The Coldest Winter Ever

Winter and Sister Souljah can be described as antithetical characters. How do these characters differ? What commentary is made by these differences?

Respect is a constant theme that is repeated throughout the novel. Pick three characters and demonstrate how each character defines respect. What are the implications for these different views of respect?

Considering that Winter is the first-person protagonist of the novel, how does the specific language, style, and voice of the narrator reflect her experiences?

Drugs play a major role throughout the novel, whether it’s the use of drugs or the selling of drugs to make a profit. How does Winter and Sister Souljah’s views concerning drugs differ, and what commentary is being made regarding these differences?

Sister Souljah is both the author of the novel and a character. What effect does this have on the reading of the novel as a whole?

Sexuality is a major theme of the novel. What is Winter’s view of sex, and how does this view affect her relationship with men?

How does materialism affect Winter, and how does Souljah’s character go against materialism?

Winter describes her mother as her friend rather than a mother. Describe the relationship between Winter and her mother. How does Winter’s relationship with her mother affect other areas of her life?