Amina is a bad girl born in the Bronx and raised in downtown Cincinnati. For a 17-year-old, Amina has a decent life. But after meeting her father and 23-year-old brother for the first time, things take a turn for the worse.

Amina ends up alone, trying to fend for herself and save her boyfriend, Kayne, from 3 years in jail. Amina must prove her loyalty to Kayne, but can you be a Down Chic without being locked down yourself? This is a question that never crosses Amina's mind, leading her to make the ultimate mistake of her life.

Author Mallori McNeal began writing A Down Chic at age 14, during the summer before she began her first year in high school. She completed A Down Chic and was accepted for publishing at age 16. Mallori currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

A Down Chic is followed by its sequel, The Set Up.