'Concrete Rose' is the prequel to 'The Hate U Give' and is an exploration of black manhood in America.

With his King Lord dad in prison and his mom working two jobs, seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter helps the one way he knows how: slinging drugs.  Life's not perfect, but he's got everything under control.  Until he finds out he's a father...

Suddenly it's not so easy to deal drugs and finish school with a baby dependent on him for everything.  So when he's offered the chance to go straight, he takes it.  But when King Lord blood runs through your veins, you don't get to just walk away.