Concrete Rose

Use these links to supplement and complement students’ reading of the work and to increase their overall enjoyment of literature. Challenge them to discern parallel themes, engage through visual and aural stimuli, and delve deeper into the thematic possibilities presented by the title.

Recommended Texts for Pairing

The Rose that Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur

• The titular poem from this book of poetry by famous hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur inspired the title Concrete Rose. Shakur’s poems confront topics concerning poverty, art, activism, parenthood, and more. This poetry collection addresses the themes of Breaking Down Toxic Perceptions of Masculinity, The Cycles of Poverty and Trauma, and The Devastating Effects of Race and Racism seen in Concrete Rose.

Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri

• A middle-grade novel about Cole, a Black boy whose mother sends him to live with his father in Philadelphia in an effort to change his behavior. Cole is dropped into his father’s world, where he learns how to care for horses in the inner city to combat the lure of drugs and gang activity. Ghetto Cowboy highlights the themes of Breaking Down Toxic Perceptions of Masculinity and The Devastating Effects of Race and Racism.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

• A young adult novel-in-verse about Will, who is on his way to avenge his brother’s murder. Will has interactions with various people he knows on his apartment building’s elevator while he contemplates the gun he carries and the decision he’s made. Long Way Down illustrates the themes of Breaking Down Toxic Perceptions of Masculinity, The Cycles of Poverty and Trauma, and The Devastating Effects of Race and Racism in similar ways to Concrete Rose.
• Long Way Down on SuperSummary

Other Student Resources

Hanging on to Max by Margaret Bechard

• A short young adult novel about high school senior Sam, who learns he’s to become a father. His son’s mother is not interested in raising a child, so Sam takes on the role of single teen father and struggles to balance his responsibilities.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

• A five-act play about the deaths of two teenagers, Romeo and Juliet is one of the only stories to keep Maverick awake in his literature class. It is a play about gang violence, the deadly consequences of acting before thinking through a decision, and more.
• Romeo and Juliet on SuperSummary

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

• In this young adult contemporary novel that takes place 17 years after Maverick learns his girlfriend Lisa is expecting his second child, Starr Carter witnesses the death of her friend Khalil. Khalil’s death by a police officer makes headlines, as Khalil was unarmed, plunging Starr deep into a world of police and gang violence, racism, and more.
• The Hate U Give on SuperSummary

Teacher Resources

“Being There (Or Not): Teen Dads, Gendered Age, and Negotiating the Absent-father Discourse”

• A peer-reviewed article from Men and Masculinities, a scientific journal, that discusses the results found after 26 teen fathers were interviewed about the discourse behind absent fathers, their responsibilities as teen fathers, and their abilities to maintain “good-dad identities.”

“Systemic racism explained”

• An informational video from KGW News with consultations from the CEOs of Portland’s Center for Equity and Inclusion and North Star Forward Consulting that breaks down the different types of racism and explains how systemic racism operates. This resource can bolster knowledge of the racism mentioned in Concrete Rose.