Product Description

Drama is no stranger to Tiara James. When it felt like the world had finally changed the hand that she d been dealt, reality continued to creep up on her. With a mom on the verge of becoming an alcoholic and an alcoholic crack-addicted father who use to beat her mom in front of her, who could blame Tiara for finding a family on the streets. Tiara s loyalty to her friends was undeniable. The crew consisted of, Tiara, Tamika, Shavon, Renee, Ke Ke and Karen. They jumped, robbed and fought other girls who stood in their way. When trouble surfaced, the crew had no problems with getting their hands dirty. Tiara was faithful to her crew handling any drama that presented itself. But when jealousy get s the best of friends, things continued to get ugly. With an older brother Tre James wrapped deeply into the streets becoming a drug dealer at 13, their younger brother Sharod had no choice but to admire both Tre and Tiara s lifestyle. Tragedy continued to hit home and Tiara s life continued to go down hill. She lost people who she loved and trusted the most to death, jail or betrayal. From welfare, section 8, jail, drugs, abusive relationships and lies, Tiara s future seems uncertain. Will she finally rise above the drama that meets her at every corner, or remain trapped in the jaws of the hood? Brace yourself as Tiara James takes you on a rollercoaster ride in her footsteps, in her hood, telling her story.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #792012 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 300 pages

About the Author
LaShonda DeVaughn received her Associate Degree in Science at Fisher College in 2001. She has since worked for one of the most prestigious Law Firms in Boston. After graduating, she decided to get her feet wet in the Real Estate game buying her first house at the age of 21. Now, at age 25, LaShonda has three houses under her belt. Still she felt like she was ignoring her passion for writing and hip-hop. She formed a hip-hop dance group "Definition" who went on to win at the World Famous Apollo Theater three times in a row. But she still wanted to write ever since she was in High School. That was the first time she discovered that she had a flare for writing. She was rewarded one of the top writers in her Creative Writing course. She carried that flare into College thus writing poems for students as well as columns in the weekly bulletins. Family and friends convinced her to turn her poetry into music. She decided to write rhymes in the hip-hop genre surpassing everyone's already high expectations of her writing skills. After recording a few tracks, LaShonda was convinced that it was harder for a female MC to get on rather than a male MC. She decided to use her skills to write novels. Her first novel being "A HOOD CHICK'S STORY" set to be self-published and released soon. LaShonda is residing in Boston with her two beautiful children

Customer Reviews

Can a sista get a break?
Tiara James has lived in a whirlwind of traumatic times. Her path is riddled with struggles that many growing up in the hood must endure. However as she grows and matures she desperately looks for a way out for her and her younger brother. But with an alcoholic mother, gun crazy older brother, drug dealing boyfriend and backstabbing girlfriends does Tiara have a chance?

A Hood Chick Story is a good urban read and moves with the antics of the character. There were, however, some editing issues and inconsistencies that made it difficult to follow the story at times. The story does encourage the readers press on to that final page in hopes that Tiara can make her way out the hood. Will Tiara remain a hood chick forever? Will she break free from the traps of the hood? Ride with Tiara as she tells you how it goes down in her hood!

Reviewed by:
Terrie W.
RWA Book Club Reviewer
[...]

Bad luck or none at all
Tiara James is one person that's makes the statement "If it weren't for bad luck she wouldn't have none at all" TRUE. From a young age, she has had disappointment after disappointed. She watches her mother being abused at the hands of her father. At the age of 6 her mother decides she is sick and tired of being sick and tired she and moves her oldest Tre James and Tiara aka T from Va to Boston, right in the hood down the block from the Projects. Tiara mom becomes an alcoholic and things go from bad to worst, as her kids are force to let the streets raise them.

While growing up T, only had her brother Tre as a roll model; whom himself is a drug dealer/ stick up kid at the age of 13. Tre is knee deep in the streets. He has his own crew of thugs which he is the leader of. Tiara can't help but admire him.

T has a best friend named Tamika; they are thick as thieves so close that the outside world thinks they are cousins. Along the way Shavon, Renee, Ke Ke and Karen join T and Tamika to form their own crew called the "Dime Piece Gangstresses" or "DPG" and they bring terror to the hood. These Ride Or Die Chicks hold there own and do not take mess from anybody.

As time moves on Tiara finds love with Derek, but at this point she starts to see not all her friends are straight up as she is to them. Jealousy, betrayal, and disappointment hits home again. With her lil Brother Sharod constantly wearing on her mind, T doesn't want to see him follow in the footsteps of her and their brother Tre. However, the street life looks so glamorous to him. See if T is successful at keeping Sharod from the jaws of the street life. Be her passenger as T tell her story of life in the hood.

Kudos to the new coming Author LaShonda DeVaughn. She gets her point across; no having to reread and trying to figure out what she means. She does a great job with the relationship in this book from family to friends to the men in Tiara life. She expresses herself very well, I felt every emotion these characters were feeling. I look forward to reading her work in the near future. Be on the look out for her she is making her mark.

SiStar Tea
ARC Book Club Inc
5 Star Rating

absolutely onpoint from beginning to end!!!
Shonda captured what I believe to be "every little girls dream" to get out of the hood in this book. She portrayed compassion, honesty, loyalty throughout the entire book to her friends and to her family. I felt like I was "her" growing up.

Shonda girl you did ya thing with this one! I really felt like in the end that was "ME", to the point I read it again!

Shonda will be around for a long time, and I can't wait to read more of her books. She captures the real spirit of a young girl trying to be the role model for "every little girl" in the hood.

Keep em coming Boston Princess!!!!