Concrete Rose Summary

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.