Hot Girl (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: hot girl, old butt, Dream Jordan, Gucci Girl, Big Nose (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Readers will fall in love with Jordan's triumphant heroine as she navigates the foster care system with wisdom, wit, endurance and hope...a refreshing and touching read." Kalisha Buckhanon, Alex award-winning author of UPSTATE and CONCEPTION

"Hot Girl is a must read... Kate is a young girl struggling to stay positive in the midst of the notorious foster care system. Her wit and perception as she narrates this tale will make readers laugh, cry and cheer her on.  This is a no-holds-barred, tell-it-like-it-is tale that every young person can learn from. Dream Jordan has burst on the scene in a big way! "--Tracy Brown, Essence bestselling author of White Lines

Product Description

It’s summertime in Bed-Stuy “Do or Die” Brooklyn, and Kate is feeling down in the dumps. Not only is she tired of her raggedy, tomboy image, but she’s also missing her best friend, Felicia, who’s away for the summer. Lonely and not exactly getting along with her new foster mother, Lynn, Kate so badly wants to be out and about, twirling pretty, and partying---and maybe catching the attention of her longtime crush, Charles.

Opportunity knocks one hot summer day when fly-girl Naleejah struts her stuff straight up to Kate and takes a seat. Full of smiles, Naleejah tells Kate that she remembers her from school, but Kate can’t remember ever having such a fabulous chick trying to befriend her. Kate’s suspicion turns to trust once Naleejah gives her a much-needed makeover.

Now a brand-new Kate suddenly has the attention of her dream boy. But is Naleejah checking for him, too? Against Kate’s better judgment, she ignores the warning signs, and continues to let Naleejah lead her down a treacherous path. Soon, what seems like a fun and exciting summer ends up being a harsh reality check. Now Kate must decide how to get back on the right track . . . or is it already too late?

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (November 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312382847
• ISBN-13: 978-0312382841
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #312,007 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Urban teen lit with a dose of self-confidence, May 20, 2009

By	Season's Reading - See all my reviews

Hot Girl deals with a host of issues, from the meaning of true friendship to exploring sexuality to family life and a great deal inbetween.

The main character has overcome challenges of gangs, drugs and being bounced around foster homes to become a smart, funny, grounded narrator. Her viewpoints are honest, and each one of her choices comes with their own set of consequences.

As a teen librarian, I would recommend this for girls who are struggling with identity (though what teen isn't?!), particularly in how they want to project themselves to the world vs. what they are inside. As a reader, it's not something I'd normally pick up-- it is blatantly targeted to an inner-city audience-- but I found myself enjoying it and really rooting for the main character. If there is a sequel, and I hope there is, I will be picking it up.

As a warning, there are references to drugs, gangs and descriptions of sexual acts. Please monitor what your kids are reading!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NYC Teens Love HOT GIRL, December 21, 2008

By	I Teach NYC (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

"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

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Follow That Girl, August 20, 2009

By	Little Willow (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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.