Mock Printz 2026 discussion

Some are saying this is Angie Thomas's best work. What are your thoughts? Is it Printz worthy?

I liked it. I feel like all her 3 books are of the same quality, but this one doesn't have the messaging of THUG. Don't see it as a Printz contender.

I loved this, especially found it an amazing listen (I'm an audiophile normally, but especially with Angie Thomas). I think I liked it better than THUG, but I'm wondering if that is because I have also dealt with parenting an infant and could really relate to many of the issues Maverick has with Seven. But that won't be true of many YA readers. I believe THUG had a more powerful message, and the writing felt fresher because it was her debut.

I felt Concrete Rose was better than THUG--and even Angie Thomas likes it more!
With a male main character, guys are more interested (though they were attracted by the issues in THUG)--especially when they find out Mav has fathered TWO kids at 17. Some of the appeal may be the "sequel" effect, and for many readers Maverick was their favorite character in THUG.
As for issues, while THUG was more current and "ripped from the headlines," Concrete Rose deals with problems that have been around for a long time and aren't likely to go away soon, but don't get as much primetime news coverage: gang culture, and teen parents, especially teen fathers. They're all important issues, but in my community, teens are more likely to be in/have friends or family in a gang, or have/have friends who have babies, than have been witness to racially biased crimes, making Concrete Rose more relatable.
All of that said, I'm also not sure about the Printz, which is usually looking for something fresh. It's sad, because they're all so good and so needed in today's society, but I have a feeling the Printz will not be looking at books with racial themes for a while unless the book is absolutely amazing. : (

I'm with Angie Thomas. I liked this book better than THUG. I do think THUG was a great debut for a much-needed topic. However, I think Concrete Rose is another fantastic addition. Another reviewer mentioned that this book broke down some of the stigmas related to young black men, gang culture, and teen pregnancy. I also really liked how Thomas showcases how certain choices that may appear incomprehensible to some may mean survival to others. She humanized these themes. I'm not sure if it will win the overall prize. However, it might have a shot in the honors ring.

Hi, long time lurker, first time poster. I loved Concrete Rose, but not as much as The Hate U Give or On the Come Up. I think the writing is of the same quality, characters are excellent, but I also think that knowing how things are going to turn out for Maverick robbed the story of some of its suspense for me.

As for being a Printz contender, I think it has a shot at being an honor book but don't think it will win the award.

John wrote: "Hi, long time lurker, first time poster. I loved Concrete Rose, but not as much as The Hate U Give or On the Come Up. I think the writing is of the same quality, characters are excellent, but I als..."

How do you think would have reacted if you had not read The Hate You Give first?

I absolutely adored Concrete Rose. I loved Maverick as a character and really liked getting to know him as a young father to his son Seven. The back story just makes the Hate U Give more relevant to me. I'm hoping it's at least a contender for the Prinz Honor.

I thoroughly enjoyed Concrete Rose. I've loved all of Angie Thomas's books - the characters are so real to me that I feel intimately acquainted with Starr, Bri and Maverick. For this reason I can't say whether I liked Concrete Rose more or less than the other two books, they were very different stories after all.

I thought that the decision to write in Maverick's voice / dialect was an interesting one. It definitely felt authentic but took me a minute to get used to. This is a perspective that has seldom been committed to paper before and I do hope that will it will get some Printz recognition.

Briony wrote: "How do you think would have reacted if you had not read The Hate You Give first?"

I would still think it's an excellent book (as I do now), but I would feel that a few things were left unresolved (What happens to King? Does Mav work things out with Lisa? What happens with Iesha? Does Mav get back into gang life or does he get out for good?) And I'd still probably like On the Come Up more.

As a prequel, I love that this book didn't feel the need to explain every minor detail (for example, the way Solo: A Star Wars Story does, if you've seen that). But were this not a prequel, then I would feel that a few things were left without closure.

Anyway, I definitely loved the book. Angie Thomas's writing ability is next level compared to the majority of YA authors I'm familiar with.

I listened to the first CD of The Hate U Give on audio when it won the Odyssey. The reader was so fantastic at putting every bit of grief into Star's voice that I had to return it. I went into Concrete Rose with only that much knowledge of THUG. I really liked it. Maverick's voice felt true. I liked that the story dealt with single fatherhood because we don't see that being explored a lot in teen fiction. I would be delighted if this earned a Printz Award or Honor.

I enjoyed it, but it didn’t really show me a character I hadn’t seen before, like On the Come Up, or address an issue in a groundbreaking way like THUG. I don’t think this one is a Printz contender.