March 23, 2009
Verdict: The queen of hip-hop lit (A Hustler's Wife) knows her way around the music industry, as the authentic recording scenes in this rags-to-riches tale demonstrate. The trash-talking radio call-in is an especially skillful piece of street-lit writing. To boot, the cliff-hanger ending will have patrons clamoring for Turner's next book. Buy multiple copies. Background: Fabiloa Mays, a pure and innocent girl from Richmond, VA, wins New York City's Hot Soundz contest, but before she can collect her $50,000 prize, the company goes belly-up. Neighborhood gangster Mr. Casino comes to her family's aid with quick cash when they are threatened with eviction. Fabiola never gives up on her dream of becoming a star but finds an enemy in Mr. Wiz, a recording mogul famous for ushering starstruck girls to his casting couch.
Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
April 15, 2009
The latest novel frompopular hip-hop lit author Turnercenters around aspiring singer Fabiola Mays. After many hard knocks and the sacrifice and support of hermanager mother and stylist sister, Fabiola is poised to break into the hip-hop scene. But when she refuses to sleep her way to a record deal, she makes an enemy out of Johnny Wiz, one of the most powerful men in the music industry. Fortunately, Fabiola is close to someone more powerful: Casino, a gangster who helped keep Fabiolas family off the streets. Fabiola tended to him after a near-fatal shooting and won his love and loyalty. This provocative novel goes behind the scenes of the hip-hop music business, with plenty of raunchy sex, drugs, and violence to show for it. Turners fans will be riveted by this fast-paced tale of redemption and betrayal, and will be left gasping at the cliffhanger ending.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)