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• Fantastic Fiction -

  Angie Thomas
  USA flag

  Angie Thomas was born, raised, and still resides in Jackson, Mississippi as indicated by her accent. She is a former teen rapper whose greatest accomplishment was an article about her in Right-On Magazine with a picture included. She holds a BFA in Creative Writing from Belhaven University and an unofficial degree in Hip Hop. She can also still rap if needed. She is an inaugural winner of the Walter Dean Myers Grant 2015, awarded by We Need Diverse Books. Film rights to her debut novel, The Hate U Give, have been optioned by Fox 2000 with George Tillman attached to direct and Hunger Games actress Amandla Stenberg set to star.

  Genres: Young Adult Romance, Young Adult Fiction

  New Books
  October 2021
  (hardback)

  Angie Thomas Carter Family 2-Book Box Set: The Hate U Give/Concrete Rose
  Series
  Carter Family
  0. Concrete Rose (2021)
  1. The Hate U Give (2017)
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  Novels
  On the Come Up (2018)
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  Collections
  Angie Thomas 2-Book Box Set (2019)
  Blackout (2021) (with Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D Jackson, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk and Nicola Yoon)
  Angie Thomas Carter Family 2-Book Box Set: The Hate U Give/Concrete Rose (2021)
  Blackout 2 (2022) (with Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D Jackson, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk and Nicola Yoon)
  thumbthumbthumbno image available

  Non fiction
  Find Your Voice: A Guided Journal for Writing Your Truth (2020)

• Angie Thomas website - https://angiethomas.com

  Angie Thomas was born, raised, and still lives in Jackson, Mississippi. A former teen rapper, she holds a BFA in creative writing from Belhaven University. Her award-winning, acclaimed debut novel, The Hate U Give, is a #1 New York Times bestseller and major motion picture from Fox 2000, starring Amandla Stenberg and directed by George Tillman, Jr. Her second novel, On the Come Up, is a #1 NYT bestseller as well, and a film is in development with Paramount Pictures with Angie acting as a producer. In 2020, Angie released Find Your Voice: A Guided Journal to Writing Your Truth as a tool to help aspiring writers tell their stories. In 2021, Angie will return to the world of Garden Heights with Concrete Rose, a prequel to The Hate U Give that focuses on seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter.

  ANGIE FAQ
  How old are you?
  Sorry, not telling that. I’m of legal age though.

  You were a rapper?
  Yes, but I was never signed to a record label. I only did a couple of performances and some radio and newspaper interviews. Also, I was in RightOn Magazine, which was the highlight of my short-lived career.

  What was your rap name?
  I went through so many! The most known one was Young Short-A. Hangs head in shame.

  Can I listen to some of your old songs?
  …No. They’ve all been destroyed. Thankfully.

  THE HATE U GIVE FAQ
  When did “The Hate U Give” come out?
  February 28, 2017 in the US and Canada (Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins). International release dates are posted on the site. You can find out what countries and languages it has been published in on this page!

  What about “The Hate U Give” movie?
  Yes! The movie was released on October 21, 2018. It was directed by George Tillman, Jr., (Soul Food, Barbershop, This is Us, Luke Cage) and produced by State Street Productions, Temple Hill Productions, and Fox 2000. For more info, visit 20th Century Studios’ The Hate U Give page.

  Why doesn’t movie-Starr look like book-cover-Starr?
  Amandla was cast as Starr back in late 2015—almost two years before the book was released and almost a year before there was even a cover.

  Did you have any say on the movie? Did you write the script? Did you cast the movie?
  No. Authors don’t control movies or cast them, but I was consulted a lot by both the director, George Tillman, Jr., and the screenwriters, Audrey Wells, and Tina Mabry.

  Is it a faithful adaptation?
  Yes! But it is not identical to the book. Books and film adaptations are like fraternal twins in a “The Parent Trap” situation—they’re being raised by two different parents. The book version of The Hate U Give is raised by my publisher, and the film version is raised by Fox 2000. They parent different, their kids are different and will even look different, but they still share genetics. As the author, I’m like the grandparent rooting for both kids. I don’t make decisions, but I do advise.

  Angie. Where is DeVante? and Nana? I didn’t see them in the film.
  Remember how I said books and film adaptations aren’t identical? Those two are a reason why. DeVante and Nana aren’t in the film.

  Whaaaaat?
  I know, I know. It’s going to be okay, I swear.

  But…
  Trust me, love.

  DeVanteeee!
  He’s in our hearts. Always.

