Ride or Die

by Solomon Jones

Seventeen-year-old Keisha is the beautiful, sheltered daughter of an activist pastor with a checkered past. Handsome, ambitious Jamal-a street-savvy crack dealer-is the son of North Philly's most notorious drug kingpin. A history of violence and betrayal lies between their fathers, who are now bitter enemies. After one of his church members is gunned down-with a bullet he is sure is meant for him-Pastor Anderson goes after Frank Nichols, determined to drive him from the neighborhood for good. There's just one problem: Keisha and Jamal are in love.

When the families face off on opposite sides of an anti-drug demonstration, a high-ranking police official is killed in the crossfire, and Jamal becomes the prime suspect in the murder. Keisha is left with a choice. Will she stay with her father, in the confines of the sheltered world she's known, or will she venture into the unknown in order to help Jamal clear his name? She chooses Jamal, and in a whirlwind flight across the seamy underside of Philadelphia, Keisha will risk everything for love. Even her life.

Genres: Urban

304 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2004

About the author

Solomon Jones is an Essence bestselling author whose novels include The Gravedigger’s Ball, The Last Confession, Payback, Cream, Ride Or Die, The Bridge, and Pipe Dream. He has appeared on NPR and CNN Headline News, and is a contributor to short story collections including Philadelphia Noir and Liar Liar. Formerly a professor of creative writing at Temple University, Jones is an award-winning columnist whose work has appeared in Essence, Newsday, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Philadelphia Daily News. Jones, the creator of the Words On The Street Literacy Program, lives in Philadelphia with his wife and children. His next novel, The Dead Man’s Wife, will be published in October 2012 by Minotaur Books, an imprint of Macmillan.

Reviews

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay so I have read Pipe Dreams, The Bride and The Last Confession by this author so naturally want to read anything else he has written as I think he is a talented author that paints an environment that you can see, smell and live in..I know exactly where he is from because he tells about Philly beautifully with all the ugliness, drugs and crime that lurk beneath the surface..This is a story that brings back another character from his novels, Kevin Lynch the detective in The Bridge as he chases down a suspected murderer and kidnapper through the mean streets, but is it a kidnapping and is this kid a murderer? Enter the plot of Keisha the innocent beautiful Preacher's daughter who is walking the fine line of wanting to obey her parents and the church and wanting to be with a bad boy she loves and is forbidden to go near as their fathers, one head of the church the other head of the streets would be absolutely against it. In a Romeo and Juliet kinda take the two lovers decide to risk it all for each other and literally ride or die with their lives on the line..I must say I do still adore his descriptive writing and his tight storylines but I think this was not up to what I expected from him, not my favorite by far ( I think The Bridge is LOL) but a good book, not great.

[Vanetta Jones]

I simply love books by Solomon Jones!!!!

[Clayvone Fearrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this book. The storyline was great and it kept my short attention span throughout

[Sharlika · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book I have read is called “RIDE OR DIE” by Solomon Jones. It’s a fiction book. The theme of the book is to do the right thing, to follow your heart at all times, no matter what happens. And also to have trust and to believe in the ones you love.

Ride or die is based on drug dealers who have taken other the neighborhood. A pastor who used to be a drug dealer him self, is trying t6o take out the people who are destroying their neighborhood. But it is deeper than that, because the pastor has a history with top drug dealer and he wants to take him out. What happened was every thing had gotten messed up for the pastor, the top drug dealer and his used to be loyal girlfriend. The main characters are Jamal, who is the top dealer’s son. The dealer him self name is Frank. The pastor John, his daughter Keisha, and also franks girl friend Nola. The people I just named are the main people in the story who have a connection in a way you would think of. They all have a big problem with each other excepted Jamal and Keisha who are very much in love. This story is all very much crazy in what happens with all the drama that happens.

This book was not all that good. Matter of fact it sucked to me because it was confusing and boring all in one. When I was reading the book it made me want to go to sleep and also made my head hurt at times. There were some good parts with Jamal and Keisha, that’s about it. The parts I likes the most would have to be when Jamal and Keisha’s love was tested. Those was the good parts but every thing else went down hill from what I was reading. It got confusing and boring. I didn’t enjoy this book at all. I believe it could have been much better than it is now.

I would recommend this book to no one really, because it’s not all that great of a book to read. I believe it could have been better then it was. But I may be wrong. Teenagers or even adults could read this book and see if they would enjoy it more then I have. If you like any of Solomon Jones books then you may or may not like this book called “Ride or Die”.

“Ride or Die” was not a book I would like to read ever again, because it was boring and has confused me at times. It’s not entertaining at all to me but like I said before other people may like it more then I have.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the book "Ride or Die" by Solomon Jones, Keyisha and Jamal sneak around the idea of their parents knowing that their dating. With keyisha being the preacher's daughter and Jamal being the son of one of North Philly's highest drug dealers, problems only increase between Keyisha and Jamal. Since Keyisha's dad is trying to stop the drug dealing in the area he becomes ultimate rivals. It immeditaley causes problems with the two love birds.
Then they go through alot of crime and all trying to escape the war between their fathers. With cheating,stealinmg, multiple lovers,constant love, sex, and blood filled crimes this book has you on the end of your seat dying to read the next page..

i would recomment this book to anyone who loves urban stories about the raw ghetto streets of North Philly...

[Ta'niya]

I absoluetly loved this book. . .I mean it has a great twist to it. It shows the true meaning of love.
Jamal is a drug dealers son and his girlfriend (which is the main character)her father is a preacher. The fact that her father wants to get drug dealers out of the town becomes a probably even though they have a hidden relationship. In the end, there are a lot of secerts uncovered and love that might last forever. . . If you haven't read it, read it.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! The ending was no where near to how I thought it was going to end. This book was an easy enjoyable read.

[Aubrey Monks]

Why do I take book recommendations from students? Because I like to read ridiculous stories that make me want to barf, that's why.

[Jordan Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good it has an interesting story of living in the ghetto and being in a relationship. During the book Keisha would have to face problems with her boyfriend Jamal and her Dad .

[Ghira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a LOT of urban fiction, and it was refreshing to read something with a plot and the author could write! Although expected, the ending was surprising.

[Ratforce]

This book is essentially a modern, urban version of Romeo and Juliet. When two people from opposite sides of a drug feud fall in love, the drama is life-and-death.

[Katherine Mendez]

Im Half Way Done , Its Very Intersting I can not stop reading it . i wonder if theres a secound part to it .

[Genya · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books...read it atlease 3x great read for anyone who enjoys urban reads👌🏾