In the first four chapters of “Coldest Winter Ever”, we see the emerging character of Winter Santiaga, a twelve year old who is growing up fast, too fast, it seems. Untied to moral standards or values, Winter is about fashion, sex and power. By age 12, she and her crew have developed some very promiscuous habits. Leader of her posse, Winter was revered for her choice of fashion, her toughness and for who her daddy is – Ricky Santiaga, drug czar of their Brooklyn hood. The name and presence of Santiaga or his goons invokes a trail of fear. Young boys or older men dare not speak ill of either Winter or her family! Dressed to the nines, shopping and sex are her main focus. Life is about to drastically change for Winter….
There are six discussion questions. Please take time before you answer and remember, this is a discussion. Answer all six questions or choose two. Use examples from the story to emboss your viewpoint. Please use complete sentences and use spell check for certainty.
1) Discuss your first impression when you read about Sister Souljah’s main character, Winter Santiaga? Do you find her lifestyle enviable? If so, why?
2) What do you find disturbing about Winter’s relationship with her parents? What type of woman were they molding her to become? Use examples from the first three or four chapters to support your answer.
3) The character, Midnight, seems to be much different from the other young men that are around Winter’s crew. What sets him apart from the others? Does the fact that he may have some character give you a different view of drug dealers? If so, how?
4) What do you think about the gifts Rickie Santiaga gives his daughter? How do the types of gifts she receives contribute to her behavior in her world?
5) Not only are the younger characters in the story stuck on the value of possessions, but the parents and adults are as well. What is the message the youth are receiving about the importance of education? If you have or had a friend like Winter, how would you talk with her about her choices to abandon her education?
6) Winter Santiaga and her crew engage in sex freely and pregnancies run rampant in her community. Discuss your feelings about their sexuality and how self-respect and feelings of worth tie into their behavior. In other words, how do you feel their behavior speaks to their feelings of self-respect and self-worth?
* Words that may need defining are italicized. Go to http://www.dictionary.com for easy reference.
**Our next meeting is Wednesday, March 9th, after school! See you there! ;-D
this looks like a thought provoking read. I hope your group enjoys it and finds good discussions from it. Another read like this, that may also be interesting for the group, is the book The Last Bad Decision by Paula Edwards.
Best wishes Emery Book Club
2)Something i find disturbing about Winter parents is that they are not really good role models for her or her sisters.Her father is a drug dealer and her mother just think she can do whatever with the money.I think it shouldnt be like that because when Winter get older she will expect somebody like her father to do her.Something that show they are not good parents that took place in the book was that Winter father have other man helping him take care of his kids.I dont think thats a good responsible person when they mother was in the hospital the father should of been taken care of the kids not one of his friends.They are showing Winter that life can be easy but only if you do they things or get this type of man.I dont think it should be like that.It could also be that she can become a smart person and learn from what her parents have did and want do it.
6)I find self respect very important because u must always respect your body and not let anybody do something to you.I believe that if you are a young person you should not have your body out and letting boys do whatever to you.Boys can tell you anything to get to you we have some people who will listen and some who want.
Ariel girl! I agree with all of what you said =]
Ezeih,
I’m curious to know how you would respond to question #5. It reads, “Not only are the younger characters in the story stuck on the value of possessions, but the parents and adults are as well. What is the message the youth are receiving about the importance of education? If you have or had a friend like Winter, how would you talk with her about her choices to abandon her education?”
Winter has some interesting opinions about education. What do you think of her opinions? What are some of your values surrounding education? Particularly, how can the education of women impact a community?
Ariel, you make some good points. I’m curious though. You say that Winter’s parents are not good role models for her. What do you consider good role models? What kinds of characteristics do you value? In other words, what do you think makes a good parent?
Someone who i consider a good parent is someone who can support there kids whenever they need it.A parent is someone who take care of they kids stay out of trouble and show they kids rite from wrong.Show them what kids of women they should become and be thankful for what you have and life and dont be ungreatful because somekids dont have nothing.A good mother would show her kids that a man or boy want you for who you and not who you going act to be.A father is suppose to be there to protect there daughter in good ways and not have nobody else there when he cant he is suppose to be there all the time not hwne he want to.Somethings i value about my parents is that they have always been there for me when i needed them even when times was hard they was there I LOVE MY PARENTS for everything they did for me.
Thank you for your reply, Ariel. I’m certain your parents are very grateful to have you as their daughter!