  And Nana!
  Let’s just imagine that the two of them are touring the world together, playing Spades and making bank.

  What inspired you to write "The Hate U Give"?
  I was inspired to write the novel by the shooting death of Oscar Grant in 2009. In my anger, frustration, and hurt, I only knew to do one thing — and that was write. At the time I wondered “What would happen if that took place in my neighborhood? How would we react?” I wanted to show the human side of stories like Oscar’s.

  Where does the title “The Hate U Give” come from?
  The title comes from the definition that Tupac Shakur gave “Thug Life,” which was not just the tattoo he had on his stomach but a code of the streets he developed for impoverished neighborhoods. “Thug Life” is an acronym for, “The Hate U Give Little Infants F**ks Everybody.” Voila, the title of the book, just without the L.I.F.E. part ’cause we can’t put the “F” word in a Young Adult book title. Plus, that would be one long title.

  Wait…the abbreviated title is T.H.U.G???
  Yep! On purpose :).

  That “U” instead of “You” was on purpose, too?
  Right again. So please stop side-eyeing me, Grammar Nerds.

  You’re a Tupac fan? What’s your favorite song?
  HELL YES. The song depends on the day. That’s the beautiful thing about Tupac—there’s so much variety in his musical catalog. You can check out a few of my favorites in the T.H.U.G. writing playlist.

  Soo…do you like Biggie too or nah?
  Yep! Love Big, but they were two different rappers with two different styles. I’m a Hip Hop head—I could go on for days just talking about those two. The East Coast/West Coast beef didn’t have anything to do with me (check the Wikipedia page—my name isn’t on it) and that was over twenty years ago so…shrug why not like both and appreciate them for what they brought to Hip Hop? In fact, Biggie was an inspiration for my second novel, On the Come Up.

  ON THE COME UP FAQ
  What inspired you to write “On the Come Up”?
  Even before I wrote The Hate U Give, I knew I wanted to write a novel that paid homage to hip-hop. As a teenager, hip-hop was how I saw myself when I didn’t see myself in books. I had this character, Bri, and I knew she had to be a rapper, but that’s all. I got the idea for the plot after “The Hate U Give” was published. The censorship challenges the novel faced reminded me of the rappers who had meant so much to me And how they went through similar experiences. I was looking to them for inspiration about the censorship I was dealing with, just as I was trying to write a book about hip-hop. This made me look at what it means to be a young black person in America, when freedom of speech isn’t necessarily free for you.

  How about an "On the Come Up" movie?
  Yes! It’s still in the early stages, so I can’t say much, but I’m excited to be working with George Tillman, Jr. again, and Kay Oyegun is writing the script (which is incredible!). It’ll also be my first time as a producer.

  Will there be a sequel to "The Hate U Give" or "On the Come Up"?
  As of now, I have no plans to write a sequel to either book. Truth is, I would have to put Starr and Bri through a hell of a lot in the sequels, and don’t you think the poor girls have been through enough? Let’s let these girls live.

  Do you have more books coming out then?
  Yes! My third novel, Concrete Rose, will be released on January 12, 2021! It is not a sequel to The Hate U Give or On the Come Up—it tells the story of Maverick Carter, as a teenager. You can read more about it in this People article, and find more info on my Concrete Rose page.

  EVENTS FAQ
  Can you visit my school?
  Unfortunately, I am not scheduling any school visits currently (in person or virtual).

  Can you appear at my event?
  Possibly! It depends on my schedule as well as other factors. Please feel free to use the information on my Contact page.

  WRITING FAQ
  How did you become an author?
  The long version or the short version? For the long version, check out this post from my old blog. The short version? I wrote a book, rewrote it, queried it to literary agents, rewrote it again, and queried it. Then I wrote another book (The Hate U Give) and reached out to an agency on Twitter during a Q&A to see if it was something agents may be interested in. An agent resoponded and said yes, and asked to see it. A few months later, I signed with him. About three months after that, he had me in a 13-publishing house auction.

  Thirteen publishers???
  Yep! It was one of the craziest weeks of my life. Thankfully, Brooks is part agent, part therapist, part superhero.

