Snow White: A Survival Story

by Anna J.

Anna J. is back with a riveting novel depicting the devastation caused by cocaine use in a Southwest Philadelphia community.

You have to use what you got to get what you want. For Journey Clayton, this statement rings more than true as she struggles under the weight of her mother's cocaine addiction. She learns from a very young age that family doesn't offer as much help as she hoped they would. It's not until she befriends Khalid, the son of a neighborhood drug dealer, who is trying to stay above the struggle himself, that she starts to believe there might just be hope . . . even for little girls in the ghetto.

Snow White is a story of survival, betrayal, strength, and courage. It will pull you in from the very beginning and won't let you go until the last page. As seen through the eyes of a young girl coming of age, observe how Journey struggles to survive amidst the deception, violence, and murder that surround her.

Genres: Friendship, Fiction, Urban, Drugs

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2009

About the author

Anna J. started writing as a child, creating short stories in her creative writing classes. This later turned into writing poetry in high school. In her early twenties she entered a short story contest, and her first work of fiction "Stories To Excite You: Menage Quad" was published. Always an avid reader, Anna J. saw a void in the industry. The types of books she wanted to read hadn't been written yet. With that in mind, she penned her first book "My Woman His Wife", published in 2004, which quickly became an Essence Magazine best seller. Anna J went on to pen 12 novels. She also participated in 9 short story compilations, and self-published 9 works of fiction.
Anna J. Is currently at work on future releases.

Reviews

[Danita Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! That was good as he'll and sad all at the same time. I was hoping Journey would have a happy ending, but we all know that it can't b like that all the time. I am glad Vince got his though. I hope.

[Alexandrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know if I was disappointed with the ending or just shocked that things ended so abruptly. I really hope that there's a sequel to this one because I was rooting for Journey from the beginning, and even more for her and Khalid to make it up out of that neighborhood and to make something of themselves. From her creepy uncle Vince who had no love for her whatsoever to juggling school and all her extracurricular activities, Journey was definitely dealt a tough hand in life and I was rooting for her to make something of her life and prove all the naysayers wrong.

[Tea · Rating 2 out of 5]

An extremely sad story. The writing was pretty intense, but well done. I read it through to the end but in my opinion, it wasn't worth the time it took to read it. And a survival story!???!
So what was that ending about? Not that the title is supposed to divulge everything, but I was hoping a stronger person would be the outcome instead of the ending that was given. Furthermore, if I wanted to be depressed by the end of a book, I could pick up a newspaper.
Not my cup of tea.

[K.augustine]

This survival story is of nine year old Journey Clayton. Not only is her mother bedridden with AIDS, but is also addicted to what the streets call Snow White. In constant fear of her mother dying and ultimately being placed in the foster care system, small Journey does whatever she has to do to prolong their survival. Her father's brother, Uncle Vince, is the only other family that Journey has. He keeps food in the house, clothes on her back, and stops by every few days with her mother's twice daily fix. He drills in her head that nothing comes for free, so in return for what he provides he demands Journey perform sexual favors among other things.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel for Journey in the form of her classmate and neighbor Khalid. They grow close, share secrets about their mothers, and fall in love. More in love than any two nine years old could possibly be. Unfortunately this part of the story line falls short because of it's intensity. These children are unrealistically and significantly more mature than their peers and have the mentality of adults. It is definitely sensible to expect Journey to be more grown up than others her age due to what she has endured, but her frame of mind surpasses anything practical.

This dark and twisty tale isn't only about poor Journey. We voyeuristically weave in and out of the lives of her uncle while he attempts to flood the streets with Snow White, and Khalid's parents, Joey Street and Shanyce. Khalid's parents are only together because of him and when Joey finally acknowledges that his woman is allowing half the town to visit their bedroom, things hit the fan. They clearly have their issues but Mr. Joey just wants what is best for his son. All in all, it was definitely interesting to follow the lives of these deceitful people in hopes of seeing what becomes of the entire cast of characters.

[Lesa Divine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok I am going to start off by saying I like Anna J's books she's a great author but, not so into this book as I thought. I thought it was going to be great with a A plus plus to it but, it was a somewhat ok. Wont knock to story line at all. I like that it was mostly done in a childs point of view of things starting at 9 Journey was doing things I wouldn't ever thought of a child ever doing at her age.

