Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas 

Release Date - January 12, 2021

Publisher Website -  Harper Collins Canada
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader/Frenzy

Pages - 320 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received for an honest review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

International phenomenon Angie Thomas revisits Garden Heights seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give in this searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood.

If there’s one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it’s that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad’s in prison.

Life’s not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav’s got everything under control.

Until, that is, Maverick finds out he’s a father.

Suddenly he has a baby, Seven, who depends on him for everything. But it’s not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child. So when he’s offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. In a world where he’s expected to amount to nothing, maybe Mav can prove he’s different.

When King Lord blood runs through your veins, though, you can't just walk away. Loyalty, revenge, and responsibility threaten to tear Mav apart, especially after the brutal murder of a loved one. He’ll have to figure out for himself what it really means to be a man.

There are those books you pick up knowing you are going to be immersed in something icredible. Those books that you know are going to be good before you even turn to the first page. I knew that Concrete Rose was going to be a great reading experience, but it might also be Angie Thomas' best book to date.

Maverick Carter, Starr's father from The Hate U Give, takes the focus in this historically set novel that showcases how he became the man we meet in The Hate U Give. While it may technically be considered historical I think that as a coming of age story this book will still easily resonate with young readers.

Some books are mirrors and others are windows. This book is obviously a window for me as a reader but I am most excited for those who will find this to be a mirror to discover this book. Representation is important and Angie Thomas has created a beautiful, affirming story of a black teen finding his way. It can (and should) be enjoyed by everyone but I think this book will offer pure magic when it finds those readers it will most resonate with.

Logically I knew how close in age Seven and Starr were while reading The Hate U Give. I, however, did not get how hard that would have been on Maverick until I read this book. The Hate U Give's Maverick is so put together that it just doesn't register in the way that it should until you experience it in this book. It gave me a different perspective on the character which I think is entirely the point. There is a sympathy brought out in the reader for the choices he has to make and a deeper appreciation for the character we know he becomes.

This book really showcases the power and need for a strong support system. Maverick has people who care about him surrounding him. These people care enough to let him make mistakes and encourage him to own up to those mistakes. It is easier to believe in yourself when you know others believe in you and not everyone is afforded that gift. I really enjoyed all the supporting characters and their role in shaping Maverick's path both for the positive and negative.

If you loved The Hate U Give you will absolutely want to pick up Concrete Rose. Angie Thomas once again provides a book that is thought provoking, well written, compulsively readable, and engaging. It really is a must read for young adult fans.

Waiting On Wednesday.... On The Come Up

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is On The Come Up by Angie Thomas

Here is the Goodreads synopsis 

Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri’s got big shoes to fill. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri’s life as beats and rhymes. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it.

On the Come Up is Angie Thomas’s homage to hip-hop, the art that sparked her passion for storytelling and continues to inspire her to this day. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; of the struggle to become who you are and not who everyone expects you to be; and of the desperate realities of poor and working-class black families.

I am pretty certain EVERYONE who read The Hate U Give is also waiting for this one to be released. If you read The Hate U Give you know exactly why it would be such an anticipated book.

This one comes out in February and I anticipate that many will have it on their holiday wish lists or have it preordered right after with those awesome holiday gift cards.

Expected release date - February 5, 2019

Frenzy Presents Fall 2017/ Winter 2018

The lovely people from Harper Collins Canada invited me to their annual #FrenzyPresents event. It's a blogger event in which we get to learn about all of Harper Collins' upcoming titles and mingle with fellow book lovers. It's one of my most anticipated events because it is always such a fun afternoon. I always feel incredibly thankful to be able to attend, and this year was no exception.

This event focused on the Fall 2017 (and a few Winter 2018) titles that Harper was excited to present to us. There are plenty of books that were already on my radar, and a few that I left wanting to take a closer look at.

I am going to include the entire list, and offer up a few comments on each of the titles.

