pickThis was a tough read. Enchanted is 17 years old and will do anything to achieve her dream. And I hate that for her. Ugh! This book sucked me in from the beginning and it broke my heart again and again and again. If you are up for something heavier, I recommend this one.
The pace was great through the whole book. However, the ending was so rushed and I'm not entirely sure why. The rushed ending makes it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ instead of 5.
06.13.2023
pickThis is my 3rd Tiffany D Jackson,her writing is so consistently heart wrenching & addicting. In this story she takes inspiration from too familiar headlines. Enchanted is 17 meets a singer who entices her by offering her attention, affection &a music career -then manipulates her til she no longer knows if she can trust her own mind. Important social commentary on how society views particularly black girls who are victims of grooming
#20in4
Read this book a couple years ago and now listening to the audiobook version 🎤💛
pickThis was a challenging book to read in that Jackson's character development, especially of Enchanted, can't help but create empathy in the reader. Enchanted has experiences no 17 year old girl should have, while also raising the issue of how Black woman in our society are not believed. Great cover and title!
pick⭐⭐⭐⭐
A mixture of whodunit and the realities of abuse. It definitely highlights the struggles of black girls and women. Truly emotional.
pickTiffany D Jackson is amazing. She skillfully tackles difficult subjects, particularly the psychological trauma of Black girls. This book was inspired by the cases of abuse related to R&B artist R. Kelly. https://cannonballread.com/2022/02/grown-elcicco/
Guess I‘m double double cheating for #March for #12booksof2021 #3rdbookof2021
Love all of these so much it was too hard to decide and there were other great books I read in March as well!
On a Sunbeam was an incredible sci fi queer graphic novel.
Grown was a stunning and eye opening story.
The Four Winds swept me up and had me in the tissues.
American Street is a moving story of romance, tackling immigration and family hardships.
@Andrew65
This was a tough read at times, but we‘ll worth it. #12Booksof2021 @Andrew65
pickIM BACK!!🎉🎉 This semester has been NUTS, and not one for reading 📚I‘m utterly speechless at this book. Jackson writes unabashedly about hard subjects, & does not turn away from the themes that can be “uncomfortable “. This was my 2nd book to read of hers, & I gave myself space to take time to read and process what I was reading. This is one of the hardest books on this particular subject I have read in some time, but I am glad I stuck with it.
pickAnother fast paced, gut punching YA novel from Tiffany Jackson. Not my favorite of hers but this one still makes her an auto read for me.
pickWow this is intense. The first third I was stomach churning - the older man grooming the teen. I had to remember that this is a too true thriller.
I did not like the 2 page a chapter layout, I never understood why this structure is chosen. But the story itself makes up for it, very intense and sucks you right in.
so-soI enjoyed the beginning of this ripped-from-the-headlines YA thriller more than its ending. The beginning is fairly realistic grooming and abuse of a teen singer by an artist based on R Kelly. But by the end, she‘s zooming around town trying to solve the mystery of his death on her own. I think the unbelievability of her crime-solving skills turned this into a so-so. Great narration on the #audiobook, though.
pickAn eye opening story about a teen girl. Although the author specifically says this book is not about R Kelly, it definitely gave off a lot of those vibes. There are a lot of important points made on how women are treated/doubted by the authorities when reporting crimes against themselves, especially black women. There is some tough content but I recommend all young women read. Or listen to...the narration by Abbott-Pratt was phenomenal.
The description of the Will and Willow organization is taking me out! It reminds me of the Jack and Jill org back home in Chicago. 😩😂
This book is so engaging. I have a feeling it is going to be a tough listen, overall, but the author has made me fall completely in love with Miss Enchanted. My god, I hope nothing too horrible happens to her.
pickThis is another book that will stick with me. It's a mystery mixed in with a retelling of a story pretty similar to the R Kelly case. Enchanted is a teen girl that loves to sing. She goes to a competition and ends up meeting Corey Fields, a megastar. The story flashes between present day, where the police are knocking and Corey is dead, and the past to reconstruct how the story got to this point. Definitely a hard read, but so worthwhile
pick5 stars for how excellent this book is, but I add that this was the most triggering and disturbing book I‘ve read in a very long time - maybe ever, as I usually would quit before finishing a book like this.
I got through it via audiobook and increased the speed whenever I was most uncomfortable. I wanted to finish - this story is important. The narration is excellent. I highly recommend it. But proceed with due caution.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my current audiobook. It's so good, and I'm super invested. But God, it's hard to listen to the abuse... Really difficult read
pick“It is possible to have a loving relationship full of mutual respect and good intentions, like Gabriela‘s. But if you ever feel you are in a situation like Enchanted, where you‘re being used, threatened, sexually coerced, or you simply feel uncomfortable, please seek help right away. Tell your parents, one of your friend‘s parents, a trusted teacher, or a relative.”
#YesiReads #YA #DiverseBooks #DiverseAuthors #FemaleAuthor
so-soIt was ok. But I just felt confused about certain parts more than anything else while reading it.
