The Coldest Winter Ever

 

Winter Santiaga is one of the baddest chicks to ever step foot in a novel! I was first introduced to Winter in middle school, either 5^th or 6^th grade.  My mother gave me permission to read the book, which in hindsight may have been totally inappropriate.  It was her way of exposing me to topics that I needed to know, but that are somewhat challenging to have with your 11 year old daughter.

This book chronicles the journey of a young girl, rich in her own right, but too spoiled and self-absorbed to recognize the harmful situations she and her family puts her in.  It is a coming-of-age tale of living a fast life.

I was obsessed with the book and reread it many times in middle school.  I did not want Winter’s actual life, but I wanted her beauty, her style, her slyness with men.

Recently, at the beginning of quarantine, I reread The Coldest Winter Ever for the millionth time and found a new appreciation of the book.  Now as a woman in her late 20s, I recognized myself and friends within Winter and some of the characters, which is humbling and frightening.  Enough of my friends during my teenage years had similar stories as Winter.  I wonder how many young girls could survive the game if only they knew the rules and the consequences. 

During this reread, I realized that I was too young to notice the real lessons of the book.  I was so caught up in the juiciness of the book that I did not notice some important topics like parental figures, misogyny, education.

This book explores sexuality and womanhood, inner city life, partying and drugs, family values.  I rate this book as 5 – superb.  I would recommend this to all teenage girls as a rite of passage.  Perhaps, this book will serve as what not to do when forming relationships with men including father figures, brothers, and boyfriends.

Comment below with your thoughts/opinions on The Coldest Winter Ever.  How old were you when you read this book? Are you planning on rereading or reading this book again after reading this blog post?