I loved Concrete Rose more than On The Come Up, but less then The Hate U Give. I didn’t know it was a prequel to THUG when I started it, but learning about Maverick and where Starr comes from and how she came to be made me love the entire “series” even more. I love Thomas’ writing style and the way she pushes readers to think not only about race and racial justice, but also masculinity and femininity. Maverick is an incredibly strong character, and by that I mean he is sensitive and thoughtful and selfless. He gets lost sometimes (who doesn’t?), but he always finds his way back to what matters: the people he cares about and the people who care for him. Also, bonus points for CR being a little fruity of course. Angie Thomas, I love you and thank you for another book- with characters I can’t help but fall in love and empathize with- that made me think deeply, while also serving as an escape.