Customer Reviews

Hot Girl

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
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"Teacher, why can't we read books like this in school!!??" She flashes a copy of HOT GIRL, by Dream Jordan in my face. She explains that HOT GIRL is the story of Kate, an urban teenage girl, who starts messing up in school, at home and with boys because she starts following a girl who only values boys and "bling" (money). But she starts to follow her own mind and does the right thing.
After reading my student's copy of the book, I found her review to be quite accurate. I also found the story of Kate to be engaging and well written. I purchased some additional copies and HOT GIRL has spread like wild fire among the students at my urban High School in NYC.
HOT GIRL meets the NYS ELA Core Curriculum Standards 2&4: Independent Reading and Partner Reading. HOT GIRL appeals to both strong and shy readers alike. It's refreshing to hear the dialogue generated by this book.
Having universal appeal, HOT GIRL is a very real and timely coming of age story.
I Teach NYC

Dream Jordan's "Hot Girl," is a work of art that packs a punch and is sure to enlighten young adults everywhere - even the most reluctant reader.

Kate, the witty-smart-quick-on-her-feet protagonist had me literally laughing from the onset. She jumps off the page and reels readers into her not-so-storybook life. Teenagers, especially girls who've known the foster care system, will have an instant connection to Kate and feed off of her humor, strength and perseverance.

With decorum, the author illustrates authentic temptation, longing and struggle that many teenagers face. Jordon cleverly teaches young adults a lesson without beating them over the head with a brick. Set in urban Brooklyn, "Hot Girl" is an effective cautionary tale void of the obscenity often found in young adult literature.

Jordon brilliantly grips and showcases reality with sensitivity, style and class. It's a must read!

Fourteen-year-old Kate, a foster kid living in Brooklyn, is fairly bored and lonely this summer because her best friend is far away, on a trip in South Africa. Kate makes a new friend named Najeelah, a girl who dresses to impress and has boyfriends galore. When Kate gets a makeover and new-old (hand-me-down) wardrobe from Najeelah, she gets a total confidence boost - enough to start flirting with her crush and long-time friend Charles. But when Najeelah's risky behavior puts Kate in some tricky situations, Kate must decide whether her new friend is worth the risk.

Kate is world-weary due to her early-in-life parental abandonment and subsequent bouncing from foster home to foster home. The damage she has done to herself and others (such as her time in a gang) is revealed in flashbacks here and there when she considers where she's been - and where she's going. Her recent efforts to become a better student have also made her a better person. Her best friend Felicia and her social worker Tisha are very supportive, and her current foster parents are good people - even if Kate doesn't always see eye-to-eye with her foster mom.

Kate's summer story is a very good one, and I recommend it, especially to those who read this month's readergirlz selection, Kendra by Coe Booth. I in turn thank Doret for recommending this book to me.

"Hot Girl" by Dream Jordan is one of the best young adult novels of 2009. The story centers around Kate, a rebellious foster child who has been bounced from home to home during the course of her young life. Although Kate yearns for a safe, secure family setting she is constantly sabotaging her current foster situation with foster parents Lynn and Ted. When Kate's best friend Felecia heads to South Africa for a youth trip over the summer, Kate finds herself without a best friend to occupy her time. When Kate meets new girl Naleejah, she finds herself inhabiting a new world of older boys, hanging out at parties, getting into fights with girls, getting a perm without permission and stealing from a store. While Kate yearns to get the attention of her crush, Charles, she is forced to realize that Charles may be looking for a more intense relationship than she is willing to give. As Kate becomes more embroiled in Naleejah's world she begins to realize that Naleejah's problems and lies could drag her down.

Hot Girl is a fantastic book. The dialogue was so authentic that it seemed to come straight from a teen's lips. The emotions of foster child Kate are so raw and real that it makes the reader root for Kate's happy ending. I loved this book from beginning to end and I would highly recommend it to readers both young and old.

Hot Girl tells the story of a foster child named Kate who is currently residing in the Johnson household. Kate has always felt alone and felt a need to fit in by drinking and gangbanging. She transforms her ways and starts to make strides in her schoolwork thanks to her newest and best friend Felicia. It's summertime, and Felicia is away on a trip in South Africa and Kate is still lonely in Brooklyn.

At a basketball game where Kate is there rooting her boo Charles, she meets Naleejah, a fly girl who she's quickly impressed by. Kate immediately finds herself making bad decisions by trying to fit in, risking everything to hang out with the Hot Girl.

Hot Girl, written by Dream Jordan, is an easy and interesting read where the main character isn't sought after or admired. The contrast of the main character and the supporting character, though not direct, were good depictions for teens willing to trade in their good girl status to be known as the Hot Girl. I could see myself recommending Hot Girl to my older cousins, but I would like a few more details.