“When I awake, I am eye level with a puddle of beet juice soaked into the carpet, soft fibers, cushioning my cheek”. But is it really best juice? #firstlinefridays
My current read. It‘s a library book, so the plastic part has made it awkward to get a good photo lol
pickEnchanted longs to be a singer and can‘t believe her luck when she meets a rock star who believes in her potential. Her interaction with him goes from exciting to dark then darker, eventually exploding in violence (not a spoiler—it‘s revealed at the start). This is my second read from Jackson and she writes such compelling stories. Plus she isn‘t afraid of tough subjects. The audio is terrific. Major CW for abusive relationships.
pickGrown will stick with me for awhile. Intense, emotional and horrifying all at the same time. It‘s a tough read, but an important book to be out there. Second book for #AnyWayYouReadathon @eggbeater @MidnightBookGirl
so-so**TW** physical, emotional, & sexual abuse of a minor.
I felt like this book couldn‘t decide what it wanted to be. A thriller about a young Black girl trying to get away from her abuser & seek justice, or a mystery about said protagonist trying to clear her name after she‘s charged with his murder? The social commentary was wrenching & beautifully layered in, but I wish we had stuck to one plot, so it could stand out even more. ★★★☆☆.
pick
I started reading this book on Sunday night. It was getting late and I reluctantly put it away to try to go to sleep, not quite realizing it would keep me wide awake for much much longer. It was full of rage-inducing moments that made me want to throw it across the room. It had this despicable man who used his fame and his charm to cajole and to enchant young girls. (Continued in comments)
pickI first read Tiffany Jackson several years ago when I picked up her novel Allegedly based solely on the cover. It blew me away and with this she has done it again. Heavy, heavy, HEAVY trigger warnings as it is the explicit recounting of an incredibly abusive “relationship” and the grooming that far too many of our young women and girls are subjected to. This book shook me to my core.
pickThis book is important and well written, but it was a tough read. I felt a little hollowed out and overwhelmed by it. I guess I was supposed to. It comes with trigger warnings for a reason and to say I "liked it" would be a stretch. I am glad I read it.
TW: rape, violence, child abuse
We have these big beautiful snowflakes coming down right now so I pulled up a chair and am getting cozy underneath a blanket and starting Grown for #FountainOfYouth #BookClub
pick🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
pickWow!!! What a crazy story and what is crazier is that things like this happen in real life.
When Enchanted is taken under a super stars wings to be her mentor and voice coach everything seems perfect until everything is not. I felt for the characters heart and mind. All she wants is to be famous for her singing. A+ book 📖
pickThis book was so powerful. It had such a strong message about the things women have to go through especially at a young age when they are trying to make something of their lives in an industry such as entertainment. It‘s a hard read because it really goes through a lot about abuse in a lot of ways, but I think it‘s a super important book to read and would definitely recommend it!
pickFrom Author‘s note: “...this book is not about R.Kelly, nor is it a recount of his allegations. This books is about the abuse of power. It‘s about the pattern of excusing grown men for their behavior while faulting young girls for their missteps. It‘s about the balance criticism of girls who were victims of manipulation.”
While this book did remind me of R. Kelly case it is so much more than that. Finished it in a day!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickI don‘t read books in one day but this one was so readable and I just had to know what was going to happen next. The pacing is phenomenal and keeps you turning the pages. This book deals with some difficult topics such as grooming, abuse, and stalking. It also has a lot to say about the way society doesn‘t believe black women, especially in these situations. The stakes are high the entire book.
pick4 ⭐
Wow! This book is hard. It starts in beet juice and ends in blood. It is as real as real can get. And it pisses me off. Not the book, the subject. The author did an amazing job in writing a hard subject that is often neglected. It‘s about a young person in an abusive relationship. It will live in my mind for a long time to come, but I expect nothing else from Tiffany Jackson. An excellent book, a hard book, a necessary book.
*Heavy sigh* This book exemplifies how a predator can sense a whole person ... and refuse to leave until they‘re broken.
Another week of November, another fantastic contemporary YA book for New Reads November on my podcast! Author and journalist Hayley Krischer is on the show for Episode 121 to discuss Tiffany D. Jackson‘s Grown. This book is a commentary on race and power and the music industry and abuse and the way our society treats victims — and we get into all of it on the show this week! 🎤 Link to listen in bio!
pickI really loved this book, although it's a tough read. Enchanted Jones is a talented young woman with stars in her eyes and the talent to back it up & the will to make it happen. When she meets superstar Korey Fields, she finds her wildest dreams are coming true... but so are her nightmares. Enchanted wakes up next to the dead body of Korey, and the story rewinds to show us how she got there. Warnings for sexual and emotional abuse.
I‘m listening to this audiobook and it‘s pissing me off. The story is so needed. So many YAs don‘t think abusive relationships can happen to them but it can. It shows grooming and all the in your face clues to what is going to happen. And it makes me think so much of R. Kelly it just pisses me off. Im glued to the book. I have to know how it ends. But ubhhhhhghhggvg
pickI love Tiffany Jackson! She writes about serious and disturbing topics in a really accessible way. It‘s considered YA and I love YA but I really think this transcends the YA genre. CW about drug abuse, sexual assault, rape. An intense but very good read. I recommend.
pickThis is the 4th book that I have read by Tiffany D. Jackson and so far it‘s my favorite. It was so heartbreaking but also twisty and enthralling. She somehow still manages to gut punch you right up until the last page. My one main criticism of her writing is the way she portrays mental health and mental health services. This book was an improvement on that. Also I wouldn‘t mind having those earrings. #blacklitsy #blitsy
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