  How do I become an author?
  Honestly, I’m not 100% sure how I became one. The key is to write, write, write, and be prepared to re-write, re-write, re-write. Also, read, read, read, especially books that are in the same category and genre as yours. Find good critique partners and beta readers—they can help you see things that you may not notice in your manuscript.When you’re ready to query literary agents, read the Query Shark Blog in its entirety and then write a letter. But you’re not done with revisions yet because you should get your query letter critiqued too. Once you have a solid letter, research agents, find those who rep your category and genre, and FOLLOW THEIR SUBMISSION GUIDELINES (I can’t stress that enough). Also, check out contests such as Pitch Wars, Pitch Madness, and the Writer’s Voice (all hosted by the online writing goddess, Brenda Drake. They’re a good way to put your manuscript in front of agents and an even better way to make friends in the writing community.The biggest key though is to never give up. Ne-ver. I don’t care how many rejections you get (and believe me, there will be a lot of them). Keep writing, keep querying.

  Can you refer me to your agent and/or publisher?
  Sorry! I don’t refer people to my agent unless I’ve read their manuscript and not only love it but think it would be a good fit for him. Also, I can’t refer writers to my publisher—they only take manuscripts through agents.

  Can you read my manuscript? Or let me know if my book idea is good?
  I’m sorry again, but I can’t due to time restraints and for legal reasons as well.

  Can I interview you for my school project / paper / thesis?
  Unfortunately, due to the volume of requests, I can’t do academic interviews, but my past interviews and talks may be useful resources for your project. Please check out the Media page!

  Can you send me a signed copy of your book, or sign my copy if I send it to you?
  Again, due to the volume of requests, I’m not able to do this. But you can order a signed copy of any of my books from Lemuria Books (my local book store!).

• Wikipedia -

  Angie Thomas
  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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  Angie Thomas
  Thomas in 2019
  Thomas in 2019
  Born September 20, 1988 (age 33)
  Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.[1]
  Occupation Writer
  Language English
  Alma mater Belhaven University (BFA)
  Genre Young Adult Fiction, Middle Grade
  Notable works The Hate U Give (2017)
  On the Come Up (2019)
  Website
  www.angiethomas.com
  Angie Thomas (born September 20, 1988)[2] is an American young adult author, best known for writing The Hate U Give (2017). Her second young adult novel, On the Come Up, was released on February 25, 2019.

  Contents
  1 Early life
  2 Career
  3 Activism
  4 Works
  4.1 The Hate U Give (2017)
  4.2 On the Come Up (2019)
  4.3 Concrete Rose (2021)
  4.4 Blackout (2021)
  5 Accolades
  6 References
  7 External links
  Early life
  Angie Thomas was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi,[3] where she still resides.

  Thomas was subjected to multiple instances of gun violence at a young age. She grew up near the home of assassinated civil rights activist Medgar Evers, stating that her mother heard the gunshot that killed him.[3] When she was six years old, Thomas witnessed a shootout.

  In an interview with The Guardian, she recounted how her mother took her to the library the following day to show her that "there was more to the world than what [Thomas] saw that day". This inspired her to take up writing.[4]

  In her adolescence, Thomas shared her skills as a rapper, although her career in music was short-lived. She was, however, the subject of an article in Right On! magazine.[5][6] Thomas went on to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts[7] from Belhaven University.[8] She was the first black teenager to graduate from her creative writing course.[8]

  Career
  Thomas' initial intention was to write fantasy and middle grade novels; however, she was worried that her stories would not matter. While querying her first manuscript, she began another that would soon turn out to be her first novel, The Hate U Give.[9] While she was a college student, one of her professors suggested that her experiences were unique and that her writing could give a voice to those who had been silenced and whose stories had not been told.[3] During this time, Thomas also heard about the shooting of Oscar Grant on the news.[4] This story, compounded by the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, and Sandra Bland, was a major influence on the novel.[4]

  Thomas cites Tupac Shakur as inspiration for her writing. She has felt a wide range of emotions when listening to his music, and wanted to achieve a similar effect as a writer, saying, "I want to make you think at times; I want to make you laugh at times; I want to make you cry at times – so he was an influence in that way." She has explained that the title The Hate U Give was inspired by Tupac's THUG LIFE tattoo, which was supposedly an acronym for "The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody." Thomas understands that to mean, "that what society feeds into youth has a way of coming back and affecting us all."[10]

  In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Thomas stated that she aims to "show truth and tear down stereotypes" in her writing, and further says that it is important for the white community to listen to the grievances of the Black Lives Matter movement. After its publication, The Hate U Give was adapted into a 2018 film of the same name by Fox 2000, starring Amandla Stenberg.[8][5]

