Concrete Rose Characters

Maverick Carter, the novel’s protagonist, is a 17-year-old African American boy living in inner-city Garden Heights. Maverick is in the King Lords gang, which he joined at age 12. His dad, Pops, used to… read analysis of Maverick Carter

Lisa is Maverick’s girlfriend, though she breaks up with him when she discovers that Seven is Maverick’s son. Like Maverick, she’s 17; but unlike Maverick, she attends a private Catholic school across town. Lisa… read analysis of Lisa Montgomery

King is Maverick’s best friend. His father was Pops’ right-hand man, and so Maverick and King have grown up together. But though they have a lot in common as the sons of prominent… read analysis of King

Pops is Maverick’s father; he’s been in prison since Maverick was eight years old. Pops is tall and looks exactly like Maverick. Before he was imprisoned, Pops was the charismatic, successful crown (i.e., leader)… read analysis of Pops

Mr. Wyatt is an elderly Black man who owns the local grocery store in Garden Heights along with his wife, Mrs. Wyatt. He’s stern and has very specific ideas about how young men should… read analysis of Mr. Wyatt

Dre is Maverick’s older cousin; he’s in his early 20s. He’s getting married in a year to his fiancée, Keisha, with whom he has a three-year-old daughter, Adreanna. Maverick has adored Dre… read analysis of Dre

Iesha is Seven’s mother and King’s on-again, off-again girlfriend. Like Maverick and King, she’s 17. About a year before Concrete Rose begins, when Maverick and Lisa were temporarily broken up, King set Maverick… read analysis of Iesha

Seven is Maverick and Iesha’s infant son. When he’s born, though, Iesha believes that her boyfriend, King, is the father, and so she names the baby King Jr. But when King Jr. is… read analysis of King Jr./Li’l Man/Seven

Red is one of the novel’s antagonists. He’s Garden Heights’ local hustler and sells various items—many of them black-market—out of the trunk of his red Impala. Maverick learns he’s untrustworthy early on, when Red sells… read analysis of Red

Shawn is the crown (i.e., the leader) of the King Lords gang. He’s in his early 20s and his best friend is Dre, Maverick’s older cousin. Shawn, like Dre, sees it as his… read analysis of Shawn

Carlos is Lisa’s older brother; he’s in college and so isn’t around Garden Heights much. When he is around, he and Maverick have a confrontational relationship; they constantly insult each other and fight for… read analysis of Carlos Montgomery

Moe is a nurse and one of Ma’s friends. At first, Maverick believes that Moe is just one of Ma’s closest friends. The two women met a few years after Pops went to prison… read analysis of Moe

Keisha is Dre’s fiancé and Adreanna’s mother. She and Dre have been together for years, but they plan to get married the summer after the novel begins. Keisha is a college student at… read analysis of Keisha

Adreanna is Dre’s three-year-old daughter with Keisha and until Dre dies, she’s the light of his life. She’s a happy, funny child whose presence inspires Dre to try hard to be the best father… read analysis of Adreanna

P-Nut is a “big homie” in the King Lords. Few people like him. He’s fond of making up words and thinks this habit makes him sound smart, but in private, “li’l homies” like Maverick and… read analysis of P-Nut

Ms. Robinson is Iesha’s mother. She’s a caustic, rude woman who believes that Iesha has to take responsibility for the mistakes she made, so she refuses to help her daughter at all when King… read analysis of Ms. Robinson

Mrs. Wyatt is Mr. Wyatt’s wife and Maverick’s neighbor. She helps her husband out in his grocery store and, once Maverick takes a job with Mr. Wyatt, begins watching Seven for Maverick while… read analysis of Mrs. Wyatt

Ant is a member of the Garden Disciples, the King Lords’ rival gang. He’s a high school student who goes to Maverick’s school and is very short. Because of the way that Ant tells… read analysis of Ant

Ms. Montgomery is Lisa and Carlos’s mother. She’s a strict, rude woman and has disliked Maverick from the moment that Lisa and Maverick started to see each other. Though Lisa believes that Ms. Montgomery… read analysis of Ms. Montgomery

Jamal is Mr. Wyatt’s nephew. He’s attending community college and works in Mr. Wyatt’s store part time. Maverick never does anything but nod to Jamal and doesn’t seem to know him well, but he… read analysis of Jamal

Granny is Maverick’s grandmother. She lives about 30 minutes outside of Garden Heights and adores Maverick, so Maverick knows that if he needs any help with Seven, Granny will be there as soon… read analysis of Granny

Mr. Clayton is the counselor at Maverick’s high school. He’s an imposing Black man, but he seems to genuinely care about his students. Mr. Clayton defies Maverick’s expectations by not talking down to him… read analysis of Mr. Clayton

Cousin Gary is one of Maverick’s extended family members. He’s a lawyer who lives in the suburbs and is married to a white woman. Maverick detests him because he knows Cousin Gary looks down… read analysis of Cousin Gary