The Word on Street Lit No. 15
The Latest from Wahida Clark and a debut from Monique Hall
By Vanessa Irvin Morris, The iSchool at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA -- Library Journal, 06/16/2009
Greetings! I have been away from the column for a few months to finish up coursework at the University of Pennsylvania. Many thanks to my review partner, Rollie Welch, and our editor, Wilda Williams, for their support! Now that the work is all done, I am very happy to be able to read and recommend street lit titles to you once again.
For this month, we take a look at some upcoming contemporary street fiction novels, along with a few recently released titles that are perfect beach reads for young adults.
Pick of the Month
Clark, Wahida. Thug Lovin’: A Novel. Grand Central. Aug. 2009. 329p. ISBN 978-0-446-17809-9. pap. $14.99. F
Picking up from Thug Matrimony, Clark escorts us into the personal lives of Angel and Kaylin’s closest friends, Tasha, and her husband, Trae. After beating a huge drug case that would have landed partners Trae and Kaylin in jail for many years, Trae moves his pregnant wife, Tasha, to the West Coast to retire from the game and settle into a peaceful new life. Then a tragic phone call lures Trae and Tasha back home to Queens, NY, confirming Tasha’s greatest fears about her husband's old connections. The couple’s ride-or-die love may have been strong enough to remove them from the East Coast, but can it keep Trae from sinking into a deep hole of lies as he tries to cover his tracks from a vengeance murder? Will thug lovin’ sustain them through the drama?
Verdict In true Clark style, the author jumps right into the action, reintroducing fans and newbies to the criss-crossed relationships of Angel, Kyra, Jaz, and Tasha. With authentic dialog and well-written flashback scenes, nicely interwoven with the present-day drama, this novel will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The fourth entry in Clark’s popular "Thug" series (after Thugs and the Women Who Love Them, Every Thug Needs a Lady, and Thug Matrimony) is essential for Clark and street lit fans.
Hall, Monique S. Two Tears in a Bucket. Mobetta Pub. (to order, email mobettaapublishing@yahoo.com) 2009. 266p. ISBN 978-1-60743-507-5. pap. $12. F
At first glance, Nikki and Ivory are immediately attracted to each other, thinking they’ve found just the person to help get their life on the right track. Nikki is looking for a good man who won’t lie or cheat, and Ivory is looking for an innocent good girl who can keep him off the streets. But Ivory is soon exposed as a liar and a cheat, and as Nikki becomes his wifey, she reveals a viciousness that stuns everyone. With Ivory’s "last shipment" botched and Nikki’s brother snitching to the authorities, the winds of fate determine a path neither lover anticipates. Drawing on the urban adage "two tears in a bucket" (meaning, life goes on), Nikki and Ivory’s story shows us that living must continue, even in the midst of a tornado of blood, lust, and sacrifice.
Verdict Hall’s debut novel is an involving tale about the intersecting lives of a college good-girl athlete looking for the right guy and a recovering drug addict ex-con trying to retire from hustling. The story is narrated in alternating character voices, and short chapters will make for a fast and satisfying read. Set in the South, it gives readers a refreshing look at street life outside of major metropolitan settings.
Swinson, Kiki. Notorious. Kensington. Sept. 2009. 320p. ISBN 978-0-7582-2837-6. pap. $15. F
In this action-packed but disappointing sequel to Playing Dirty, high-powered attorney Yoshi Lomax runs home to her violent family in Norfolk, VA, after fleeing Miami, where she made some bad choices that resulted in her lover’s death. Heedless of the signs of domestic drama, hood violence, and the twisted interpersonal relationships that her cousin Carmen pulls her in to, Yoshi quickly gets involved in complicated murderous intrigues. While she finds a new love during her escapades, her selfishness is still lethal to those around her.
Verdict Swinson’s latest is not as exciting a roller-coaster ride as the previous title. Her protagonist seems subdued, almost zombie-like, shrugging off chaotic violence as if she’s watching a made-for-TV movie. Still, fans of Playing Dirty will want this volume.
In Brief: Teen Summer Reading Recommendations
Duck, Thomas Philip. Dirty South. Harlequin. (Kimani Tru). Aug. 2009. 256p. ISBN 978-0-373-83142-5. pap. $9.99. F
In this sequel to Dirty Jersey, Duck’s latest installment in the "Kimani Tru" series, Eric Posey’s popular sister, Kenya, heads south to college where she becomes the star of a hot singing/dancing group.
Myers, Walter Dean. Dope Sick. Armistad/Harper Teen. 2009. 186p. ISBN 978-0-06121-477-6. $16.99. F
Seventeen-year-old Lil J is in a pickle when his escalating drug habit puts him in trouble with the law. His flight to what he thinks at first is a crack house may be the ticket to turn his life around, when meets "Kelly," a homeless man who uses a television and a remote control to offer Lil J some visionary wisdom, opening his mind to other possibilities for his immediate future. The subtle magical realism in this story makes for an intriguing read. (SLJ 4/1/09)
Volponi, Paul. Response. Viking. 2009. 145p. ISBN 978-0-670-06283-6. $15.99.
Overwhelmed as a teen dad, 17-year-old Noah goes with his boys to steal a car to make some fast money. Instead, he is brutally beaten up with a bat by three white teens. The trio is suspected of targeting Noah because of his race, and thus, they are charged with a hate crime. The incident and the pending trial stir up controversy at the boys’ school. Amidst the many conversations, we see the varying levels of trust and mistrust that threaten the racial climate of an integrated community.
Williams-Garcia, Rita. Jumped. Amistad/Harper Teen. 2009. 169p. ISBN 978-0-06-076091-5. $16.99. F
In alternating chapters narrated by Trina, Leticia, and Dominique, the author takes us through an emotional day at high school. Dominique wants to fight Trina because Trina didn’t "see her" when she bumped into Dominique. Leticia saw the whole thing but is afraid to get involved. The added tension of a pending after-school fight makes this traditionally oriented YA novel—filled with such standard elements as quirky Spanish class teachers and the inconveniences of gym class—hard to put down. (SLJ 3/1/09)