Her mom was a crackhead dying for AIDS so she was mainly been taken care of by her crazy uncle Vince that I totally didn't like he was a nasty man that had a thang for little kids OMG. Now Vince is a drug dealer that mainly has his crew but one man Streets he mainly having sex with Street's childs mom and then getting her hooked on the Snow White in the process.

Now there is Bunz he is a big time killer that just dont care who he kills he just don't want not witness.

There is Khalid him and Journey ends up growing up together and being a little couple. They fall for each other and Journey decides to tell him a secret about herself and she thought things was going to change between them but, it didn't they end up growing up together but, still Vince was still doing his thang with Journey and yet Journey haven't said, a word to Khalid.

Overall it was alright but, wishing it was more. But, I am still going to be a Anna J fan.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kept seeing this book in my view "books you might like", "books recommended for you" etc, and I finally decided to read it. It was exactly what I thought it would be... another depressing grimmey a*s fu*ked up story about a little girl from the hood, but on the other hand, it was still interesting and grabbed my attention. I guess I really am a sucker for books like these and I either loved or hated it. This one, I loved though. I liked how the author split the book into two parts, and as it transition so did the plot and characters which was good. Characters either changed for the better, or got worse but the story continued to build. Journey and Khalid's relationship was just too cute && I wonder what would have happened if Journey had the chance to come clean about everything... for instance what really had always happened between her and Vince. Please say there is a part 2 !

[Guppy · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!! Best book up 2 date... This is a must read... i hope it didnt end the way it did and theres a part 2!! had this book hidden in my closet 4 agess dunno wat took me soo long to read it in the first place... had me hooked from the first page neva read a book so fast finished in 3 hours... Anna J if eva u come asross this comment you neeeed 2 gt out a 2nd part....Journey went thru soo much in her life she deserved a happily ever after wit Khalid...

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book spoke real life sitations that some people face from my city to yours. its a gritty and grimey story but also sad..

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh boy, this was a far cry from my normal reads! I would have rated it higher but we had soooo many POVs and it just jumped around, like the POVs were an excuse to stick explicit sex scenes in there that didnt add to the plot. One guy I thought oh no he's gonna be a big bad, but he didn't do anything? I wanted more from Journey and her man! They were so cute.

The ending had me shook, though I wasn't exactly disappointed by it. This was a gritty book through and through! The sex, the drugs, okay. But the pedo stuff was disturbing and I wanted so bad for her to get away!!

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 meh

[Dee Cherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story, Snow White, by Anna J. took a look into the disturbing life of Journey- a young girl who was growing up in a totally dysfunctional household. In addition to going to school, Journey was faced with the task of "caring" for her physically ill bedridden mother as well as her demented minded uncle, Vince. There were times I wondered how Journey was even able to concentrate on school. There were a couple of positive people in Journey's life. It enlightened me to see Khalid, her classmate she had a crush on, enter into her life. Khalid was able to offer Journey a bit of happiness in her otherwise depressing life. Overall, to me this was a touching story that gave insight on some of the effects of the drug know as "snow white " from people who used it, dealt it & had to deal with it.

[Shanae · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best part of this novel was the end of this novel. I didn't even read the first chapter of Anna J.'s next book. Talk about horrible. These were the worst characters I've ever read about. Moreover, I hate that the protagonist, Journey Clayton's life is told between the years of 9 & 14. The novel deals with heavy topics & I tried really hard to like this book but I just cannot. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

[Danee' Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book but it felt like it should be more. Why did the shoot at Journey & Khalid. Did they die? Why wasnt Joey answering his phone? Who called the police on Bunz? So many unanswered questions.

[Shanaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked the storyline but even with urban fiction and hood romances there are certain things that i cant stand to read and a nine yr old going down on her uncle is one of them sorry not for me

[Queen · Rating 2 out of 5]

So.... that was a lot. First - the audiobook was not the move. I may have liked it better had I actually read it. The voice actor read in the same tone and cadence throughout the entire book. I would frequently forget which one of the dozen POVs we were on. There needs to be a TW at the front of this book. It was wildly descriptive of REPETITIVE acts of molestation and child s*x. I ain't like that. Some parts didn't seem to add anything to the storyline. It didn't feel like a survival story, unless I'm missing a part 2. The ending felt abruptly disappointing.

