The Freshman Fifteen

The 'freshman fifteen' is a phrase that refers to the amount of weight students typically gain during their first year in college and away from home. But what about the weight of all the other stuff college freshmen carry? What about the things they lose?

Jillian Ford, a seventeen year old from Richmond, Virginia, is a freshman at fictional State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina who is not prepared for the social rigors of college life and all that comes with it. She arrives at State University with a chastity ring given to her by her youth pastor, a love of reading, and a small picture of her mother whom she hasn't seen in more than ten years.

Jillian leaves a sheltered, but emotionally vacant home to find herself in the middle of a vicious love triangle when State University's star basketball player, junior Ahmad Bell, unexpectedly falls for her when he sees her at his fraternity's probate show. No one understands Ahmad's attraction to Jillian because she is not what he should want in a girlfriend. As an athlete and a member of Phi Deuce, a popular Greek-letter organization on campus, everyone believes that the Jackson, Mississippi native should be with someone who is on his social level. Someone like the attractive, stylish, popular, and feisty upperclassman, Tracy Howard, who drives a Jeep with 'O So Fine' on the license plate. She also happens to be Ahmad's most recent ex-girlfriend. Tracy is known for her sharp tongue and wicked punch, which Jill finds out about the hard way in an explosive altercation.

Over two semesters-from the fall of 1991 to the spring of 1992-Jillian has to contend with some real life or death issues. Her faith, friendships, priorities, values and love are put to the test again and again in this novel about college life and personal identity. Jillian's best friend and roommate, Cheryl-Lynn Bassett, along with Ray, Zakia, the DeLa Crew, G-Money, Sabrina, the Larrys, Shane, the beautiful Sydney, and a full cast of others from three different colleges make Jillian's first year at school one to remember for everyone.

Read to see if Jillian successfully navigates the chaotic life and stresses of a college freshman or if she succumbs to the unfair pressure of being a "nobody" on the campus' totem pole. Is she able to handle the drama of her first love under the pressure of knowing that everyone is watching, waiting...and hating? What else does Jillian gain during her freshman year? More importantly, what does she lose? The shocking ending to this tale will have you demanding a sequel to this ambitious story.

This debut novel by a talented new writer will keep you reading and rooting for your favorite characters. Complete with a suggested music soundtrack, including some time period and more recent songs, this novel will play like a movie in your mind! The suggested song list is a beautiful, precisely crafted complement to this novel. The soundtrack is outlined in the beginning of the book, and then the music is inserted at the appropriate places throughout the story.

Come on this unofficial visit to State University so that you can see what really goes on freshman year.