  Activism
  In an interview with Publishers Weekly, Thomas gives insight on her role as an activist: "I've always seen writing as a form of activism. If nothing else, books give us a glimpse into lives that we may not have known about before; they can promote empathy. There is the movement Black Lives Matter and the organization Black Lives Matter, and I respect what both are doing. I know [The Hate U Give] is an 'issue' book, but I didn't necessarily want it to be that way... I wanted to make something that is so political seem personal. While I wanted Khalil to represent these young men who lose their lives and are quickly labeled thugs, I wanted [the plot of the book] to be its own thing. I didn't want to disrespect anyone's family, anyone's memory."[11]

  Works
  The Hate U Give (2017)
  The Hate U Give, originally written as a short story, debuted at number one on the New York Times Best Seller list for young adult hardcover books within the first week of its release in 2017.[3] The Hate U Give was written, as Thomas says, to bring light to the controversial issue of police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement.[3] The book's plot follows a teenage girl, Starr Carter, and how her life is impacted by the death of her friend, Khalil, an unarmed black teen shot by a white police officer. The Hate U Give deals with the effect of police brutality on the communities of those around the victim.

  In 2018, the Katy Independent School District in Katy, Texas, removed the book from its shelves after complaints over profanity,[12] and a South Carolina police union requested the book's removal from a school's summer reading list, because of what the union considered "almost an indoctrination of distrust of police."[13]

  On the Come Up (2019)
  Thomas' second book On the Come Up was released in February 2019. Thomas wrote the book so she could discuss the costs tolled on minorities and women when they do speak-up.[14] The book tells the story of a teen rapper who becomes a viral sensation and the way that this distorts and changes who she is. It takes place in the same fictional universe as The Hate U Give.

  The book was a New York Times bestseller.[15]

  Concrete Rose (2021)
  Concrete Rose is a prequel to The Hate U Give and was released on January 12, 2021, in the US and the UK. The book tells the story of Starr's father Maverick Carter.[16]

  Blackout (2021)
  Thomas wrote a young adult novel Blackout, set to release in June 2021, which she co-authored with Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon. The book follows six interlinked stories about Black teen love during a power outage in New York City.[17]

  Accolades
  Angie Thomas has received several major awards for her work, including:

  2015
  Walter Grant from We Need Diverse Books[18]
  2018
  William C. Morris Award for The Hate U Give[19]
  Michael L. Printz Award Honor for The Hate U Give[20]
  Coretta Scott King Award Honor for The Hate U Give[21]
  Amnesty CILIP Honour for The Hate U Give[22]
  Waterstones Children's Book Prize for The Hate U Give[23]
  Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis for the German edition of The Hate U Give (translated by Henriette Zeltner)[24]

• USA Today - https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2021/07/10/the-hate-u-give-author-angie-thomas-her-favorite-ya-authors/7901209002/

  'The Hate U Give' author Angie Thomas says this YA novel is why she writes books for 'people like me'
  Mary Cadden
  USA TODAY

  SKIP

  Young adult literature is experiencing a renaissance. There are more intriguing voices and diversity in its pages than ever. In a new series, USA TODAY profiles five of the bestselling YA authors leading the charge to talk about the books, writers and moments that shaped their careers.

  When bestselling YA author Angie Thomas was growing up, she didn't see herself reflected back in the books she read, but rather, the music she listened to.

  “During my teenage years, hip-hop was my storytelling avenue. Hip-hop was the way that I consumed stories. Hip-hop filled that void,” she said. She gravitated toward artists such as TLC, 2Pac, Outkast and Missy Elliott for their honesty and insight into the Black experience.

  It wasn't until college that a YA book would really speak to Thomas. The book was “Monster,” by Walter Dean Myers. The complex novel tells the story of Steve Harmon, a young man on trial for murder. In it, Myers explores how one single decision can change a person's life.

  “It was the first time that I really recognized that, wow, somebody is writing a story about people that I know, about a community and about lives that seem familiar to me,” Thomas, 32, said.

  Author Angie Thomas
  "Monster" lit the spark that led Thomas to become a YA author. “I knew I liked writing, but I realized there need to be more books like this," she said. "Maybe there needs to be more books for young people like me.”

  Though the author stresses, “I don't want it to seem as if there weren't Black authors out there publishing books." In addition to Walter Dean Myers, there was Sharon Draper and Jacqueline Woodson. "All wonderful authors.” But as a teen, “I just was not being introduced to their works.”

  More:10 must-read Black History Month book recommendations: Cicely Tyson, Angie Thomas and more

  More:'Areli Is a Dreamer' and other books help kids understand immigration, identity, belonging

  While studying at Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi, Thomas realized that YA books like juggernauts “Twilight” and “Hunger Games” could have a wider readership than tweens and teens as she saw “everyone from professors to students" reading the series.