[Danielle Bigsby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this book 3.5 stars. At times it came across as repetitive and after a while. the errors couldn't be ignored. However, the story had its highs and lows. I loved Journey's character and I hate that she never seemed to be able to win. I hated both Vince and Bunz. They were both selfish, arrogant, and downright evil! I loved Khalid but felt like the odds were never in his favor either. Overall, the story held my attention but I'm hoping there's a part 2 as it ended rather abruptly.

[Jennae Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awful ending

This book was good. I couldn't put it down. But I didn't care for the ending. It really needs a pt2. What's going to happen with Bunzs and will he find out who set him up? How will Bunzs friends deal with him in jail Will? Will Joey get the guys who shot his son? Will Toya make it? And how will Joey's girl feel about her son being shot and will him and Journey survive?

[ToniReads_1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Survival

Wow what a great read. An absolute page turner. A story of survival from such a young person. Journey went through so much between the age of 9 to 14 that most adults never encounter in their life.
There has to be a sequel. I feel like I need to read on to find put Journey's fate.

[Danielle Vaughan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. I wished the narrator change her tone with the characters. Journey had a hard life. Her uncle Vince got what he deserved. Lord the ending of d this story for Journey and Khalid was hard to listen to. Those babies needed a break. Is it a part 2. I would like to know what happened.

[Perfectly Imperfect · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first couple pages, the book got deep. The protagonist, Journey Clayton, reminded me of myself and my poor childhood. I couldn’t put this book down at times, and sometimes I had to put the book down because it was too much to take in. The end is most definitely sad. Journey didn’t have too many cards to pick from and the adults in her life failed her.

[Shadavaine Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good this was my first time reading a book by this author and she didn’t disappoint I will be reading more book from her. So this is about a girl name journey and the missed up life she had she couldn’t catch a break until she met Khalid that day in school I’m glad the got together. I hated her uncle nasty self I’m glad she got his behind .

[Page Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different type of street story for sure. It had it's ups and downs, but over all, I enjoyed it.

[Sonya Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts slow but becomes a page turner. However the ending is abrupt and leaves so many unanswered questions. Longing fir a sequel!

[Kendra Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Ericka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journey, Lawd have mercy!

[K2 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really just do not know

[Mrs Tupac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is another classic of mines ,Journey has been through so much in her young life as I read this book I always found myself saying "damn no one deserves a life like this". This book was so good yet sad , yet realistic & I think it was the Urban version of "Romeo & Juliet" Journey had a hard life & I was so happy when she met Khalid , because she needed someone to bring happiness in her life. This book literally made me cry chapter after chapter. Man I really hope that there's a sequel to this one because I was rooting for Journey from the beginning, and even more for her and Khalid to make it up out of that neighborhood and to make something of themselves. Must admit I've always feel in love with at least one of Anna J's characters homegirl is the truth & so are her books. TBH THE BOOK WAS GOOD YET SAD , BUT IT SURE MADE ME REALIZE WE CAN'T ALL HAVE A HAPPY ENDING THOUGH !

[Vicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

A sad, troubling, yet unforgetable story about the life of a young girl named Journey growing up in PA; how she manages to survive the streets with drugs and crime all around her, how she deals with her mother who is dying from a cocaine addiction (known as Snow White on the street) and AIDS, the sexual abuse she recieves from her drug dealing uncle and the love she feels for a boy named Khalad. Written for teens-youth, it was a difficult read for me simply because of the foul language and crimes involved but what is even more difficult is knowing this tragedy actually happens in America on a daily basis.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this may be my favorite Anna J. book so far. I loved the whole way she went about this story. It was almost like a YA book, with the main character starting out at nine years old but she went about it in an adult way I thought.
I wasn't sure what to expect and I'm still not understanding the front cover, which doesn't really have anything to do with the story because I doubt the woman on the cover is meant to be Journey, but the story itself is lacking for nothing.

[Kellee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great read. From page 1, I didn't want to put it down, but I had to force myself to slow down so I could enjoy the book. There was never a dull moment. The end definitely left me hanging and I'm hoping there is a sequel. There was also one small part that wasn't elaborated on. All in all, I still thought it was a really good book.

2nd Time Reading: book still good, however I knocked it down to 3 stars & it's no longer a favorite.