They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera (goodreads)

Having already read this one I was excited to see it included. It's a wonderful read and I urge you to check out my review that I posted yesterday if you are curious about my thoughts. 

Top Ten by Katie Cotugno (goodreads)

I adore Katie Cotugno's novels and I am extra excited about this one! It's premise of two friends looking back at the top ten defining moments of their friendship immediately intrigues me, and the hint of possible romance only sweetens the deal. 

If There's No Tomorrow by Jennifer L Armentrout (goodreads)

This was pitched as Jennifer L Armentrout moving away from the romance and more into straight contemporary novels that deal with issues. There is, from what I believe, romance within the story but the issues the characters are facing is the primary story arc. 

Kat and Meg Conquer the World by Anna Primaza (goodreads)

This sounded a super cute novel that has a friendship focus. It's also seems like a humourous read that tackles some fandom culture at the same time.

Release by Patrick Ness (goodreads)

This was already a title with a lot of buzz, and the bloggers were very excited about this one. Patrick Ness always delivers for his fans and I predict this will be no exception. It sounds like a novel that will pull at your heart but I suspect it'll be worth it. 

Here We Are Now by Jasmine Warga (goodreads)

This is one I didn't know much about going into the event. There was an audible reaction in the room with it was revealed that the rock star who shows up at the main character's door was not a love interest, bur rather the father who isn't in her life.

Three Sides Of A Heart by Various (goodreads)

Fans of love triangles will want to pick up this anthology filled with stories that feature different kinds of love triangles. The selling point for me was that I adore so many of the authors who are contributing, along with the fact that it includes different genres (paranormal, contemporary, science fiction, etc). Add in the fact that it is diverse and it easily became one of my most anticipated reads. I cannot wait to see what these authors have in store.

Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West (goodreads)

Kasie West always has incredibly cute, fluffy, feel good reads. This one sounds especially cute, and offers up the perfect novel for those looking for a little contemporary romance to brighten up their winter. 

This Darkness Mine by Minday McGinnis (goodreads)

Mindy McGinnis writes dark, and twisty reads that you devour. This Darkness Mine is no exception. It offers up a unique premise - a girl who was supposed to be a twin discovers that her twin may be insider he all along. There is a little hint of multiple personality disorder that could entire be me reading into things, but I am so excited to unravel this mystery. 

Before She Ignites by Jodie Meadows (goodreads)

Dragons! That was the main takeaway from this one. I have read it and enjoyed it. It's a fantasy read that was a lot of fun and I am looking forward to checking out the sequel.

One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake (goodreads)

After the cliffhanger of Three Dark Crowns this one was high up on my list. Not much can be said without giving spoilers but it continues the story of three sisters who are destined to fight to the death to determine who will be Queen. I love the first one so I urge you to pick it up if you haven't already. 

The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano (goodreads)

Not too many details about this one was given other than that the main character can turn living things into gem stones. This, of course, makes her a target for those who want to use her. It certainly is unique, and Lauren DeStefano has a rather pretty writing style so I predict it'll be an interesting read. 

Zenith by Lindsay Cummings and Sasha Alsberg (goodreads)

Bad ass ladies in space is how this one was sold. I've seen this one all of the place recently and think it'll catch a lot of readers attention. 

Ace Of Shades by Amanda Foody (goodreads)

I was already excited about Amanda Foody's next book, but I left this event desperate to get my hands on it. It's got everything I love - romance, gangsters, magic and lots more. It's set in what I believe is a sort of Las Vegas type setting and warring crime families seem to be at the heart of the story. 

After we heard about these amazing titles we all got a pick a "Blind Date With A Book" book. Wrapped books that had a description on them that teased what was inside. I instantly recognized the symbols on this one from The Gentleman's Guide To Vice and Virtue so I quickly snagged it!

They also had some delicious cookies made for the event. They featured The Upside of Unrequited, The Hate U Give, and Ramona Blue because ......

