Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

59 reviews

ruinedbyreading's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Stalking, Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Physical abuse

emily_mh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Tiffany D. Jackson just knows how to write contemporaries!! She has a true talent. Every one of the four books I’ve read of hers have been astonishing, including this one. 

This book will boil your blood. It shows in detail how Black women are harmed, exploited, devalued, and disbelieved. This happens in all areas in life, but Grown focussed on this occurring in the music industry, following Enchanted’s story. What struck me especially in relation to this topic was that people in the book (as in real life) were so desperate to put the blame on anyone but the perpetrator of harm. 

This book is heartbreaking. What Enchanted goes through is horrendous. Jackson doesn’t shy away from exactly how Black girls are exploited in the music industry. Acknowledging this reality is so important, as it provides visibility on an issue that doesn’t get any in mainstream media. 

Jackson crafted this story so well. The book starts out with the morning after the murder, then goes back in time, focussing on how Enchanted got to that point. The result is this well-executed looming sense of foreboding. The incredibly short chapters match the pace at which Enchanted’s life is snatched out of her control. We are presented with certain small details early on that then become super important later, giving that click of understanding. As I said, Jackson is one hell of a writer!! 

One thing I did think was odd was that Jackson didn’t take the stance that a 17 year old getting with a 14 year old is weird, as is a 20 year old getting with a 16 year old, when those are weird age gapes considering the relative life stages of the people involved. But I also could have been reading these sections too literally and be completely wrong about what her stance is! I just wanted to flag that in case. 

Rep: Black MC, Black SCs, Latina SC

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Drug use, Sexism, Racism, Rape, Addiction, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Murder, Confinement, Blood, Violence, Gaslighting, Stalking, and Death

Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Vomit, Alcohol, Ableism, Body shaming, Religious bigotry, Infidelity, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, and Police brutality

Major: grooming Minor: hoarding

gabyisafreeelf's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Racism, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Rape, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Moderate: Infertility

tahsintries's review

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, and Racism

nytephoenyx's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book was exceptionally hard to read. The themes are dark, and the constant gaslighting and abuse are hard to stomach. I cannot recommend enough that potential readers review the trigger warnings before proceeding. That said, it is amazingly well written and impactful. It’s an important story to tell, particularly when black women are so easily disregarded in these situations. It’s an incredible book, but it is devastating.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Kidnapping, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

The protagonist is a Black female-identifying teenager. Her best friend is LatinX, passing. The villain is a Black male. There are numerous Black supporting and minor characters.

jessicafacchinigould's review

dark tense fast-paced

• 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Trafficking

Moderate: Alcohol, Racism, and Gaslighting

aformeracceleratedreader's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

Tiffany D Jackson is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This is a heavy book. Read the content warnings in reviews and at the beginning of the book. 
I don't know what to say. This books shows how power dynamics of famous people are used/abused to target vulnerable people, especially young girls, and how people are so quick to blame the victims and/or gaslight the victims. Like I've stopped listening to some bands once I found out members of them targeted teens and manipulated/groomed them. Also shows how black girls in particular are seen as "more adult" or "knew what they were doing" than their non-black peers in situations of sexual violence. 
Believe victims. And if you are a victim of sexual assault, you aren't alone or at fault.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual violence, Violence, Gaslighting, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, Torture, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Confinement

samanthamurk's review

challenging dark emotional sad

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

wow. I just read that in one sitting, I couldn’t put it down. this is a powerful story and it is wonderfully told. 

Similar book: Muted by tami charles

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Torture, Addiction, Kidnapping, Stalking, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Blood, Child abuse, Rape, Sexism, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, and Trafficking

Moderate: Suicide

ghosttown's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

this was a heavy, heartbreaking, shattering book but also extremely important. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Drug use, Murder, Trafficking, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Torture, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Child abuse

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis

jademeu's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

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

3.0

"All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was." - Toni Morrison

"She saw him disappear by the river, / they asked her to tell what happened. / Only to discount her memory." Text from The Waterbearer, by Lorna Simpson.

Tiffany D. Jackson's character, Enchanted, is a waterbearer in this story. In the water in her blood is the memory of her happiness--the sea--as well as the memory of her horror, her abuser. Jackson honors the Black women artists who came before her, such as Toni Morisson and Lorna Simpson, while also fearlessly forging her own craft. The read was short, but it was powerful. The words clear, direct, yet capable of painting beautiful images. A reminder that this story may be fictional, but the stories it was inspired by are real. A powerful voice. A satisfying resolution for Enchanted.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Racism, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Stalking, Blood, Confinement, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, and Physical abuse