BookFronter
Concrete Kids by Amyra León

Concrete Kids

Amyra León

Penguin Young Readers Group · Paperback · October 13, 2020

A Goddard CBC's Social Justice Prize Nominee • A YALSA Amazing Audiobook for Young Adults "I will close my eyes and disappear into the pages of this book for many years to come."--Hanif Abdurraqib (New York Times bestselling author of Go Ahead in The Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest) "Amyra's wondrous awe for life in all its terror and splendor is inspiring to witness."--Rosario Dawson (award-winning actor, singer, and activist) "A moving, inspiring love letter to and about 'the concrete kids.

African American U.S. History for TeensPoetry for TeensOrphans & Foster Carestocking
More
poetry
Buy on Amazon

We earn from qualifying purchases.

Who it’s for
Free verse holds love, loss, self-love, and resilience in a voice that dreams beyond its circumstances.
Themes
Foster care and mourning, Self-love and resilience, Blackness and womanhood
Genres
Poetry for Teens, African American U.S. History for Teens, Orphans & Foster Care

Nearest books

Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.

  1. Imaginary BordersXiuhtezcatl Martinez55% match
  2. ContinuumChella Man55% match
  3. This Is What I Know About ArtKimberly Drew58% match
  4. A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still BreatheMahogany L. Browne58% match
  5. An Impossible Thing to SayArya Shahi54% match
  6. How Dare the Sun RiseSandra Uwiringiyimana, Abigail Pesta54% match
  7. Ordinary HazardsNikki Grimes57% matchShares Poetry for Teens and Orphans & Foster Care
  8. When They Call You a TerroristPatrisse Cullors, asha bandele57% matchShares African American U.S. History for Teens

For younger readers: Red Bird Danced, City Summer, Country Summer, Aniana Del Mar Jumps in

Start with three books, and this one can be the first.

Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.

Start with this book

About this book

A Goddard CBC's Social Justice Prize Nominee • A YALSA Amazing Audiobook for Young Adults "I will close my eyes and disappear into the pages of this book for many years to come."--Hanif Abdurraqib (New York Times bestselling author of Go Ahead in The Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest) "Amyra's wondrous awe for life in all its terror and splendor is inspiring to witness."--Rosario Dawson (award-winning actor, singer, and activist) "A moving, inspiring love letter to and about 'the concrete kids.

Continue reading

The kids with a melanin kiss.'"-- Kirkus Reviews "Leon's powerful book will embolden readers find their own ways of speaking out against injustice." -- Booklist, Starred Review "A raw and complex free verse exploration of self-love, Blackness, womanhood, and healing. A timely, essential ­purchase for all young adult collections." -- School Library Journal, Starred Review In Concrete Kids, playwright, musician, and educator Amyra León uses free verse to challenge us to dream beyond our circumstances -- and sometimes even despite them. Pocket Change Collective is a series of small books with big ideas from today's leading activists and artists. Concrete Kids is an exploration of love and loss, melody and bloodshed. Musician, playwright, and educator Amyra León takes us on a poetic journey through her childhood in Harlem, as she navigates the intricacies of foster care, mourning, self-love, and resilience. In her signature free-verse style, she invites us all to dream with abandon--and to recognize the privilege it is to dream at all.

Verse With Pulse

Free verse holds love, loss, self-love, and resilience in a voice that dreams beyond its circumstances.

Come here for

  • Poetry exploring Blackness, womanhood, and healing
  • A vivid mix of melody, mourning, and resilience

Expect

  • A poetic journey through childhood in Harlem and foster care
  • An invitation to dream—and reckon with the privilege of doing so

Where it sits

Poetry for Teens76%
Orphans & Foster Care69%
African American U.S. History for Teens41%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Orphans & Foster Care
  • Poetry for Teens
  • Prejudice & Racism for Teens
Authors
Amyra León
Publisher
Penguin Young Readers Group
Published
October 13, 2020
Format
Paperback
Theme
Foster care and mourning · Self-love and resilience · Blackness and womanhood
Reading lane
Orphans & Foster Care