Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson

9 reviews

jasminealizae's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Disappointing, but on par for this author. The amount of unnecessary trauma/drama thrown into this story left a bad taste in my mouth towards all Tiffany D. Jackson books. 

How much can I witness one character be dragged through before I can no longer suspend disbelief? 

Seems like she just enjoys torturing her characters. 

The amount of colorism, racism, fat shaming, ableism, false 'mental health' representation, abuse, mentions of rape and molestation, inappropriate sexual relationships, stereotypes, and just downright torture for shock value that took place in this book - disgusting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Biphobia, Child abuse, Confinement, Eating disorder, Gore, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Outing, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Ableism, Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Car accident, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Incest, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Rape, Violence, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Torture, and Toxic friendship

amandadevoursbooks's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Mary Addison was convicted of murdering a white 3 month old when she was 9 years old. In a tale that twists and turns, we meet Mary after she went to baby jail and is now in a group home. The teenage girls are vicious, and Mary's only refuge is her volunteer gig at a nursing home where she met Ted. Through the plot, Mary decides the only way out is to tell the truth. Who will believe a child who murdered a child? 

This story was so heavy. I spent the majority of the book in tears. 

The ending made sense, even though it didn't tie up all the loose ends. Trauma changes the brain and Mary's been through so much. I hope her story ends with actual therapy and support as she has her baby

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

psistillreadyou's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Child death, Violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Blood

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Rape, and Pedophilia

Minor: Homophobia, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

calamitywindpetal's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Death, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Murder, Violence, Racism, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, and Grief

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Blood, and Sexual content

Minor: Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Abortion, and Lesbophobia

amandas_bookshelf's review

challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Murder, Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Vomit, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Homophobia, Domestic abuse, and Cursing

Minor: Abortion and Dementia

bookedandbusy's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was so good!

the plot twist was insane because I was fully convinced Mary was innocent!

I absolutely love Tiffany D. Jackson’s work! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Gaslighting, Child death, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Homophobia, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Physical abuse, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

there’s a scene in which one of the people in the house finds a dead cat. This scene is extremely graphic and very upsetting. The aftermath is also graphic

oliviabrcka's review

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Allegedly follows 15 year old Mary Addison, who has been in "baby jail" for the last 6 years and has just been let into a group home in New York City. Mary is serving time for the alleged murder of 3 month old Alyssa Richardson, who Mary was babysitting with her mother at the time. For years, Mary has let the truth slip under the radar of the justice system, but now that she's pregnant, she has decided to come forward with the truth in an attempt to make a better life for her unborn baby. Mary is trying to gain the trust of those around her, but the real question is: can Mary trust herself?
I picked up Allegedly after having it recommended by Regan (PeruseProject) and Jananie (thisstoryaintover) and I am so glad I did. I went in with very little prior knowledge and this was an absolutely gripping story from cover to cover. I rarely pick up mysteries but this may be one of the best I have tried so far. I was captivated by Mary's story and things are truly left up in the air until the last page. I have never read a story like this! (I am attempting to be vague in this review because I think it is best for readers to go in without a lot of information)
This was my first Tiffany D. Jackson read and I am so impressed with her writing. Every word on the page drives home the bleak setting and overall feeling of this book. She speaks with Mary's mind; as Mary gains more knowledge, her point of view becomes more mature and more elegantly spoken. The pacing was just right and keeps readers guessing throughout the story.
Mary Addison is our main protagonist, and Mary is a complicated character. Even though we are seeing the world through her eyes, it is hard to get a good look inside her brain. Her life is screwed up to the max, and that is reflected in the choices she makes. Her relationships with the other girls in the group home, her mother, Ted, and her caretakers are each important and unique. She is so complex and interesting and mysterious, something that works so well in this particular story.
This book does an amazing job of pointing out the failures of the American criminal justice system and reminding the reader that although some may kid about the state of our prisons, they really aren't a joke for the ones living inside of them. Allegedly brings to light issues of race as well as sexual assault. I would look up content warnings before going into this book.
I would definitely recommend Allegedly, especially for readers who enjoyed Sadie by Courtney Summers. I am looking forward to picking up more books by Tiffany D. Jackson!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Racism, and Violence

sunnyreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I was a little bit afraid to read Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson because well, at the time it was published, there was a lot of hype around it, and since then Tiffany D. Jackson has written and published more YA contemporary books that people praise, and well, I was afraid I wouldn't like it as much as everyone else.

But I did. I did love Allegedly and understand the hype. Wow, such a brilliantly written book. The last chapter takes your breath away. And it's so voicey, which I love voice. I love voicey YA contemporary, and Mary's voice is so loud and in your ear, like she's telling you her story while sitting on your couch.

However, I didn't like all the fatphobia and ableism present in Mary's thoughts; it made me VERY uncomfortable, and I think it was unnecessary. Does it make Mary realistic and like a teenager? Oh, yeah, definitely. I loved the scenes with the other girls, especially the therapy sessions, but I did find myself wishing the fatphobia and ableism wasn't present so much in the text; I didn't think it added anything to the story, especially since she doesn't learn that those thoughts are wrong. 

But that was the scariest part. They CAN just do that. They can do whatever they want. (22%)

“What does it mean when you love and hate someone at the same time?” I ask. He laughs. “It means they family.” (27%)

"They’re pushing for the death penalty and don’t even realize executing this little girl is no different than murdering that baby.” (37%)

But I’m only the weakest part of angry; I’m hurt. Hurt makes you want to lay in the middle of the street, dead on the ground, muscles gone limp. (54%)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, and Racism

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Homophobia

raivyn's review

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child death, Child abuse, Cursing, and Violence

Moderate: Cursing, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual content

Minor: Homophobia