Customer Reviews

Coldest Winter Ever

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The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah is a thoroughly engrossing, simply riveting book that I am very happy to have read. It is like a tell-all story from an urban teenaged girl's point-of-view. From the drug life to the privileged life, the story takes you on a journey that you will never forget. There's so much that can be said about this book, but I'll start with the main character Winter. This girl is sooo real, so authentic that I wondered "Who is Winter? Where is she?" SHE EXISTS out there somewhere. Sister Souljah did an excellent job characterizing Winter as well as the others (Midnight, Lauren, Santiaga, etc.). The way the story was written you were allowed to know Winter's every thought, whether you agreed with those thoughts or not. Winter was defined by what happened to her and how she reacted to the things that she experienced (mother's accident, father's jailing, being forced to live among strangers, lack of money, love for money...). And the plot had many twists and turns, shockers and laughs. My favorite line is "Bounce, nigga," which is what Winter said to a 'white man'. It was hilarious. Overall, I loved the story, the writing, the character, and some of the messages conveyed in this piece of work. It is highly recommended...a book that has "FILM ME" written all through its pages.

"The Coldest Winter Ever," by Sister Souljah is a gritty street fable with a lesson to be told. Sister Souljah deserves a lot of recognition for making a point in the vein of Malcom X and Richard Wright's "Native Son." To break the cycle of negative consequence, it takes some tough choices; choices seemingly unglamorous but in the interest of greater humanity necessary.

To tip my hand, reading this book was a stretch for me. I was recommended this book by a young African-American single Mom colleague as one of the best books she has read. Myself, being a middle-aged boring married Caucasian guy recommended to her "Catch 22." What speaks to you is a reflection of where you come from...your experiences. So, she read Catch 22 and I read "The Coldest Winter Ever." I'm not sure how much she got out of her reading assignment but Souljah's book was a mind-broadening experience.

The tale of Winter Santiago, daughter of a successful gang lord drug dealer, is one of a young adult, street-wise beyond her years moving from having her known world at her fingers to one of survival and destitution is a cautionary tale of the choices we make and the consequences we learn to live with. Winter, though a sympathetic character, makes cold choices that in her mind will lead to things in life she considers important...money, clothes, control, possessions. Sister Souljah has a way of weaving the reader into the tale without being heavy-handed with the message she speaks to.

Usually the aspect of literature that draws me in is the writing, and I believe with this book Souljah was still trying to find her voice as a writer. Some of the language comes off as hackneyed and still yearns to be peppered with originality. All is forgiven though as Souljah displays other strengths in a writer's bag of tricks such as characterization and plot.

Recommend "The Coldest Winter Ever," to a young adult struggling with difficult choices in life on the streets. It is just the vehicle to hold and grab their attention, while delivering a message of caution. In the end, Winter can't find it within herself to pass on her tough lessons learned, but Souljah has found a way to speak that much needed voice.
--MMW

It's been a long time since I've read a book so captivating and one that I've finished in such a short period of time (3 nights). The book was baaad! And I mean good! Great! Excellent! There was never a dull moment. I found myself constantly picking up the book to read at every opportunity that I could. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next to Winter and hoping that eventually things would work out for her and that she would get herself together. But I guess what goes around comes back around. You do dirt, you're dealt dirt. This book definitely should be read by all (especially young girls who believe that life is all about materialistic things and getting what they want quick and easy). It is definitely a page turner and eye-opener. Unfortunately, I feel that a lot of young adults who should probably read this book and benefit from it won't. Sister Souljah, girl, you put your foot in this book. You held nothing back and told it like it is. It was raw but that was Winter. I really expected her life to turn around in a neat, tidy, little way because that's how many fiction books end. But I should have known better, that you would not take any shortcuts. I have to admit though, I wanted Midnight and Winter to get together. However, I am really looking forward to a sequel....soon I hope. Thank you.

