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Concrete Rose

Concrete Rose Summary

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Here you will find a Concrete Rose summary (Angie Thomas's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.

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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024

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Concrete Rose Summary Overview

Maverick Malcolm Carter, or Mav, is a seventeen-year-old who spends his days playing basketball in Rose Park and dealing weed as part of the King Lords gang. His father, Adonis, a senior gang member, has been incarcerated since Mav was a child. Mav's life takes a dramatic turn when King’s on-and-off girlfriend, Iesha, abandons their baby, named King Jr., with Mav. After a DNA test, Mav discovers he’s the actual father. Encouraged by his cousin, Dre, who has abandoned the gang life to care for his own family, Mav decides to take responsibility for his son, renaming him Seven, and leaves the gang life behind. However, the transition isn't easy. Mav's girlfriend, Lisa, leaves him after learning about Seven, and Dre, who was his support system, is killed, presumably by a rival gang member. Still, Mav perseveres, juggling school, a part-time job at Mr. Wyatt’s grocery store, and caring for Seven. Unprotected sex with Lisa results in another pregnancy, but Lisa refuses to reconcile with Mav until he fully disentangles himself from the gang. Meanwhile, Mav suspects that Dre's killer is Red, who sold him fake Air Jordans and is now seen flaunting Dre's gold watch. Despite the many challenges, Mav slowly starts to turn his life around. He drops out of school but is determined to get his GED and secure a future for his family. His resolve strengthens when he's unable to take revenge on Red, his presumed friend's killer. Having decided to distance himself from the gang, Mav returns his drug stash to King, leading to a falling out. Though he's lost much, Mav is undeterred. Mr. Wyatt, his employer, offers him a full-time job, and Lisa, moved by his efforts, grows closer to him. As they anticipate the birth of their daughter, Mav and Lisa sit on the porch, contemplating her name and their future together.

chapter 1

Mav, along with his cousin Dre, best friend King, and a few others, enjoy a game of basketball at Rose Park. Their girlfriends and family, including Lisa, Mav's girlfriend, and Dre's fiancée and daughter, spectate. Amidst the game, Mav pauses to ponder his life and his role in the King Lords gang. The gang, divided into ranks, has Mav and King as "li'l homies," responsible for selling weed and ensuring initiations run smoothly. Higher ranked members, like Shawn and P-Nut, are the "big homies," selling harder drugs and engaged in gang rivalries. As the game concludes following an almost brawl involving King, they discuss a planned party. Everyone except Dre, who's distanced himself from the gang since his daughter's birth, is going. Mav presents Lisa with a personalized gold-diamond necklace. The day concludes with Mav's mother, Faye, taking him to the clinic for a paternity test related to King's new baby.

chapter 2

Mav and Faye encounter Iesha, the on-and-off partner of King, along with her mother Ms. Robinson at the healthcare center. Observing a tired Iesha, Mav offers his support if he turns out to be the father of the child. After a nurse hands over the paternity test results, it's confirmed that Mav is indeed the father of the baby, now named King Jr. As the news sinks in, King Jr. begins to cry. Mav and Faye go to change his diaper in the ladies' restroom. However, upon returning, they find the room empty, with both Iesha and Ms. Robinson nowhere in sight.

chapter 3

Following an unfruitful attempt to drop King Jr. off at Ms. Robinson's, Faye and Mav bring the baby back home. Faye reassures Mav that their family and neighbor can assist him if needs arise, though Mav insists on managing alone. As he becomes acquainted with baby duties, Mav realizes his life has been altered drastically. He reluctantly informs Lisa about his inability to accompany her to the party. Subsequently, Dre visits, confronting Mav about his secret drug dealings with King that the gang leaders are unaware of. He threatens to expose this to Faye unless Mav ceases his activities. Although Mav highlights the difficulty of disassociating from the gang, he ultimately agrees to stop dealing drugs.

chapter 4

Iesha convinces Mav to care for King Jr. for a bit. Despite reassurances from Faye, his aunt, his grandmother, and their neighbor before leaving for her job, Mav assures he can manage alone. Mav's conversation with his jailed father, Adonis, reveals an unexpected response to the mention of Moe, his mother's friend, whom Adonis has never met. Adonis, learning about King Jr., extends his support and urges Mav to give the baby a more significant name. King arrives shortly after the call, denying any resentment towards Mav for being the child's father. Mav then hands over his drug stash to King, who departs afterwards.

chapter 5

Dre drives Mav and King Jr. to a store owned by Mav's neighbors, the Wyatts. Mav promises Dre he's done with dealing and is advised to tell Lisa about the baby sooner rather than later. Upon reaching the store, Mr. Wyatt offers Mav a job at the store and his garden after learning about the baby. Mav reluctantly takes up the offer. On seeing Mav with King Jr., Lisa's friend Tammy is taken aback, leaving Mav with no choice but to inform Lisa about King Jr. before Tammy spills the beans.

