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dcooper99's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Abortion, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Drug use, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Alcohol, and Gun violence
doomluz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcohol, Abortion, Biphobia, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Bullying, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Fatphobia, Drug abuse, Rape, Misogyny, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent
uglypopcorn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Child abuse
Moderate: Homophobia, Drug use, and Abortion
professorbadger's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction and Homophobia
Moderate: Abortion, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Murder, Infidelity, Alcohol, Body shaming, Death of parent, Drug use, and Sexual harassment
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Classism, Cursing, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Body shaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, Police brutality, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Sexism
briasmith's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Misogyny, Drug use, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Fatphobia and Homophobia
chloemia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Abortion, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Homophobia
miak2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
“Now I realized that me and him were just alike. We were both born to win. And, when we were not winning, it was OK 'cause we were busy planning to win.”
There's a lot to like about this book. As other reviewers have shared, it was raw and authentic, with a quick pace and lots of highs and lows.
Unfortunately, the things that frustrated me about this book greatly overshadowed the things that I appreciated. Winter was an incredibly fun character to follow, but many of her choices were so mind-boggling and selfish that it was hard for me to root for her at all. While I appreciated her sharp wit and strategic thinking, she'd contradict her own plans the page later with some irrational action. Certainly realistic, given that she was a teenager fighting to make it during such a tumultuous time, but frustrating to read nonetheless. And, I think, that's where my biggest issue with the book lies. After everything Winter endured, it doesn't appear that she'd learned anything at all. Sure we as readers could walk away having learned from Winter's actions, but it's less than satisfying that Winter herself had very little growth.
Actually, scratch that. My biggest issue with the book was it's constant depictions of sex. I completely understand that sex is a major part of Winter's life, and sharing all of those details is part of what makes this book so authentic. But I both couldn't relate and also had no interest in reading about a teenager's explicit sexual activities. (Especially when so many of them were non-consensual and the book just brushes that off. Yikes).
I'm glad that I read this book, it certainly has a lot of value. But it just didn't resonate with me for a multitude of reasons.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Drug use
ellekhupe's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Gun violence
Moderate: Abortion, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Violence
hellalibrary's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sister Souljah has delivered a terrific story that delves deep into greed, drugs, the prison system, rape, homelessness, abandonment, generational cycles/curses, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, teen pregnancy, and ties it all to the Black community.
Winter is the daughter of Ricky Santiaga, drug king pin of Brooklyn, and she is the SHIT. Money, clothes, cars, bling, Winter has it all and isn’t afraid to show it off. She’s self-absorbed, arrogant, greedy, and truly unlikeable. But I also kind of felt bad for her? I know, I know, but I can’t help it!
After her father is sent to jail, and her family falls apart, Winter has to learn how to survive on her own, and she does so by hustling her way through various schemes in order to become a drug queen. Guess what happens?
What I also found interesting was how Sister Souljah wrote herself into the book, the voice of reason, the conscious that we all want Winter to develop. Asking questions like, what are your values? What’s more important, money or community?
This edition I read, also included some character analyses and a discussion with Sister Souljah where she explains her reasons for writing the book.
I highly recommend this teaching novel, because behind the bling, there are some lessons buried within.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, and Violence