  "The Hate U Give," by Angie Thomas
  YA books have a universality that youth and youth survivors (aka adults) can relate to. “When we write these books, we meet young people at a phase in their lives where they're looking for something, they're trying to figure themselves out,” said Thomas. “It changes the way they see themselves. It changes the way that they see the world. YA has the power to literally change young people's lives in ways that I don't think adult literature does.”

  And Thomas' novels have made an impact in a short time. Take her 2017 debut, "The Hate U Give," for example. It follows a Black girl named Starr who witnesses the shooting of a young Black man at the hands of the police. Thomas channels the outrage of racial injustice into an all-too-relatable piece of fiction. It rapidly became a USA TODAY bestseller, was nominated for a National Book Award, won a Coretta Scott King Award Honor and was adapted into a film.

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  Thomas followed up her initial success with 2019's novel "On the Come Up," about 16-year old Bri who becomes a viral rap sensation, and 2021's "Concrete Rose," a prequel to "The Hate U Give" that follows the dope-slinging son of a former gang legend who finds out he’s going to be a father and starts to learn what it means to really be a man. Both were also USA TODAY bestsellers.

  Most recently she has co-authored “Blackout,” a collection of interconnected short stories with fellow YA authors Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk and Nicola Yoon, about six couples' experiences during a blackout in New York City. The author is branching out and trying something new. Thomas is at work on her first middle-grade fantasy that will incorporate African American culture, history and folklore.

  More:Barnes & Noble announces inaugural Children's and YA Book Awards winners

  More:'The Sky Blues' is the queer YA romantic comedy you've been waiting for

  So, these days, which authors do Thomas gravitate toward? Jason Reynolds, author of "Ghost", is one. “I love every single thing Jason does," she says. "I would read his grocery lists.” So is Adam Silvera, author of "They Both Die at the End", who she says “brings me all the joy in the world, despite the fact that his books give me all the heartbreak in the world.” "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" author Becky Albertalli writes “wonderful, diverse love stories,” says Thomas, and "The Poet X" author Elizabeth Acevedo is a master of “beautiful verse."

  The impact of YA literature is undeniable, said Thomas. “We're creating the leaders of the future and we're creating the future readers.”

• We Need Diverse Books - https://diversebooks.org/angie-thomas-on-concrete-rose-writing-advice-and-her-next-project/

  Angie Thomas on Concrete Rose, Writing Advice, and Her Next Project
  January 12, 2021 by We Need Diverse Books

  Angie Thomas on Concrete Rose, Writing Advice, and Her Next Project
  Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas is on sale on January 12, 2021. Order the book here!

  By Karis Rogerson

  If you’re into kidlit at all, the chances are really high that you’re familiar with the name Angie Thomas. Author of NYT bestsellers The Hate U Give and On the Come Up, Thomas is also one of the 2015 inaugural winners of the Walter Dean Myers Grant from We Need Diverse Books. In addition, she’s the author of the January 12, 2021 release Concrete Rose.

  Thomas hopped on Zoom with me to spill some recollections about how she got into storytelling, as well as discuss her books and what it meant to win the Walter Grant when she was an aspiring author with a barely-functional laptop, the screen held together with tape and the keyboard fully nonfunctional. Thomas said her old laptop died the week after she won the grant and was able to buy a replacement computer.

  “Winning the Walter Grant was like the starting point of my career,” she recalled. “Had I not gotten it when I did, The Hate U Give may not have happened.”

  Thomas said that as long as she remembers, she has been a fan of telling stories. When her mom read her bedtime stories whose endings she didn’t like, Thomas just rewrote her own version of them.

  “So like I hated Green Eggs & Ham,” she said, “I didn’t like the way that it ended, so I was always coming up with my alternative endings and doing my own fan fiction.”

  A pivotal moment came in third grade when a teacher caught Thomas writing a story at the end of an exam and had her read it for the class. The story, a space adventure involving Mickey Mouse, captivated her young audience—especially after Thomas ended it on a cliffhanger (one involving a meteor approaching Mickey’s space ship) and left them all wanting more.

  After that, Thomas’s teacher had her read a story to the class every Friday.

  “I got bit by the bug then,” Thomas said. “I’ve loved getting that gas out of people with the cliffhanger.”

  Although she was always a storyteller, Thomas describes her younger self as an “unimpressed reader” and as a teenager, she turned to hip hop to tell her stories.

