The Coldest Winter Ever

The story is set in Brooklyn, New York. The main character is Winter Santiaga, the teenage daughter of a local drug kingpin. Winter is brash and self-important; she says, “it was important for me to know I deserved the best, no slum jewelry or knock-offs". The story is told from her perspective in slang that is highly influenced by hip-hop and black culture. Due to the power of her father, Winter is famous in her neighborhood, and she uses her power to get what she wants. This all changes when Winter’s father is arrested for drug trafficking, and Winter finds herself in a girls home. Winter takes up the skills she learned from her dad to maintain her lifestyle, such as selling illicit items in the girls’ home to make money. Winter eventually meets Sister Souljah who mentors her, but Winter ultimately values material objects and beauty over knowledge and self-improvement. The book closes with Winter in jail and trying to attend her mother’s funeral.