Change for a Twenty [Paperback]

Shamontiel L. Vaughn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 2006

Growing up is hard enough, but when six completely opposite people meet to argue, cry, laugh, pledge, fight, and hang together on a Historically Black College campus, a bond is formed. Seleste is a college junior with her own place, no boyfriend, and determined to hold on to her virginity. Her best friend, Cara, is a college junior who lives in the dorms, has an on-again off-again boyfriend, Arnez, and thinks sex is the answer to all her problems. Travis, nicknamed Memo, is a troubled senior from New York who came to Chicago, running from his father's past as a crooked cop. Jermaine wants to join a fraternity and O wants to get rid of the Super Senior trait he's earned. Change for a Twenty is a fiction novel set in Chicago about six college friends, two nemeses, and the path to adulthood.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I couldn't put it down, and this is one I will read again at some point. -- Andre Coleman, author of Blackbirds: Volume I

This is an entertaining novel that I'd recommend this book to readers looking for a fast-paced read. -- Phyllis Ann (APOOO Book Club)

About the Author

Shamontiel L. Vaughn is a two-time novelist, freelance journalist, and a full-time Assistant Copyeditor. Graduating Cum Laude from Lincoln University (MO) with a Bachelor of Arts in English/Creative Writing, in addition to attending Northern Michigan University, University of Chicago, and DePaul University, Shamontiel studied writing, communications, criminal justice, and Spanish. This 26-year-old author has over 80 articles, 4 poems, 4 short stories, and 2 novels published in magazine, newspaper, and book locations. Shamontiel is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and an active reporter for imperative social and political issues in the African American community, such as the Jena 6 case, Trinity United Church of Christ versus Barack Obama, and being a soul food vegetarian. In addition to being a writer, Shamontiel is also a volunteer for BEHIV, an HIV/AIDS free testing facility in Chicago, and she has spoken in college classrooms about the importance of safe sex, correct condom usage, abstinence, and testing information.

Product Details

• Paperback: 267 pages
• Publisher: Shamontiel (March 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1411694929
• ISBN-13: 978-1411694927
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,486,555 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Shamontiel (pronounced Shuh mawn tee el) Latrice Vaughn is the author of two novels ("Round Trip" and "Change for a Twenty"); the Chicago Tribune's Digital News Editor (Food & Dining and Health section); and has over 800 articles in various print and online publications, including Yahoo! Contributor Network (formerly Associated Content); and Examiner.com's Chicago Relationship Examiner, Chicago News and Events Examiner, Chicago Black Hair and Health Examiner and Chicago Fragrance Examiner. Her work can also be found in Spoken Vizions magazine, Underlined Magazine, Citizens in America magazine, Fate Magazine, AT&T, Redeye, TheFrisky.com, HyPaChicago.org, Yahoo! News and Yahoo! TV.

This Chicago native graduated Cum Laude from Lincoln University (MO) with a Bachelor of Arts in English/Creative Writing. Shamontiel has also taken courses at Northern Michigan University; University of Chicago; and DePaul University. She studied writing, communications, Spanish and criminal justice. In 2003, she received the Missouri Writer's Guild Walter Williams Outstanding Student Award. In 2007, she was honored at Lincoln University (Missouri) with the Master Student award. Shamontiel is also a member of the International English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta, and is the Message from Montie blogger for ChicagoNow.com (owned by the Chicago Tribune). She has previously been an Assistant Copyeditor for Kaplan Financial (Dearborn Publishing), the Web Editor and newsletter editor for D'PUC Credit Union, and a Staff Writer and Web Editor for The Chicago Defender newspaper.

Shamontiel participated in various political and news events like promoting and raising money for the Obama campaign, reporting on the Schlumberger and Jena 6 trial, embracing the vegetarian lifestyle, speaking up for animal rights and opposing racism. She is equally passionate about raising awareness about safe sex, educating people about STD and STI testing and correct condom usage.

Although literature will always be her favorite, music and dancing are a close second. A hardcore lover of positive hip-hop, R&B, jazz and neo-soul, Shamontiel has participated in numerous dance performances and hip-hop classes, and interviewed several music, book and TV celebrities. You can check Other Publications to read her news, reviews, op/ed articles and celebrity interviews.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars College Relationships, October 9, 2007

By 

Phyllis Ann "Book Lover" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Change for a Twenty (Paperback)

Change For a Twenty introduces readers to Seleste and the friends with whom she interacts. Seleste has an off-campus apartment and is studying law. Just when she is comfortable with the way her life is, she starts getting attention from some of the most sought after guys on campus. She must make a decision on what is better for her. She knows what she wants and is willing to tell it like it is. Seleste is faced with having to tell her best friend, Cara, the secret she has been keeping for some time. Will she lose her friend when she tells her the truth?

Then there is Travis, also known as Memo, who is trying his best to get next to Seleste. He is dealing with family issues that just may keep him from starting a relationship. Will he win over Seleste and keep his family together?

Change For A Twenty is a very entertaining novel. It is filled with drama. I would recommend this book to readers looking for a fast-paced read. I look forward to reading Ms. Vaugn's future offerings.

Phyllis Ann
APOOO BookClub

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Growing up is hard to do, February 9, 2007

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Change for a Twenty (Paperback)

In CHANGE FOR A TWENTY, Shamontiel L. Vaughn has spun a coming of age tale at a Chicago college campus. There are six friends who are totally different from each other. Travis, known as Memo, is a troubled young man, running from the fact that his policeman father was jailed in New York for selling drugs. Seleste, who actually loves him, is standoffish, has an attitude and is determined to remain a virgin until she is married. Her good friend Cara loves to have sex anywhere, anytime, anyplace. Arnez is Cara's sometimes boyfriend who can't keep his eyes and hands off other women. Jermaine, who had been Cara's high school boyfriend, is wildly trying to join a fraternity and he must endure pain and suffering in order to pledge. O, the football player, likes football better than he does school and has stayed in school for six years just so he could play.

These friends interact with one another, and cause each other grief and joy. The greatest drama is for Arnez, possibly because he is such a wanderer, and tends to be jealous of all his male friends, sure they are attempting to take Cara. And Travis who keeps his twelve year old brother sometimes and is helping him mature into a man. Trouble begins when their father is released early from prison.

This is just a story of coming of age in college but doesn't seem to really have a plot. We follow the lives of the students and wonder what they'll get into next. The characters are well developed and it is easy to relate to them, even angry Seleste. It would certainly be an interesting read for young people headed for college in the near future.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I'll take my share of that twenty, April 22, 2006

By 

Phillip E. Hardy (Huntington Beach, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Change for a Twenty (Paperback)

Shamontiel Vaughn has written an entertaining new book called "Change For A Twenty" that offers vivid characterizations and realistic dialogue. Literary agents and critics advise people to write what they know and this novelist understands exactly how to do that. Go to www.lulu.com and read the free preview and you'll know why book buyers have something to get excited about.