Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

I have not read The Hate U Give by this author, but I heard it's really good. After reading Concrete Rose, I would guess that I would like it as well. This seems to be a honest and authentic representation of what it's like for young black men living in poverty. Maverick, whose name means "independent thinker" is a 17 year old living with his mother. He is in High School, selling drugs on the streets to get by. His father is in prison (40 to life) for storing cocaine at their home. His dad is known as Big Don, a former gang leader for the King Lords. For Maverick's protection, Maverick is encouraged to join the King Lords. Since he is the son of Big Don, that provides some automatic protection as well. The rival gang is the Garden Disciples.

Maverick has a great support system, which is definitely what he needs. His mother believes that he is not selling drugs, although at the time he was dealing in the "light" drugs, like marijuana. She works two jobs to support them and works really hard at keeping him on the straight and narrow. His cousin, Dre (for Andre) is trying to keep him safe despite being part of a gang. Dre has a positive influence on Mav since Mav sees him committed to his fiancé and little girl, Andreanna. Dre spends more time with his family than participating in gang life. Mav also has a girlfriend, Lisa, who is going places. Her family has money and she is an excellent student attending a private Catholic school. (Obviously they are not fans of Maverick!) Maverick's mother, cousin and girlfriend are the people in his life that tell him he can be whatever he wants to be and that he doesn't have to live the life his father did.

But life always gets in the way. Maverick finds out he is the father of his best friend's (King) ex-girlfriend's baby. They had a one night stand, so to speak, after Lisa temporarily broke up with Mav. The mother of this baby (three months old when Mav finds out) pretty much drops the boy off at Mav's house and leaves him for Mav and his mother to deal with. Maverick stops dealing the marijuana and gets a part-time job at the local grocers. Life is hard. Maverick doesn't make enough money to support his son. He is tired from the baby not sleeping. He is sleeping in school, so failing school. Then things get worse. Much worse! Maverick feels like he is drowning and that his options are limited. His support system falters and he has some important decisions to make.

I loved this book. I thought Maverick was an awesome kid just trying to do the right thing and support his family. He was dealt a tough hand to start with (thanks to his father) and made some really stupid decisions on his own. He never backed down though.

Wendy's Rating: *****