Top Girl

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Her numerous reflection of herself are enlightening, , especially when she said “ Tattoos are a form of self harm” which I am sure for herself, and many others, they are. A turning point comes when Danielle is arrested and – with the help of a probation officer – she begins to question whether she really is ‘top girl’ after all. But after five years deep in the high-earning street hustle, can she really leave it all behind?

I think this would be a useful read for those working with young people, if nothing else but to remind that despite appearances and behaviours, children are children. If I was to raise a criticism it would be that at times found some of the language used, the dialect a bit jarring and I think often 'slang' talks struggles to be translated to the written word, but this was a minor point and at times this served to give voice to the author. The street lingo throughout the book ( a bit like Ali G on steroids) does get rather tedious at times, and leaves you feeling a bit grubby. This was a gritty and revealing tell all about a girl's insidious drift into gangs. Growing up on council estate, academically able Danielle leaves her peers behind and goes to grammar school, where she never quite fits. Attracted always to the naughty kids, aged 12 Danielle meets a cool older guy who is a drug dealer. Through him she meets others and gradually becomes embroiled into a normality involving drugs and ganglife.I found Top Girl to be a heart-breaking tale of how some bad choices or difficult periods in a childhood can snowball and derail a promising child's life. Should be required reading for those making decisions about the futures of young people, many of whom have little understanding of what these lives are truly like. I suspect in the end Danielle will get every success and bit of happiness she deserves - she just took a slightly longer route to get there.' * Linda Boa, blogger Crime Worm * I have a daughter the same age as Danielle was when she got involved in the gang lifestyle. And I had to stop reading several times because it was so very brutal and there is a dignity in how Danielle describes her traumas, it is not something exploitative or graphic which makes what happened to her all the more powerful. Danielle’s searingly honest book is a horrifying insight into gang violence and county lines culture.' The Sun Top Girl is the tell-all, true story of a grammar school girl turned drug dealer. Danielle is currently in witness protection since she has turned her life around with the help and support of probation services. She graduated from university with a first class honours degree and is currently studying for her Masters degree. She now advocates for women in the criminal justice system and speaks with law enforcement agencies about the role of women in gangs. I found the book fascinating and illuminating, a brutally honest account that does not hold anyone else responsible for the decisions that Danielle made. An important book for the younger generation. * Netgalley *

years and up should be offered this book to read as it can show how easily they can be pulled into this world by a few kind words and treats. I genuinely think that this book should be available in comprehensive schools up and down the country. The Harrods shopping sprees, designer handbags and hedonistic lifestyle are the envy of her friends, but the good times and cash mask the grim realities of her life.I don't normally read autobiographies but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could relate to life growing up in London. Danielle was bought up on an estate. A smart girl who went to grammar school but lured into too much too soon. Mixing in a bad crowd, experiencing things from an early age and going down the wrong path. Put into care and then losing her own child. This is a must read.' * Netgalley *

The synopsis reads: "Danielle has a safe, happy childhood in West London. But her bright future fades when, betrayed by the police after a brutal gang rape, she finds protection under the wing of local criminals and falls in love with the ‘top boy’. Her allegiances bring terror to her doorstep when gun-toting rivals target her flat – and the authorities answer by taking away her baby. Heartbroken, Danielle spirals deeper into gang life and becomes a key player in a sprawling county lines operation, running drugs to towns all over the UK from the gang’s London HQ. The designer handbags and hedonistic lifestyle are the envy of her friends, but all that cash masks the grim reality of her new life. Then, when Danielle is arrested, a probation officer has her questioning whether she really is ‘top girl’ after all – and can she leave it all behind?" And never far from her thoughts is that little boy, her son, now 12 years old. Through the family courts, Marin is battling for a reunion. “That’s the dream,” she says. “Hopefully it’s going to happen. I’ll keep fighting until it does.”Top Girl is a non-fiction, candid account of Danielle Marin, a grammar school girl turned county lines drug dealer. Danielle gives a powerful, raw, no holds barred account of life as a gang member and drug dealer. It isn’t a glamorous story, in fact it’s an ugly one, but it’s also an important one, as it shows how bad choices, mixing with the wrong crowd can lead someone down a dark and dangerous path where violence is the everyday norm. Groomed by a gang member from the young age of twelve, it doesn't take much imagination to see how a young girl could be manipulated and get caught up in the gang life. I really liked the fact that Danielle doesn't paint herself as a victim. She takes ownership of the path she chose. Danielle is very honest and admits that money was her motivation for drug selling, but she highlights the actual dangers associated with selling drugs, and gives a brutal insight into how and why kids get involved in drugs and drug dealing.