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.