The protagonist of Concrete Rose is 17 year old Maverick (Mav) Carter, who is the son of a gang leader. His father being in prison, Mav wishes to fill his father’s shoes, as he desperately needs to provide for his family. Mav feels that the way he must do this is by dealing drugs, as that's exactly how his father had provided for their family. However, everything is quickly complicated when Mav finds out he’s a father. Mav struggles to tell his girlfriend Lisa, as the mother of the newborn is another girl. With more on his plate, he’s also forced to spend extra time taking care of his newborn child; time that he would otherwise spend out with his friends. Mav isn’t just a regular kid anymore.
Concrete Rose is a powerful book, and I believe that the message is quite impactful. The plot has respectable progression, and there is an abundance of character growth and personality. The book covers mature topics, some scenes being ever so slightly graphic. However, it doesn't take away much from the quality of the book.