There are a few books that leave an impression months afteryou've read them and The Coldest Winter Ever is one such book. Not because TCWE was necessarily a literary masterpiece but rather because it was riveting, engrossing and must read for all. Although fictional in nature people like the Winters and the Santiagas of the world do exist. It's the story of the rise and fall of Ricky Santiago's family told from the main characters perspective. TCWE is set in Brooklyn, NY and is narrated by, Winter, so named because she was born on the coldest day ever to Ricky Santiago a drug dealer and his 14 year old wife. As one of Brooklyn's top drug lords Santiago kept his family(immediate and extended) on top and provided the best of everything for them even thought they lived in the projects. When he decided to move the family to Long Island the threads that loosely held this family together quickly began to unravel. After Winter's Dad, Santiago, is arrested and imprisoned in life for selling/trafficking drugs, Winter must face the challenges of making it on the streets of New York with no education or skills; of course she refuses to give up the lifestyle she's become accustomed to and the heinous acts that she commits along the way are unforgiving, stupid/dump, cutthroat and leave little room for compassion. Even thought she ended up being homeless she could still spend $5,000 faster than most people could spend $5.00. Winter's main concern was always about her looks and finding a man with money to take care of her in a lifestyle that she was accustomed to. Winter was raised on money, street smart principles but with no values or morals; heck even education wasn't important as long as one had good looks and money...didn't matter if it was drug money. But as much as one chooses to dislike Winter, one can't help but learn what life is like growing up as the child of a drugload. TCWE was told in a RAW and engrossing manner. Initially it appeared that Sister Souljah was glamorizing the drug scene but as the story unfolded and developed and one went deeper into the plot the RAW TRUTH came through Loud and Clear. It's a book that I recommend to parents and teenagers and anyone who wants to better understand the psychological mindset of those who live for the moment without a care in the world. END

I am a white woman living in Brooklyn, I know those projects, ride the subway with those girls and have worked with some of them as well...

I congratulate Sister Souljah for having a new voice, a young woman not afraid of herself who is a doer, not a victim, but ultimately a dupe to the "gangsta" mentality she was raised with. I couldn't put it down.

I praise Sister Souljah for the guts to have a negative ending, a real "shocker" that will let girls know what they are facing, another should be written for the tough, poor white girls I grew up with who ended up with babies and on welfare at 15. This definitely has so called "cross-over" appeal.

I feel like a lot of young women are duped into believing that relationships are all about money, and looks are the only thing that matter. I kept seeing what was going to happen to this girl around the next corner, but I wouldn't have known it at her age.

Sister Souljah is to be commended for the "devil's advocate" position she takes in this book. There are no other black women writers I know about who seem to be willing to reach out tho girls in this age group and inform them that they are worth so much more than what the ghetto or their society tells them----minority youth need to be built up and taught self-love, not implosion.

I was so glad this book had a realistic ending after all the happy-sappy ones of MacMillan, and even Alice Walker, or those of trash novels like Eric Jerome Dickey. I read these books because over half the people in my life are African or Caribbean American, or African plain out. This isn't me, necessarily in the book, but it is people I know, attitudes I see reflected in youth, and the conditions and lies about gangsterism that I see in some popular culture. It is hard being a young woman, period, even if you really think you are the "bomb" like she does. This book doesn't preach, it shows.

If you think that what happens to "girls like Winter" doesn't effect the community at large, beyond the ghetto, to people of other ethnicities, you are wrong. (Something SS recognizes) We are all interconnected. If Winter turned towards the positive she'd bring all her creativity, energy, and ambition to being someone we all would be proud of, want to do business with, etc, but she drags herself down. Never has the need for youth guidance been so evidence as it is to me today. These young people (black, white, Latino) etc need help overcoming and coping in a difficult, at times alienating society.

If the young people down in the Red Hook or Marcy or wherever projects can be restored to hope, and they can be ushered through growth and development, the communities will change, if they don't they will continue to wither.