chapter 6

After Dre conveys Mav to Lisa’s residence, Mav hesitates to disclose the truth. They spend time discussing academics, and eventually, Mav shares about his past encounter with Iesha a year ago while he and Lisa were separated. Lisa is initially shattered by the revelation, but soon her sorrow transitions into anger as she comprehends that she is the last to know about Mav's affair with Iesha. Tearfully, Lisa instructs Mav to depart from her house.

chapter 7

Mav's first day back at Jefferson Davis High School is challenging. After a sleepless night caring for his teething son, King Jr., he's exhausted and struggling to juggle baby duties and school preparations. During breakfast, he expresses to Faye his desire to rename their son Seven, signifying 'perfection'. His troubles extend to school where he receives a warning from Ant, a member of the rival gang, the Garden Disciples, for Dre, who's been partaking in money races on their territory. Mav's day worsens when his friend Rico, a King Lord, reveals that his Air Jordans are knockoffs. He makes a mental reminder to confront Red, the seller of the counterfeit shoes. Choosing to ditch the remainder of his classes, Mav decides to spend time with King.

chapter 8

Mav makes an unsuccessful attempt to converse with Lisa at St. Mary's school. He and King come across Red hawking counterfeit items on the sidewalk. The two confront him on the phony sneakers, but when Red doesn't agree to return Mav's money, they overturn his tables before departing. Following this event, King chauffeurs Mav to Mr. Wyatt’s residence, where Mav spends the remainder of the day engrossed in planting rose bushes.

chapter 9

Mav has been employed by Mr. Wyatt for four weeks. He is still taking care of Seven, the baby, since Iesha has disappeared, and her whereabouts are unknown. On a Friday evening, instead of enjoying himself with his friends, Mav is occupied with babysitting Seven, cleaning clothes, and completing school assignments. A call from King confuses him; King invites him to a party and suggests he could hire a babysitter, but Mav disagrees. Soon after putting Seven to sleep, Dre arrives, loaded with water guns, food, and music. Dre's expensive watch falls off during their playful water fight, but it's not damaged, and he puts it back on. They decide to enjoy their pizzas in Dre's car, tuning in to the baby monitor to keep an ear on Seven. They share some pizza with Bus Stop Tony, a neighborhood drug addict who approaches them. When Seven starts crying, Mav heads inside to comfort him. During this time, Dre rings up Keisha. Right after putting Seven back to sleep, Mav hears the frightening sound of gunshots followed by squealing car tires. Panicked, Mav rushes outside, shouting for Dre and praying he is safe. To his horror, he discovers Dre lifeless in the car, victim to a gunshot wound in the head. Keisha's screams echo from Dre's phone, which lies next to his feet.

chapter 10

Following Dre's death, Bus Stop Tony is found nearby by the police who suspect him as the murderer. Mav, however, is certain of Tony's innocence, suspecting Ant instead due to his earlier insinuations about Dre. This fuels Mav's growing animosity towards Ant. During Dre's funeral, his extended family, Moe, and even the King Lords gang, who wear their colors in respect, are present. Despite Dre's distance from the gang activities, they still pay their respects. After the service, Mav confides in his gang about his suspicions regarding Ant. But his desire for revenge irks Shawn, who asks him to step back and let the gang elders handle it. Annoyed and feeling belittled, Mav leaves the scene only to be halted by Lisa. Offering a comforting hand, she invites him for a walk.

chapter 11

Mav accompanies Lisa to her place. Observing Mav’s unkempt hair, Lisa proposes to clean it for him. This simple act of concern and camaraderie gradually transforms into a passionate encounter, leading them to engage in unprotected intercourse.

chapter 12

Mav scrambles out of Lisa's window in haste, evading her newly-arrived mother. In the following days, Mav's attempts to contact Lisa through multiple calls prove futile as she has blocked his number. Meanwhile, during his shift at Wyatt's Grocery, Mav watches Mr. Wyatt mingling with the other store owners, inspiring a vision of his future self. On a different day, Mav spots Iesha and hurries to discuss Seven with her. However, before he gets the chance, Iesha reveals her homelessness and quickly departs.

chapter 13

Mav grapples with inner turmoil, and his teacher suggests he see the school counselor. However, when Ant crudely says Dre deserved his fate, Mav's suspicions that Ant killed Dre heighten. In frustration, Mav leaves school and joins Shawn, who hands him a joint. Once they've driven around a while, Shawn leaves Mav at Mr. Wyatt's for garden work. Mr. Wyatt, noticing Mav's intoxicated state, makes him work harder. After laboring for hours, they take a break. In a poignant moment, Mr. Wyatt gently holds the back of Mav's neck, triggering a wave of emotion in Mav, who then breaks down in tears in Mr. Wyatt's embrace.

