Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Suspenseful novel about teen father shows empathy, humor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
When CONCRETE ROSE begins, 17-year-old Maverick is thrust into adulthood at the community clinic, when he gets DNA test results showing he fathered the 3-month-old baby of a young woman he had sex with once. The mother abandons the baby while he's changing the boy's diaper in the bathroom. Supported by his mom, an incarcerated but involved dad, his friends, and a local merchant who gives him a job, Maverick gives up dealing drugs and enthusiastically takes on the responsibilities of parenthood. Maverick's life becomes more complicated when his friend is killed by members of a rival gang and he gets yet another young woman pregnant.
Is It Any Good?
Clever, fun, and real, Maverick's story is a page-turner -- a cautionary tale about teen parenthood from the unusual perspective of a teen father. Concrete Rose is packed with thought-provoking material that never feels forced. It touches on sexual consent, Black male mental health, grief, parental incarceration, gang violence, and more. The author's command of dialect is impressive. After getting used to it in the first few pages, the voice seems strong and natural, as if the reader is truly in the main character's mind. The characters are all human and relatable. They have major flaws and make really dumb mistakes that bring serious consequences. They are also vulnerable, loyal, and -- in most cases -- motivated by positive intentions. Male and female characters, both adults and kids, are treated with equal respect.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the difference between knowing what's right and doing what's right in Concrete Rose. How tough is it for the characters to make smart decisions?
What makes a good friend? A good boyfriend? A good parent?
The main character narrates his story in dialect. Did you enjoy this or not? How did the dialect influence how you understood the character's world?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Balzer + Bray
- Publication date : January 12, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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