I want Winter to succeed. I don't want to pay her welfare, watch her suffer, be involved with crime and violence, hurt others, and feed addictions. What I want is for Winter to be able to be happy and productive as a black woman, someone who doesn't have to change identities to be successful. She should be a happy successful black woman in the board room, on the city council, on the judge's bench or in the classroom. I don't want a violent, hurtful end for her. If she could do well, or better, we all would, progress is a win-win situation for all those involved.

This book was loaned to me by my sister. I started reading and decided at page 18, that this book really didn't have anything to say that I wanted to read about.

I was wrong. I'm glad that I took my sister's advice and read further. I am a 54 year old grandmother and have ordered 4 copies to give to my grandchilddren when they reach the age of 16. I think by then they'll be able to read the message behind the gloss of the book.

Sister Souljah has a message that is both relevant and ontime not only for my generation, but for my children, grandchildren (you get the picture). This message transcends time and will endure through the ages because drugs and the fast life will always be a part of our lives. She let's the kids know that the fast lane is just that - fast and not to be traveled for longevity.

If I had any kind of power, I would definitely put this in the school system as mandatory reading for our young adults who have the gleam of the fake gold in their eyes.

Thank you Sister for addressing this destructive issue in the lives of our young.

I can't count the number of people who suggested that I read this novel. But when I read the front flap, I decided that I was uninterested in reading about the stereotypical accounts of a young girl caught up in a dangerous lifestyle. My friend Jan was so adamant about this tenacious tale, that she bought me a copy. Feeling obligated, I settled down on the sofa, intent on at least reading the 1st chapter...and that would confirm my disinterest. At least I could say I'd tried. Boy was I surprised. Five hours later The Coldest Winter Ever had me captivated, unable to do anything else but turn the next page.

Sister Soldier's writing is so vivid, her words so acute, and her characters so well developed that for two whole days I thought I lived in Brooklyn with the Santiagos, watching the safe, lavish, secure household which Winter Santiago grew up in, collapse around her. Watching this young 17-year-old attempt to survive in sordid, treacherous situations.

The Coldest Winter Ever is engrossing, and powerful. It touches on lessons of morality, respect, loyalty, and survival. Using brash words, brazen situations, and bold characters, Sister Soldier holds on to all five of your senses until you finish the last page.

I am not a very adiment book reader but The Coldest Winter Ever was by far the best yet to cross my eyes. Its constant excitiment left me unable to but it down for one moment. This book is about a young gril named Winter born to the top dollar world of a hustler,never knowing anything less. Untill the tables are turned and the world as she knows it is shattered, and the hustle is the only thing that can save her. Or is it? I recomened this book to all of those young ladies out there trying become apart of that hustler world. It will open your eyes and make you think twice about a world no female is truly ready for.

This book held my attention like few new authors have been able to do. I kept wondering where were Lexus, Mercedes and Porsche, and of course Midnight. You just can't put this book down, this book demands to be read.

As a mother of two daughters I found this book to be very deep. At first reading I took it from the drug dealing end -- then I was able to relate this story to everyday people (who don't live in the drug world) how people get caught up in designer clothing, fly cars, jewerly etc. I used this story as tool to help my daughters not make some very bad choices for short-term temporary gain.

I am looking forward to Jada bringing this book to the screen, and just hope she does it Justice. SISTER SOULJAH KEEP WRITING -- YOU DEFINITELY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY

A friend lent the book to me, until I bought my own. My husband read it. Then I got a hold of it when he was almost finished. We loved it from front to back. I even ordered our copy in hardback. You know it can be hard to get a man on the go, to sit and read anything. This book is so colorful, it was as if we knew these people. I believe that the end was fitting. Things fell into place. This book reminds you that the laws of fate are inevitable. Anything you get fast does not last! Winter had style, beauty, money,and streetsmarts. I could see that the character did not appreciate the depth of her own mind, which is sad but true of many people. I do hope that this book can make a difference to those who read it. I know I can still picture each scene as if I were there. Winter represents 95% of women we see in music videos, careless, sexy, and selfish . Bullet, Midnight, and Lauren, played the part, and kept this book alive. Big up to Sister Souljah