In her explosive follow-up to The Hate U Give, which has spent nearly 200 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, Angie Thomas revisits the fictionalized neighborhood of Garden Heights—seventeen years before the events of the first book. Concrete Rose tells the story of Maverick Carter, a seventeen-year-old who is taking care of his family in the only way he knows how, while his dad, a former gang legend, is in prison. But Maverick’s world is soon upended when he finds out he is a father. Now, with a young child who depends on him for everything, Maverick is forced to reevaluate his life.

While writing the book, Thomas was inspired by stories of young men. “I started talking to young, real-life Mavericks. Young men who are trying to still find their way and are often written off and seen as troublemakers,” she told PEOPLE. “They have stories and they deserve [...] the opportunities to be seen as someone beyond their circumstances.”

Thomas’ third book is one of the most anticipated titles of 2021, and much like her two previous novels, it’s a lush and multi-layered story that gives voice to those who are often ignored and marginalized in our communities. Concrete Rose is currently available for pre-order, and will be widely released on January 12, 2021.