Leela’s Comments (group member since Oct 14, 2020)

Leela’s comments from the YHS Class of 2023 group.

After having read Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give I was curious to find out what Garden Heights was many years before that. Luckily Angie Thomas came out with a book exactly about this! In Concrete Rose Angie Thomas follows Maverick Carter(who later on becomes known as Starr Carter’s father) on his journey from childhood to parenthood. It is definitely not an easy journey for him as he has his first son at the age of 17, a daughter a year later, and has to suffer a murder of a loved one. It’s incredible to see all of these characters in a new light and watch them on their journeys to becoming who they are in The Hate U Give. Reading this book taught me a lot about perspectives as I got to see the characters on the outside from Maverick’s perspective but also got the experience of putting myself in their places and their stories. I loved everything about this book! In fact, I was so into it that I read extra slowly because I didn’t want it to come to an end. Angie Thomas did an incredible job at creating the stories of each of these characters and by showing that nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes that push us to become who we are. While reading this book I had moments when I was laughing and others when I was crying. Thomas was able to make this a happy story while also showing the injustices of racism. By showing Garden Heights 17 years ago and yet another Black man’s murder it shows that the issue of racism still remains and we still must do our utmost to change this. If you enjoyed the Hate U Give and any other of Thomas’s books then Concrete Rose is definitely for you!

I would definitely give this book a 4-star rating!
It's such an inspiring and important story to read during this day and age!
It tells the story of Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris’s journey to becoming who she is today. It tells the story of her mother, her biggest inspiration, Shaymala Harris migrating to the US at the age of 19 alone from India. She was an incredible mother to Kamala and to her sister Maya. She always taught the girls to follow their dreams and to never let anyone tell them they weren’t good enough. Her famous saying the girls kept with them was “you can be the first but make sure you aren’t the last''. Kamala has kept this saying very close to the heart during her career and her mother as well. Kamala’s mother’s dream was to find a cure for cancer but unfortunately, she was later diagnosed with cancer and passed away. This was devastating for Kamala but she kept her sayings and spirit very close to heart. Her story is not only moving but so inspiring. She has come so far over the years and has shown so many people that it is possible to achieve our wildest dreams.
If you love reading biographies and autobiographies then this would be a great choice for you. This book is a slightly longer book but is definitely worth the read. I loved the way this autobiography was written. It was filled with incredible descriptions of people and places and experiences.
The length was something I wasn't too pleased about but in the end, I really enjoyed the book because it was packed with so many stories and so much knowledge. There are so many stories and experiences told in this book (not only hers but others around her) that really opened up my mind and allowed me to put my shoes in other’s shoes. It’s very important in this day and age to understand where people are coming from to create a more accepting and just society. I would recommend this book to anyone and I would definitely read it again!

After reading Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give over the summer I was so excited to find out that wasn't her only book. I think that this is an extremely important novel to read in this day and age as we see the ongoing pandemic of racism in the United States.
On the Come Up is an incredible book that takes place in the same setting as The Hate U Give (Garden Heights). I think Angie Thomas used some interesting ways to create some cross overs between the two books which I really enjoyed. The main character is a teenage girl called Bri who is dreaming of pursuing a career of rapping. Her family is not wealthy. They can barely pay the rent or the gas bill. She lives with her mother and brother who are both working hard every day to bring food to the table which makes Bri feel guilty. Her dad, who was murdered and a legendary rapper known as The King of the Garden, is Bri's biggest inspiration and she thrives to be more like him.
I honestly tried to think very hard about what I didn't enjoy about this book and couldn't find anything. (Maybe except for the fact that I would have loved a sequel!)
This is a page-turner that will make you laugh and cry all at the same time. You will follow this heroine on her way to achieve her dreams as she faces racism and sexism along the way and tries to break away from all of these stereotypes while also trying to create music people will enjoy. This captivating book is filled with lessons about friendship, love, and accepting change.
I think anyone would love this book as it is a fast read and an incredible one too! If you are interested in fiction books and loved The Hate U Give then this is definitely the book for you!