  “Hip hop filled that void in for me, rappers told the stories that I connected with, that represented me,” she said. “Honestly, when I decided to become a rapper, it was because I wanted to be able to tell stories and I thought that was the only way I could do it. When I decided to write fiction, hip hop had given me permission to tell stories without filter, without holding back, and it gave me permission to be authentic in my storytelling.”

  A few of Thomas’ favorite rappers include Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, OutKast, and more.

  “If you wanna get to know my books a little better, it’s good to listen to the ones I just mentioned to get a better understanding of my books,” she said, after also listing Cardi B, Tupac, and Nas. “I listened to a lot of the storytellers in hip hop growing up,” she said.

  After the runaway success of her first novel, Thomas got to work on her sophomore work, On the Come Up, and she said that book was a hard one to write.

  “I had extraordinary circumstances,” she recalled. “The success of The Hate U Give still blows my mind. I’m talking about a book that was still on the bestseller list, still is, and had this film out and all of these things. I had a lot of pressure that I put on myself. I was traveling all the time, and my life was basically upended, and I was supposed to write a second book in the midst of this.”

  Before her book’s publication, Thomas had hardly left Mississippi; after it, she was on planes twice a week, traveling for events in different cities, meeting all sorts of people, and trying to write a good follow-up novel.

  Instead of rushing the project, Thomas went to her agent and editor and asked for more time. The book’s release date was ultimately pushed back, releasing on February 5, 2019.

  “I hope it shows other authors that it’s okay to take a breather, it’s okay to take a break, it’s okay to miss a deadline,” Thomas said. “For my mental health’s sake, that book had to be pushed back.”

  Even now, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which many creatives are berating themselves for their productivity (or lack thereof), Thomas stressed that it’s important to take a break if that’s the best way to take care of oneself.

  “The most important part of being a writer is taking care of yourself,” she said. “You’re the priority, the words can wait.”

  Thomas’s new novel, Concrete Rose, is set seventeen years before her debut and features protagonist Maverick Carter—otherwise known to The Hate U Give readers as Big Mav, Starr’s father.

  “Maverick is probably my favorite character from The Hate U Give, and I feel bad for saying that because Starr should be. That’s nothing against Starr she’s a close close close second, but it’s Mav for me,” Thomas said. “I enjoyed writing him, and every scene he was in, it felt like he became a star on the page. He was the character that everybody asked me about the most. He was also the one I seemed to have the most fans for.”

  Thomas laughed as she recalled going on tour and having adult women come up to her to profess their love for the character. In fact, one of the highlights of the writing and publication process for this book, she said, was seeing how delighted readers and fans were when it was announced the prequel would be about Maverick.

  In addition, she found joy in getting back into the world she created and first published a book about in 2017.

  But the idea of writing about his past in book form began to take place when Thomas visited the set of The Hate U Give movie adaptation, in which Russell Hornsby played Maverick. According to Thomas, every time he stepped foot on set, Hornsby was in character—whether he was in a scene or not.

  He even went so far as to treat the young actors portraying his on-screen children as though they were his kids. And importantly, he began asking Thomas hard questions about Mav’s background, like his relationship with his mother or with King.

  I enjoyed writing him, and every scene he was in, it felt like he became a star on the page. He was the character that everybody asked me about the most.

  “Having those conversations with him made me think, ‘Huh, maybe I should put this in a book,’” Thomas said, “because to be honest, I was coming up with stuff on the spot. It was things I hadn’t thought about. Art influences art, because the artistry of Russell Hornsby as Maverick influenced me to write Maverick’s story.”

  Over the course of writing the book, Thomas came to realize that, though on the surface they have a lot of differences, she and Maverick have more in common than she initially thought.

  “Writing the perspective of a cis straight seventeen-year-old Black boy was very different than what I’m used to doing,” she said. “As a cis straight Black woman, I’m not gonna say that my experience is what his is, in the least. I wanted to respect him as a character and [anyone] who picks up this book and sees themselves in him.”

  Though her next book is another YA contemporary, Thomas is currently working on a middle-grade fantasy whose code name is “literal Black girl magic,” which she said is bringing her great joy to draft.

  “Writing this fantasy novel has been an escape,” she said. “It’s giving me the joy I need right now. If you’re a writer, you’ve gotta write for some joy at some point or another.”

  And for writers, Thomas had several pieces of advice to give, including the idea that if you write, you’re a writer.

  “Take that title and own it, no matter whether you’re published or not you’re a writer,” she said. “You’re gonna get a lot of ‘nos’ along the way, but all it takes is one ‘yes’ to change everything.”