chapter 14

Faye encourages Mav to attend the high school football match with King, Rico, and Junie, who are all part of the King Lords. At the game, they see Ant glaring at them from the bleachers. Even though Mav suspects Ant to be Dre's murderer, he keeps quiet to honor his promise to Shawn. The tranquility is shattered when shots are fired in the parking area while Mav is at the food counter. Chaos ensues as people scatter for safety, and Ant is found lifeless on the ground.

chapter 15

Three weeks have passed since the fatal shooting of Ant, and Mav is grappling with his feelings, which are void of satisfaction. Driven by Dre's expectations, Mav tries hard to lead a clean, honest life centered around Seven. Amidst this, Lisa, unseen and unheard since Dre's funeral, turns up at his doorstep. Mav senses trouble the instant Lisa steps in. After Seven is tucked in for a nap, Lisa drops a bombshell - she suspects she's pregnant.

chapter 16

Mav buys a pair of pregnancy tests from Wyatt’s Grocery, wanting to confirm Lisa's pregnancy status. Lisa uses both tests and the results come back positive after just five minutes. Although he's shocked and scared, Mav promises to support Lisa regardless of her decision. When Faye returns home, she instantly senses that something is off. After being informed about the situation, Faye insists that they should visit Adonis in Evergreen Prison.

chapter 17

The day preceding Thanksgiving is marked by a visit to the prison. Initially, the atmosphere is cordial. However, when Mav discloses his impending fatherhood to Adonis, the mood quickly deteriorates into heated disagreements. Mav storms out of the prison, mad at Adonis. Once he is back in his car, he calls Lisa, who shares that she has been kicked out by her mother and is currently living with Tammy. Mav, before heading home, drops by Tammy's place to propose that Lisa move in with him. Lisa counters his proposal with the fact that they are not in a relationship, she doesn't find him reliable, and she requires some time apart.

chapter 18

During Thanksgiving, Mav's extended family congregates at his house for a feast. King shows up with Iesha, revealing they've been cohabiting for some time. This stings Mav as he had been searching for Iesha to assist with the baby, and King knew it. A heated conversation about Seven between Mav and Iesha prompts Faye to intervene. In a separate room, she advises Iesha to give legal guardianship of Seven to Mav and insists on weekly visits to show she is trustworthy. As the celebration continues, Mav and King share a meal outside, but their peace is shattered when Lisa's brother Carlos assaults Mav before speeding off.

chapter 19

Back in school, Mav learns that Shawn was taken into custody on Thanksgiving Day. Rico and Junie notify him about the power struggle within the gang after the departure of Dre and Shawn. Post school, Mav and Lisa bump into Moe at the doctor's clinic during Lisa's first ultrasound. Moe's presence doesn't surprise her but the reason she didn't visit during Thanksgiving was to avoid any issues. Mav is left red-faced when he can't afford Lisa's co-pay and Carlos steps in to foot the bill, leading Mav to contemplate returning to drug dealing.

chapter 20

On a sunlit day in February, Mav visits Dre's grave, bringing him up to speed with the recent happenings within their group and family. He mentions the new leadership of P-Nut, yet admits to some secret dealings involving himself, King, Rico, and Junie. His friendship with King is now a thing of the past. Later, Mav goes to St. Mary's for a drug deal, and takes the bus home with Lisa. They engage in a playful bet about their unborn child's gender; Lisa believes it's a girl, while Mav insists it's a boy. The stakes? The loser treats the winner to Reuben's famous barbecue ribs. Upon their return to Tammy's, they are met with an unexpected guest - Brenda, Tammy's sister, with her baby and boyfriend, Red. In the midst of their conversation, Mav is stunned to see Dre's gold watch on Red's wrist.

chapter 21

Mav is captivated by Dre's wristwatch, immediately noticing its familiarity. Upon realizing this, Red hastily departs. Mav is consumed by thoughts of Red for several days. During a work shift, Mr. Wyatt motivates Mav to establish personal ambitions, affirming his ability to control his own destiny. In the ensuing afternoon, Mav shares his suspicion about Red with P-Nut but is met with disregard and blunt dismissal. He no longer feels the sense of security and camaraderie the group used to provide.

chapter 22

Mav becomes consumed with the notion that Red murdered Dre, which begins to disrupt his life. During a session with the school counselor, he finds out his grades are so poor that he either must retake the twelfth grade or earn a GED. Struggling with financial concerns, Mav turns to King to acquire drugs for resale. At King's place, he shares his suspicions about Red wearing Dre's watch and P-Nut's dismissal of Red as the potential murderer. King, annoyed at P-Nut's ineffective leadership, insinuates that Mav will have to take matters into his own hands and kill Red. Mav concurs with this suggestion.

