There are two major story plots throughout Concrete Rose. The first concerns Mav’s fathering of two children and the second relates to the murder of Mav’s cousin and friend. These two storylines interweave seamlessly throughout the novel and both contribute to the growth of Mav, the main character.

Just as Adonis dictates Mav’s path when he bestows his son’s name upon him, Thomas establishes the tone of the book with its title and structure. She divides the chapters into three parts, each devoted to a stage in the life cycle of plants. Part 1, Germination (the beginning of growth), begins with the truth about who fathered Iesha’s baby. The events in these chapters portray Mav’s journey as he takes on the duties of caring for his young sprout so that he can move towards the next stage, growth. For Seven to grow, however, Mav needs to do a lot more evolving and maturing himself.

Issues of life and death continue to dominate Part 1 when Dre is killed. His death spawns the birth of Mav’s overwhelming grief and desire for revenge, which dogs him throughout the book. There are key differences between these two major challenges in Mav’s life, however. His direct and conscious action results in the birth of his son, who ultimately brings him joy even though taking care of a baby makes Mav’s life difficult. Mav does nothing to cause Dre’s murder, but his reaction to it threatens to derail any stability that he can provide for Seven.

In Part 2, Growth (development), Mav continues to grow but has yet to thrive. His responsibilities increase when he gets Lisa pregnant, and his stress grows accordingly. Nothing seems to assuage his feelings of grief about Dre, and he continues to search for the truth about Dre’s murder in the hopes that he can seek revenge. His growing pains extend to his parents as well. Faye and Adonis are both vexed by the feeling that they have failed their son.

The one constant through all the trials and tribulations Mav is going through is Mr. Wyatt. The boundaries that he sets for Mav are clear, and though Mav tests them, he ultimately does not shirk his obligations. He shows up and does his work, all while Mr. Wyatt sows seeds of wisdom that Mav will use to grow.

Like the roses that he tends in Mr. Wyatt’s garden, however, Mav must go through a dormant phase to bloom, which he begins to do in Part 3, Dormancy. Reflection and forgiveness are crucial elements of this phase, both for Mav and his parents. Mav allows himself to express his emotions and reveals his vulnerability to Lisa, who in turn learns to trust him. Faye embraces her feelings when she tells Mav about the real nature of her relationship with Moe, and Adonis’ admission of vulnerability allows Mav to move past his need to avenge Dre’s death.

Throughout all three parts, Thomas juxtaposes Mav’s big decisions with his smaller ones, illustrating how both varieties impact his life. With each choice he makes, Mav takes two steps forward and one step back, but he keeps on walking, nonetheless. He makes the right decisions when he accepts his responsibilities to take care of Seven and to provide support for Lisa and their baby, but waffles back and forth between good and poor decisions about the best way to do so. When he isn’t dealing, he worries about how far his small paycheck from Mr. Wyatt will stretch. When he is dealing, he worries that he will let down Faye and Lisa if they find out.

The small decisions that Mav makes, like ditching school, contribute to the challenges he already endures while trying to keep up with his studies and raise a child. Keisha’s success proves that this is possible, but unlike Keisha, Mav does not have a plan for success or a strong partner like Dre to help him accomplish it. Lisa provides moral support, but as a pregnant teenager with problems of her own, she can scarcely afford to give Mav more than that.

Fortunately, Lisa’s faith in Mav is enough for him to finally have faith in himself. In the Epilogue, Mav has begun to bud while his daughter still germinates. This offers faith that the cycle will continue and that Mav, Lisa, and the baby will all bloom someday.