Julie Murphy, Angie Thomas, and Becky Albertalli were the special guests! We all were so excited to meet them. Julie is hilarious, Angie is so engaging and smart, and Becky is pure sunshine. They all incredible ladies and I was thrilled at the chance to get to hear them speak. I even got to ask a question about having their books turned into movies which lead to Becky revealing a very funny story about one of her days on set. Each of these movies sound like they are going to be incredible and I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend this event with these inspiring authors.

Harper also gifted each of us a swag bag filled with random ARCs, and other goodies. The Wonder Woman candle made me squeal with happiness. It smells AMAZING and is my new obsession. I need more of them. It's such a great scent. 

I would like to thank Harper Collins Canada for the invite and all the bloggers who made the afternoon so much fun. A huge thank you to Angie Thomas, Julie Murphy, and Becky Albertalli for being amazing and spending time with all of us bloggers. I cannot wait to attend the next one!

What books from this event piqued your interest? Any that you're dying to read? Let me know in the comments!

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Release Date - February 28, 2017

Publisher Website - Harper Collins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader/Frenzy
Pages -  464 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received from the publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, Angie Thomas’s searing debut about an ordinary girl in extraordinary circumstances addresses issues of racism and police violence with intelligence, heart, and unflinching honesty. Soon to be a major motion picture from Fox 2000/Temple Hill Productions.

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

The announcement and buzz around The Hate U Give immediately drew a lot of attention to this novel. It is not only a vital, important read but a timely one as well. I was eager to read it to see if could possibly live up to the buzz that was surrounding it, and it does. It also holds so much more than this between its pages.

The writing in this novel is so sharp, and reads as effortless. It is easy, at times, to forget that this is a debut novel. It has a polish that indicates the talent the author has to create a story you immediately fall into. You're pulled into Starr's story right from the beginning and your attention is held right to the very last word.

This story is achingly realistic. It is also gut wrenching. It packs a heavy emotional impact, and demands to be discussed. This is a novel that will prompt conversations and perhaps even change the narrative of those discussions. It's one that I recommend to everyone, but is vital reading for any black teen out there. It really is a game changer of a novel, and one that hopefully is the first of many to come.

Starr's voice is so vibrant that she easily leaps off the page. She is someone torn between what she sees as two versions of herself. The notion that she was one way at school, but another at home felt relatable in many ways, even if my personal experience could not possibly be on the level that Starr's was. I feel teenagers, in general, have that duality in varying degrees. Starr also read as nuanced, and realistic. She will easily be one of my favourite characters of 2017, simply because of how well crafted she is. Her character is also a fantastic portrayal of a scared young girl haunted by the horrific event she went through. Her fear, anger, sadness and frustration are all captured with precision. Her entire character is brilliantly written and I am so happy to have read her story.

The level of involvement of Starr's parents in the story was something unique to many of the young adult novels I've read previously. They are not only present, but accountable. Starr does not get away with doing anything. Her parents are aware of her actions, and react accordingly when she acts out the way teenagers tend to do. It was refreshing to see them be such a large part of the story, and that we spent time with the family throughout the entire story. These character details made the story resonate all the more, and feel achingly realistic. All of the side characters have their own storylines which adds a little something extra to the story. I felt like I really got to know each of them, and not just Starr.

The romance in this novel is really sweet. Chris and Starr's relationship is not perfect, but the fact that they love and support each other is never in question. They work through their problems in healthy ways. I appreciated that they called each other on things when they had hurt each other. I've read my share of unhealthy examples of relationships in young adult novels, and it was a delight to read one that is the opposite.

This novel is for every black teen that will see themselves in Starr. It is every black teen who will see themselves in any character within this book. It is for the entire black community who has had to live with this type of injustice time and time again. While this may not have been written for me, I am thankful to be able to experience this story and to have had the opportunity to read it. I also am glad to have the opportunity to encourage others to read it. I predict that this book will be one that is talked about long after people have finished and that it will make many Best Of lists at the end of the year. It announces Angie Thomas as a voice to watch in young adult literature and I cannot wait to read whatever she writes next.