  And as for why to write the book you’re thinking about, Thomas also had an excellent piece of advice: “Write because it’s the story you will get caught up in.”

  Thomas recommended three books she thinks readers would love: Grown, by Tiffany D. Jackson. “She really did that in there,” she said. “Even after you put it down you’re gonna be like Tiffany really went there.”

  She also recommended Dear Justyce by Nic Stone, saying “She knocked the ball out of the park. I think it’s a great companion to Concrete Rose and we didn’t do that intentionally. I still think about that book.”

  Finally, Becky Albertalli’s Kate in Waiting, of which she said, “That book is going to be a balm. She wraps you up in a blanket and wraps you tight.”

• To The Best Of Our Knowledge website - https://www.ttbook.org/interview/author-angie-thomas-burn-it-all-down-or-use-those-emotions-my-art

  Author Angie Thomas: Burn It All Down Or Use Those Emotions In My Art
  Angie Thomas
  Anissa Hidouk (Via Angie Thomas)

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  Attending Belhaven University while living in a poor Mississippi neighborhood often meant that Angie Thomas felt she was living as two different people for two different worlds — one accepted by her mostly white upper class classmates during the day, and another that was consumed by grief over the death of Oscar Grant. The shooting of the unarmed black man by a transit police officer in Oakland, California might have been hundreds of miles away, but it struck at the heart of her community, leading to conversations all around her.

  "Oscar was one of us. I knew Oscars. I grew up with them. I saw them every single day," said Thomas, speaking with "To The Best of Our Knowledge" host Anne Strainchamps. "But at my school there were people who said that, 'well, maybe he deserved it. He was an ex-con. Why are they destroying their own community over some guy who was just going to probably end up dead?'"

  Thomas says she felt betrayed by people she saw as friends, saying things she wasn't sure how to correct or criticize in light of her personal perspective on what had happened at Fruitvale Station.

  "I figured I had two options. I could either burn down my entire campus or I could use those emotions in my art."

  She poured those emotions into her debut young adult novel. "The Hate U Give" has become a best-selling novel, nominated for a national book award and soon to be a film. Thomas talked about how writing this book has changed her, and how teenagers give her hope.

  This transcript has been edited for clarity and length.

  Anne Strainchamps: I was wondering if writing the novel was a process for you personally finding your voice.

  Angie Thomas: Oh definitely, absolutely. In some ways I've become more outspoken because there are people who don't understand why you would write a book about a cop killing someone. "Are you anti-police?" Then you have the school district in Texas that banned the book simply because of the language.

  AS: Because you write it the way people really talk.

  AT: Exactly. There are curse words in the book. But I did the count with my Kindle and there are 93 instances of the F word in the book. But there were 936 police killings this year alone. Which number is bigger?

  I'm okay with people saying “oh the language makes me uncomfortable,” but if the language is what makes you uncomfortable, consider yourself privileged. I'm more uncomfortable about the killing of unarmed black people in this country.

  For me it seemed as if rappers with only people who were telling stories that I actually saw myself in. Books did not. Children's publishing failed me at that age range because I could not connect with Bella Swan in "Twilight."
  AS: The book begins with a death. Khalil and Starr are out one night and Khalil is killed by a police officer. Khalil is unarmed. What was it like to write that scene? How much did you think about it, and how much did it just pour out?

  AT: That scene was definitely one of the hardest to write. I made myself watch footage from various shootings. Then I had to stop because I didn't want to overwhelm myself. When you're watching these things over and over again, it becomes traumatic. Each time more and more. But I wanted to show it from Starr’s view, to keep the lens as much on her as possible, because when Khalil is gone this is who we’re left with.

  I think of Rachel Jeantel — Trayvon Martin's friend who was on the phone with him when he was confronted by George Zimmerman — and what that must have done to her.

  So I had to for a second put myself in Starr’s shoes more than anybody’s shoes. How does this one moment affect her? It’s going to change her entire life.

  AS: The title is from Tupac.

  AT: Yes yes yes. The title comes from Tupac’s "Thug Life" tattoo. A lot of people know him for having that tattoo across his abdomen but they don't know that "Thug Life" was an acronym for "the hate you give little infants f**ks everybody." He explained his meaning as that what society feeds into youth has a way of affecting us all — in 1992, [he was talking about] the Los Angeles riots.

  AS: You've been a hip hop artist yourself.