chapter 23

Mav becomes increasingly obsessed with Red and plans to obtain a firearm from King. After a tiring day, he and Faye converse in the kitchen. Mav realizes he needs to inform Faye about his school drop out, but defers the talk. Faye, however, reveals her longstanding romantic relationship with her friend, Moe, a woman she loves. Mav takes time to process this but eventually expresses his support, stating that her joy is all that matters to him. If she is content, he is content.

chapter 24

Mav keeps his failed school status a secret from Faye as he tracks Red's routines, while pretending to attend school. He has also planned a surprise for Lisa, taking her for a campus tour at Markham State, her dream college. Post the tour, Mav and Lisa join Keisha, Dre's betrothed, at a diner. Mav wants to separate Keisha from the group to find out if she knows anything about the moment Dre was shot. Keisha timidly discloses that she heard Bus Stop Tony asking for money before the shooting and that the shooter had a gruff voice. Mav and Lisa have a row about Mav's gang affiliations on their journey back home.

chapter 25

Mav attempts to locate Bus Stop Tony at a drug den, with the aim of uncovering the details of Dre's murder. After eventually coming face to face, Tony provides a description of the vehicle used by the murderer, which coincidentally resembles Red's car. Despite initially offering Tony narcotics as payment for these details, Mav gives him cash instead, advising him to spend it on fresh attire.

chapter 26

Mav is forced to confront harsh realities about his father's role in the addiction struggles of many, including Bus Stop Tony. Despite this, Mav finds himself in need of parental guidance and visits Adonis in prison. During their meeting, they both express remorse for previously exchanged harsh words and discuss Faye's new relationship with Moe. After sharing about Red, Adonis refrains from offering advice, reinforcing that Mav is now an adult and must make his own decisions.

chapter 27

A couple of days following Mav's encounter with Adonis, he's made up his mind to end Red's life and has everything mapped out. With Faye keeping an eye on Seven, Mav strides towards Rose Park. He calmly waits until Red is solitary on the street. Approaching Red from the rear, he places the gun to his head, forcing him to kneel. All that's left for Mav to do, he realizes, is to squeeze the trigger.

chapter 28

The entire chapter is summed up in a line that discloses Mav's decision to not fire the gun.

chapter 29

Mav rushes to find solace in Lisa's presence. Overwhelmed by grief, he breaks down in her arms, recounting the death of Dre, his intent to murder Red, and the decisive moment he opted against revenge. Lisa assures Mav of her faith and reliance on him. Later, Mav collects the narcotics stash from his bathroom with the intention to return them to King. However, he drops some in the toilet accidentally, causing him to worry about the debt he still owes King. The following day, Mav and King have a confrontation in King's car. Mav hands his firearm back to King and falsely claims that Dre's killer wasn't Red. As he hands over the remaining drugs, Mav declares he is done with the drug trade. King, feeling affronted by Mav's decision to quit and angry about his financial setback, aims his gun at Mav, hinting that they now have unresolved issues.

chapter 30

Mav contemplates what Mr. Wyatt's garden lessons have taught him, particularly that roses are resilient, much like himself. On an early morning visit to Mr. Wyatt's flourishing rose garden, they discuss Mav's recent academic setback. He confesses to Mr. Wyatt that he hasn't told Faye about his school failure, but vows to earn his GED. Hearing this, Mr. Wyatt surprises Mav with a full-time job offer. Later, Mav musters the courage to inform Faye about his academic situation and follows through with his promise by enrolling in a GED course and a landscaping class. In a phone conversation with Adonis, Mav confesses that he didn't murder Red, to which Adonis reacts with evident relief. At their shared workplace, the grocery store, Mr. Wyatt entrusts Mav with the reins, leaving him to demonstrate his capabilities. The faith shown in him doesn't go to waste as Mav manages the store impeccably. Upon returning, Mr. Wyatt commends Mav's performance, admitting it exceeded his expectations. Inspired by this, Mav understands that it's time he started surpassing his own expectations as well.

epilogue

Mav, Lisa, and Seven enjoy a meal of barbecue ribs at Mav's house. Lisa playfully jabs at Mav, stating she's won the bet and they're expecting a girl. Anticipating her personality traits becomes a topic of conversation, while Mav buries himself in his GED studies. Lisa inquires if he's shared his intention to leave the gang, to which he admits he hasn't due to fear of the repercussions. Upon Faye's return from work, they break the news that they're having a girl. Mav assures both Lisa and Faye that he has plans to provide for Lisa and their two children; despite not having everything sorted out, he'll begin with schooling and employment with Mr. Wyatt. His goal is to show Lisa she can rely on him. Later, while relaxing on the back porch, Mav and Lisa contemplate names for their unborn child, with Mav revealing he has thought of a name as they gaze at the star-filled sky.

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