"The Coldest Winter Ever" by Sister Souljah

 

 

 

   "The Coldest Winter Ever" by Sister Souljah.  This is a coming of age, teenage novel that stays with you forever.  Its either a novel that shocks and stuns you, or its filled with scenes that you can connect with:Scenes of growing up: Scenes of the inner city:Scenes of love, drugs and money. 

 When 17-year-old, Winter Santiaga, (the main character) dreams of money and looking good, she'll stop at nothing to advance, she'll help her gangster boyfriend on the streets of New york selling drugs. 

 When her father, Ricky Santiago is thrown into prison for being a top drug lord, her family is torn apart, their family will be split up. Winter's sisters three sisters: Mercedes, Lexus, and Porsche, become wards of the state.  Winter's father's close friend  adopts the twins girls, claiming that his drug days are over, and he tells Winter  that he only sold drugs as a stepping stone to get to financial stability. 

 This doesn't stop Winter from selling, in fact she only sells harder, believing herself to be a top drug seller herself.  Many of Winter's friends will turn against her.  The story will climax at a scene when cops find Winter's car filled with guns and she'll be thrown into a prison herself, only to have her sister (outside of prison) follow in her footsteps, as a drug dealer.

 I enjoyed the character of Winter and her pursuit in getting what she wanted, although I do believe there are ways to get what you wanted without resorting to drugs.  The goals of this young teen are real. In fact I would dare to say that many young, female teens in New York can connect with pursuing this life of selling, believing that it would get them to the top.  The top of what? Is the primal question. 

The way Sister Souljah tells the story of this girl's extreme  lifestyle and its underlying effects tells readers what happens to teens when they don't have a chance being child.  And what happens to families when they collapse.