  AT: Well I wanted to be a rapper when I was maybe 13, until 16 or 17. For me it seemed as if rappers with only people who were telling stories that I actually saw myself in. Books did not. Children's publishing failed me at that age range because I could not connect with Bella Swan in Twilight. You know I tell people all the time my mom would not have let me date a guy that old, so I could not connect with it. So I saw myself in music. I saw myself in hip hop but there's only so much you could say in a song. So I have a 400-something page book. I could not have gotten this into a song.

  I see [teenage girls] being exactly what I wanted Starr to be in the book. They were going to go make themselves heard.
  AS: The book has struck such a nerve for so many young people. I know you just get mobbed by young readers when you go places. What did they ask you about?

  AT: I have a lot of kids who read it and after they've read it they're like OK so what do I do now? How do I change systemic racism? I've had girls who've come up to me as if I'm ready to change the system, ready to turn it over and fix it.

  This past weekend in Mississippi actually the state celebrated the opening of our Civil Rights Museum, and President Trump came to visit. It led to a lot of controversy. I had three young black girls who came to my signing. They had on these t-shirts that said "Black Girl Magic" and "Black Lives Matter" and they had their signs with different things for Mr. Trump to see. And they said "we came to your signing, and we want you sign our book, but you have to be quick with it because we have to go protest."

  They said they were inspired by Starr to speak up and speak out to make themselves heard. And that did me all the good in the world because I see them being exactly what I wanted Starr to be in the book. They were going to go make themselves heard and make sure our president heard them.

  AS: Wow, that makes me want to cry. That’s so great.

  AT: But they give me hope. Teenagers give me hope. We write them off so often. But I'm seeing a lot of things in this generation that’s coming up that gives me a lot of hope for the future. So I tell them when I'm in the old folks home, I think I can relax because I think you guys are going to do a great job.

Angie Thomas. HarperTeen/Balzer + Bray, $19.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-06-284671-6

In this prequel to The Hate U Give, Thomas delves into the upbringing of Maverick Carter, the father of THUG's protagonist, Starr. Mav is one of the subordinates ("li'l homies") of neighborhood gang the King Lords and the son of one of the gang's incarcerated OGs. At 17, Mav and his hotheaded best friend, King-both responsible for recruiting and initiating new members and dealing weed for the King Lords--have begun slinging harder drugs on the side, under the gang leaders' noses. Risking hard time like his father or death like King's dad by leading a double life, Mav soon finds himself in over his head when he discovers he's fathered a child by King's off-and-on girlfriend, who promptly abandons the baby to his care. Convincingly detailing the journey of a young Black man growing into fatherhood, Thomas brings her trademark wit, nostalgic love of the 1990s and all things R&B and hip-hop, and her penchant for heartfelt characterization to this first-person exploration of Maverick Carter's coming-of-age. Through its portrayal of loss and upheaval, this story acts as a tender love letter to a close Black family and community--one that isn't without problems but is always full of love. Ages 14-up.

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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"Concrete Rose." Publishers Weekly, vol. 268, no. 48, 24 Nov. 2021, pp. 100+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A686559763/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c23c2c48. Accessed 20 Dec. 2021.

Thomas, Angie CONCRETE ROSE Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins (Teen None) $19.99 1, 12 ISBN: 978-0-06-284671-6

This literary DeLorean transports readers into the past, where they hope, dream, and struggle alongside beloved characters from Thomas’ The Hate U Give (2017).

The tale begins in 1998 Garden Heights, when Starr’s parents, Maverick and Lisa, are high school seniors in love and planning for the future. Thomas proves Game of Thrones–esque in her worldbuilding ability, deepening her landscape without sacrificing intimacy or heart. Garden Heights doesn’t contain dragons or sorcerers, but it’s nevertheless a kingdom under siege, and the contemporary pressures its royalty faces are graver for the realness that no magic spell can alleviate. Mav’s a prince whose family prospects are diminished due to his father’s federally mandated absence. He and his best friend, King, are “li’l homies,” lower in status and with everything to prove, especially after Mav becomes a father. In a world where masculinity and violence are inextricably linked to power, the boys’ very identities are tied to the fathers whose names they bear and with whose legacies they must contend. Mav laments, “I ain’t as hard as my pops, ain’t as street as my pops,” but measuring up to that legacy ends in jail or the grave. Worthy prequels make readers invest as though meeting characters for the first time; here they learn more about the intricate hierarchies and alliances within the King Lord gang and gain deeper insight into former ancillary characters, particularly Mav’s parents, King, and Iesha. Characters are Black.

A resounding success. (Fiction. 13-18)

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Thomas, Angie: CONCRETE ROSE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2020, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A643410580/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6f87e9d3. Accessed 20 Dec. 2021.