I just finished this book...

I just finished reading Hot Girl by Dream Jordan and it was crazy!! First of all to be named Dream must be the coolest thing ever, then to have graduated Magna Cum Laude from New York University :O this girl definitely worked her butt off. The book was so good, it's filled with real life slang and New York city flavor, I can tell that Dream knew what story she was going to tell and exactly how to tell it with style and flair. The book is definitely real life as the main character "Kate" is a foster child dealing with moving from house to house because of issues with herself and the families. Kate is a ward of the state because her parents gave up their parental rights when she was a year old, Brooklyn toughened her up so when she finally lands in a place she can deal with she tries to stay on track;getting all As
Now, over the long weekend I'm going to read A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown...yes that's really her name and I LOVE IT. I can't wait to read this book because it's about another inspirational Black woman who has overcome the odds by getting an education to get out of the adversity. Sister Soulja is next on the list, right now I'm really into that theme; Black women struggling and coming out of their setting triumphant.
I plan to finish the Sister Soulja series just as I read all or Mary Monroe's novels. But back to Hot Girl the main character; Kate, is a ward of he state.Which basicallt means she doesn't have parents because they gave up their parental rights, she goes from foster home to foster home and has found a place where she can survive. All her luch changes after she starts hanging out with the glamorous 'Gucci Girl' Naleejah. Naleejah tries to introduce Kate to a world where money is easy to get from men,for a price. Kate's morals won't let this new girl drag her down that road completely but she does let her change her tomboy image into a cuter one that attracts her love interest's eye. What Kate doesn't know about her crush is that since they have known each other so long and have been through many of the same things,being placed in foster care, and dealing with rough home lives, he also carries a torch for her.To make a long story short Kate's best friend comes home from her trip to South Africa so she isn't forced to hang out with Naleejah anymore. By that time the two girl's relationship become very stale. Kate vows to keep friendship feeling like it does with her bestie Felicia instead of how it had with Naleejah, with Felicia they can be intellectual and have comfortable conversations but with Naleejah Kate had to constantly hold back what she really wanted to say, because she wouldn't want to hang with her anymore. Kate also knew that what Naleejah did to get money wasn't right, but she couldn't say anything because of all she had done for her: gave her cute clothes,fashion tips, boy advice and pretty hairstyles. Kate felt she owed Naleejah too much but still she couldn't stand the way she was. I thought the book was a fun read and i'd definitely recommends it to a friend...actually I have already :)

Apparently this was a summer Kate wouldn't forget, she got some moral readjustments that strengthened mind and her hope to stay with her foster family for good. By the end even her foster mother is talking about the future, its obvious she and her husband are interested in keeping Kate for good because even though she got caught up with the wrong girl once she still has a bright head on her shoulders and a good moral character even though she was raised by the system. It's known that 'the system' is not the best parent, but Kate is learning how to handle her own, with the help of her social worker Tisha who she gets understands and loves because she isn't scared of her initial tough demeanor and was a street kid back in the day too. Tisha grounds Kate and tells her that if she can't find a way to get along with this foster family there isn't much more hope because not many families are willing to take a 15 year old they know is at risk.

Hot Girl by Dream Jordan is definitely a good read for someone who likes realistic fiction with urban flair.