No. 1 New York Times bestseller
"A powerful and important novel." Observer
"No one else who writes like Angie. Phenomenal." The Guardian
From 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.
With his King Lord dad in prison and his mom working two jobs, seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter helps the only way he knows how: slinging drugs. Life's not perfect, but he's got everything under control. Until he finds out he's a father...
Suddenly it's not so easy to deal drugs and finish school with a baby dependent on him for everything. So when he's offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. But when King Lord blood runs through your veins, you don't get to just walk away.
Praise for The Hate U Give:
No. 1 New York Times Bestseller
Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Award
Winner of Children's Book of the Year at The British Book Awards
Winner of the Amnesty CILIP Honour for the Carnegie Medal
A major motion picture from Fox starring Amandla Stenberg
"The Hate U Give says more about the contemporary Black experience in America than any book I have read for years." Guardian
"A startling, important book." The Times
"Passionate and uncompromising." Observer
"Thomas has given a voice to her generation." Stylist
"One of the most important books." Nikesh Shukla
"Stunning, brilliant, gut-wrenching." John Green
"Utterly compelling." Sunday Times
"A powerful and important novel." Observer
"No one else who writes like Angie. Phenomenal." The Guardian
From 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.
With his King Lord dad in prison and his mom working two jobs, seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter helps the only way he knows how: slinging drugs. Life's not perfect, but he's got everything under control. Until he finds out he's a father...
Suddenly it's not so easy to deal drugs and finish school with a baby dependent on him for everything. So when he's offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. But when King Lord blood runs through your veins, you don't get to just walk away.
Praise for The Hate U Give:
No. 1 New York Times Bestseller
Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Award
Winner of Children's Book of the Year at The British Book Awards
Winner of the Amnesty CILIP Honour for the Carnegie Medal
A major motion picture from Fox starring Amandla Stenberg
"The Hate U Give says more about the contemporary Black experience in America than any book I have read for years." Guardian
"A startling, important book." The Times
"Passionate and uncompromising." Observer
"Thomas has given a voice to her generation." Stylist
"One of the most important books." Nikesh Shukla
"Stunning, brilliant, gut-wrenching." John Green
"Utterly compelling." Sunday Times
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
"A heartfelt exploration of Black manhood and the power of possibility." - People
"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
"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)
"Authentic to the point of heartbreak, Maverick's voice is earnest as he wrestles with his decisions. 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)
"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.... Thomas writes with a depth of humor and clarity that really allows readers to bond with the characters." - School Library Journal (starred review)
"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 delivers a poignant prequel to The Hate U Give.... Maverick's story is one that offers hope, encouragement, and optimism." - Booklist (starred review)
"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." - Time
"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
"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)
"Authentic to the point of heartbreak, Maverick's voice is earnest as he wrestles with his decisions. 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)
"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.... Thomas writes with a depth of humor and clarity that really allows readers to bond with the characters." - School Library Journal (starred review)
"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 delivers a poignant prequel to The Hate U Give.... Maverick's story is one that offers hope, encouragement, and optimism." - Booklist (starred review)
"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." - Time