I think too much time passed and I am such a mood reader. The mood has yet to strike to read this one so I don’t have feedback.

This small book of poems that can fit into your pocket packed a considerable punch. Leon's words were raw and truthful and brought a few tears to my eyes. Most importantly though, these poems put it ALL into perspective. My favorite poems were LEMONADE AND NEW SHIT. This book is perfect for kids and teens because so many will feel seen, while others will be made aware.

Such a raw and powerful collection of poetry. Heartache and love and everything in between written so beautifully. The work speaks for itself and everyone needs to listen

Concrete Kids is a short poetry collection with a lot packed in. I ended up waiting until it was released and listened to the audiobook, which I’m so glad I did. Amyra León is so expressive and it reads so beautifully.

I will close my eyes and disappear into the pages of this book for many years to come.--Hanif Abdurraqib

That is exactly how I felt when reading this! It was fantastic

I enjoyed the fact that this book was written in free verse as it sets it apart from the other books in the Pocket Change Collective. The author talks about her childhood and is able to touch upon self-love and resilience while introducing more difficult issues/memories. Leon’s writing is moving and I look forward to seeing the finished book

(thank you to penguinteen and netgalley for this ARC <3)

"Concrete Kids" by Amyra León is a collection of more than just poetry. It's a gallery of the ugly and the beautiful masterpieces of a fighter's life. León is able to express the culture of the Black community wonderfully, and does not hold back in her expressive prose.

The language used is clear and easy to follow without losing its impact, and the tone of the poems is hauntingly beautiful. I would definitely recommend this book for 8th grader's and above.

Short and sweet. Some of these poems are so poignant. Some felt a bit purposeless. Poetry is difficult to review when it's scattered like this.

The poetry was beautifully haunting and the new Pocket Change Books are perfect for short story lovers.

Recommend for 8th grade and up.

Pocket Change Collective is doing great things with these easily accessible books!
This book written in free verse and mixed with prose, details the haunting reality of growing up in Harlem with the candid experiences of Amyra Leon: being placed into foster care, the reality of her mother's alcoholism, witnessing the death of a young man, gentrification, the gravity of the treatment of Black people in America, and the AIDs epidemic. Leon's voice is clear, rhythmic, and beautifully recounts her experiences in the foster care system and some of the hardships she faced, but also in the beauty of hope. This is definitely one I will be re-reading very shortly!

Concrete Kids by Amyra Leon is a perfect book to hand to your teenagers hungry for insightful poetry that makes you feel.

I thought this book was beautiful all around. The writing- exquisite. Absolutely perfect in every single way. I feel like there’s not much else to say besides I love this book. The way the words are laced together make my heart throb. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

* Thank you to Penguin Teen for the advanced copy*

This book is a very powerful tool in the right hands. Amyra Leon took experience from her own life and turned it into poems; being taken from her mom and going through the Foster system and jumping from home to home. Race places a lot in the story too. Shooting and death. A life experience that not app have struggled through, but a ways to see through the authors eyes.

Concrete KIds by Amyra Leon is a wonderful book that should be added to your high school reading shelf. Very engaging poetry that offers a window into the realities of being raised in the face of hardship while still maintaining hope. Such a beautiful read! Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Concrete Kids is a beautiful poetry collection that examines loss, race, life in foster care, childhood in Harlem, as well as resilience and self-love. León's free verse is both beautiful and moving. With a clear voice, León is able to explore the intricacies of heavy topics and do so with justice while at the same time projecting light and hope.

I can't wait to pick up a physical copy of this for myself!

Thank you Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the eARC. Concrete Kids is a powerful collection of poetry and short prose describing pieces of the author’s life growing up in Harlem. The stories do not shy away from the harsh realities of her life, but are written in such a haunting, lyrical, and beautiful way that highlight the intricate nuances of the situations. The poems touched upon such a wide range and depth of feelings and emotions when exploring the scenes from Leon’s childhood. Concrete Kids tells stories of the Black experience growing up, and thus I highly recommend finding #ownvoices reviewers who can speak better to these aspects of the poetry and storytelling. This book was impossible to put down, a mesmerizing piece of the Pocket Change Collection series.

Concrete Kids was a visceral, flowing text that followed the narrator through her upbringing in upper Manhattan during the (ongoing) age of gentrification. From detailing early memories of her biological and foster mothers, to seeing young boys of color killed in her neighborhood, she provides commentary on life in a rich, loving community that is at once targeted yet neglected by the police and authorities. Leon brings the reader into her world where culture, spirit and family are preserved and protected despite the changes around them that threaten to erase their home. The writing was beautiful and captivating.

Such a powerful book. I don't think that I was expecting to be so readily impacted by this book, but it happened. Penguin is definitely doing the damn thing with these pocket change books. I received this book as an ARC for review. All thoughts are my own

Concrete Kids is another book in Penguin Teens new pocket change series. I read one other this year titled Beyond the Gender Binary. I absolutely loved that one so when I was given the opportunity to check out another one in this series I jumped on it. Amyra Leon is truly a gift to this world. She's not only an author, but also a musician, playwright, and activist. Concrete Kids is a accumulation of poetry and prose as Leon describes to readers her experience growing up in Brooklyn, NY. Leon touches on everything from the treatment of Black bodies to her own experience growing up in foster care and having to learn to love herself when those adults responsible for her well being did not. I was mesmerized by her ability to take the simplest of poems and truly capture the full image of the Black experience. From gentrification to the battle with the Aids epidemic to the endless cycle of violence introduced to our children, she doesn't abstain from covering anything. There were multiple sections that I had to read over and over not only because I wanted to make sure I understood her true intentions and meanings, but also because the passages were so beautiful. There were references to songs like Lip Gloss by Lil Mama, Strange Fruit, and even Timbaland & Magoo. I appreciated all of those references because they, too, were important and pivotal during my childhood.

This book while short is such a powerful dedication to all kids with melanin. It's an encouragement to look beyond the here and now and find the power to dream big. I loved it. It's so understandable as to why some have difficult looking outside of the confines of their block. The issues and circumstances that a lot of these kids face never ceases to blow my mind. Some will see more tragedy in a day than some adults see in their lifetime. And Leon reminds readers of that. She doesn't hold back or gloss over those difficult topics.

If you haven't checked out any of the Penguin Pocket Change Collectives please give them a try. They are well worth a read. I haven't been disappointed yet and I truly believe that this is such a powerful addition to the collection.

I did not intend to read this entire book in one day, but I found it difficult to put down. The prose is brilliant, moving, heartfelt, and heartbreaking. It's a beautiful, relevant story that deserves to be on every library shelf.

Great addition for high school poetry shelves. I think teens will find the language accessible and interesting