [12] |
Carnegie Medal for Young Adult Fiction | Longlist | [13] |
Thomas was inspired to write the book due to readers' interest of Maverick as a dad in her novel The Hate U Give.
So many kids would tell me Maverick is the best dad they've seen; they wish their dad was like him. We know he was once in a gang and did drugs — and for some people, that doesn't line up with the father and the man we see. I started to think about the character on a deeper level. Having conversations with Russell Hornsby, who played Maverick in the movie, really sparked the flame. [14]