Reviewed by Nardsbaby
for Urban Reviews

As soon as I opened the box and saw the cover of Dream Jordan 's book I knew it was going to be a hit with my youth. Then I read the back and I was sure of it. My readers for the most part are NOT readers, and don't read as long as they have ANYthing else to do, so a book has to catch their attention from the beginning with the cover and live up to the cover with the content. Dream's book has it all and I can't keep it on the shelf! My youth are struggling with the many issues raised in the book: true friendship, materialism, being parented by foster parents, doing the right thing, issues with sexuality and boundaries. It's a terrific book. Boys and girls love it.

Kate, a foster child, has always felt alone and joined a gang to fit in. From fighting, drinking and drugs, Kate meets Felicia, and wants to alter her lack of and begins to work harder in school and takes an interest in living instead of going along with the flow of things. Felicia's away and Kate finds herself alone yet again. While her foster mother makes an effort to bridge the gap between them, Kate has already decided that she's not trying to get too wrapped up.

Watching Charles ball, her boy friend that she wishes was her boyfriend, Kate meets Naleejah. While Kate has gradually made changes she finds herself back making terrible choices and desperate to be accepted. When she finally sees Naleejah for the fake two dollar bill she really is, is it too late to right the wrongs?

"Hot Girl" is a good read, but I think that Dream Jordan could've provided readers with more details and made the book that much more.

Reviewed by: Lauren
OOSA's Teen Reviewer

Kate is fourteen and has grown up in the foster care system in New York. She's finally living in an environment that is pretty stable, as far as foster care goes. She lives with Lynn and Ted and she actually has her own room. That's never happened before. So why would she want to ruin such a good thing?

It's the summer and her best friend, Felicia, has gone on a two-month trip to South Africa. Kate had the chance to go with her, but when she found out some girls that were giving her trouble in the past were also going on the trip, Kate pulled herself out. She's regretting her decision, because she's stuck in the city with no one to hang with.

Kate is hanging out at a basketball court watching her homeboy, Charles, play ball with his buddies. While she's sitting in the bleachers, a fly girl (a very hip, together gal) strolls into the stands and sits down with her. The girl starts chatting up Kate and sounding very cool and grown up. This is how Naleejah enters Kate's life and changes her summer. Though the changes might not all be for the better.

Naleejah has the hottest clothes, knows how to dress and look perfect, and, most importantly to Kate, how to get the guys. Kate's never had a boyfriend and doesn't have the funds to plan her own make-over. But with Naleejah's know-how and help, soon Kate transforms into a hot girl. Kate loves how fly she looks now, but her foster parents are concerned that she's dealing drugs.

As the summer simmers by, Kate has to evaluate her friendship with Naleejah. Kate is starting to realize that she's always following Naleejah's plans and never getting the respect she deserves from the friendship. She misses her friend Felicia terribly, and her situation in her foster home is tenuous at best.

When she finally starts getting the attention from Charles she's always craved (since second grade), Kate makes some hard decisions that she will have to live with for the rest of her life.

HOT GIRL is a story of a strong girl stuck in a situation that's far from her control. She doesn't have to let the foster care system turn her into a girl of the streets if she chooses to make the right decisions. Ms. Jordan's novel is a blunt and straightforward look at the hard life faced by inner city children stuck in the system. It's not an easy portrait, but Kate is a strong role model for any girl in a similar situation.

Reviewed by: Jaglvr

HOT GIRL was a wonderful read. I could not put this book down! I loved the voice of the protagonist. She was strong, smart, and painted a picture for me that was so clear, I felt like I was watching a movie. I'm a married mom in my 30's, and this book brought me right back to my teenage years. I would strongly reccommend this book to both teens and adults. Great job Dream Jordan!

At fourteen, Kate has lived a life that many adults could never fathom. Being brought up in the foster care system tends to mature you quickly. Now seemingly in a stable foster home, Kate is able to enjoy having her own room and some freedom. Life with her foster mom is shaky, but with her foster dad things are cool. Out for the summer, Kate has plenty of time on her hands, especially since her best friend is in Africa on a trip Kate passed up because of her stubbornness. Kate is strong-willed and strong-minded and being in the system has hardened her to the ugliness of life, but that still doesn't mean she has no emotions.

While watching Charles, who she has a crush on play basketball, a teenager, who could only be categorized as totally fly, sat right next to Kate. Little did Kate know Naleejah would have an impact on her life this summer, some good and some bad. The two girls begin to hang out, but Kate notices immediately things about Naleejah are not on the up and up, but with her best friend gone it doesn't seem like a bad idea to have someone to hang out with. However, the two girls will learn what friendship really means and Kate will learn it is okay to be who she is because even without the newest gear and hottest shoes, she is a hot girl.

HOT GIRL is one of the first young adult stories I have read that captured my attention from the opening pages. Kate's voice was so strong and she so resilient, it was a wonderful experience to see a young girl deal with life's obstacles, make decisions good or bad, and learn from each one. The storyline was refreshing and I would definitely want my teenage niece to read this book. The issues Kate must face are dealt by many young girls as they blossom into teenagers and it is what you do in the situation that could change your life forever. I truly enjoyed every page and I closed the book with a smile on my face knowing I had just read a remarkable story.

Reviewed by Cashana Seals
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers