newkgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A trigger warning for anyone that hated bedbugs. They are mentioned several times in the book.
Marigold is running from ghosts and not just the ones from her past but real ones that are causing chaos for her and her family in their new home in the strange town of Cedarville.
A classic haunted house story with a modern take and a rather dark twist, I loved this story and found myself drawn in right from the get go.
I loved the author’s portrayal on anxiety and how it can manifest in different ways (in Marigold’s case this was her fear of bed bugs) and more importantly that POC can experience mental health issues as well and that they shouldn’t be treated as a taboo subject.
Jackson’s portrayal of a blended family and issues of race where confronted head on and not shied around as well as the sub-plot about gentrification and the wiping out of black communities.
A five star read for me. That said, I would have like some additional background on the key players that were responsible for all that was going on in Cedarville as it was only mildly touched on and the ending left little to no resolution in regards to what happens to said key players.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, and Drug use
trashboatwinter's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Cursing, Stalking, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Drug use, Violence, and Drug abuse
emmakchapman's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Stalking
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Injury/injury detail
kaitlinlovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Racism, Medical content, Injury/injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Torture
The narrator lives with intense anxiety, particularly surrounding her family's experience with bedbugs. The author does an excellent job of portraying the all-consuming nature of intense anxiety spirals, including panic attacks._tara_'s review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Drug use, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Gaslighting, Injury/injury detail, Medical trauma, and Blood
peachani's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Spoiler
The Foundation is finally exposedGraphic: Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Addiction, Blood, Gore, Injury/injury detail, and Kidnapping
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, and Pedophilia
solenekeleroux's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Blood, Gaslighting, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, and Racism
Moderate: Murder, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Police brutality, Confinement, and Body horror
reading_and_roaming20's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I wanted so much more from the haunted house, angry ghost storyline, but it really felt like more of a backdrop to Mari’s personal progression. She’s a lovely character, going through a healing journey in a new town with a new stepfather and stepsister, after an OD. But I really could have used more of the horror stuff and less of her obsessive drive to find weed in her new town. (Though shout out for the mental health rep!)
I also found the gentrification subplot interesting and appreciated how TIFFANY D. JACKSON built it into the storyline. I can see the Get Out reference making sense here.
Since this one was so heavily built around classic YA tropes that aren’t my jam, I don’t feel like it’s fair for me to give it a rating. I definitely didn’t dislike it and think it has its merits. It’s just not for me and that’s ok.
If YA is your thing and you want a dash of spooky fun to go along with a female MC you’ll love to root for, WHITE SMOKE is absolutely worth picking up. If you tend to enjoy YA that toes the line of general fiction, this is probably not going to be your cup of tea.
FEEDBACK WANTED :: For TIFFANY D. JACKSON fans out there, I’m curious if you feel like this is a pretty typical style of book for her. I know it’s her first go at horror and am also intrigued by THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD and GROWN. That said, if they’re going to have a similar vibe, I might skip them. I’d love to hear any thoughts because I’m definitely up for giving this author another go if y’all think she’s worth a shot!
Graphic: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, and Panic attacks/disorders
bookish_ann's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Colonisation, Classism, Child death, Violence, Police brutality, Gaslighting, Addiction, Murder, Drug abuse, Religious bigotry, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Fire/Fire injury