“The inheritance we carry from those who came before us is a knot of roots that can be complicated to unravel.” Angie Thomas

Ideas of democracy and social justice are at the very heart of the writing of YA author Angie Thomas. She joins Britta B. to discuss her new novel Concrete Rose, an emotionally honest and poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood. Concrete Rose returns to Garden Heights 17 years before the events of The Hate U Give in which Starr Carter, a 16-year-old girl finds her voice after witnessing a police officer kill her best friend.

Author, producer, activist and former teen rapper, Angie’s award-winning debut The Hate U Give was a New York Times bestseller and movie. Toronto-based Britta B. made her name as a spoken word poet in competitive and feature performances, including the National Poetry Slam and Canadian Festival of Spoken Word. In her community work, Britta runs projects with students of all abilities and backgrounds.

In association with Toronto International Festival of Authors.

IMAGE ANGIE: Valerie Schmidt