Concrete Rose

Read Tupac Shakur’s poem “The Concrete Rose,” which is referenced in the title of Concrete Rose. What themes from Shakur’s poem can you identify in the novel?

Concrete Rose is split into three major sections: “Germination,” “Growth,” and “Dormancy.” How do each of these section titles relate to Mav’s character arc during the chapters they contain? What is the significance of the epilogue’s title, “Bud?”

How does Thomas show the cyclical nature of poverty and trauma through the stories of Mav and the other residents of the Garden?