Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

172 reviews

cosmicwillow's review

emotional 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

4.5

this was a tough but very moving read. i loved the way the narrative was structured, too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Addiction, Rape, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, and Blood

tmcphetridge4's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

My first Tiffany Jackson book, I listened to it in one sitting while I made cupcakes for several hours. I... did not like this book. But I want to make it clear that this is NOT my chosen genre of book (I have to read this book for a course I am helping to teach). I found myself cringing all throughout the first half of the book. I know that is the point (to depict a toxic relationship), but I just... wouldn't choose to read this book. Aside from the very clear toxic elements of the book, I thought the "plot twist" at the end was cheap. I am not a big fan of books that "twist" the ending and make you question everything about what you just read. I saw the twist coming, but I also think that it wasn't necessary. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Torture, Gaslighting, Murder, Violence, Death, Drug use, and Rape

kaerene's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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? No

5.0

Wow. Grown was so good, super heartbreaking and sad but so goos. Tiffany D. Jackson is becoming one of my favorite authors. Her writing is amazing and just hits you so hard in the face with her stories and the character’s journey. Grown sucks you in with the murder of a famous rockstar and then transforms into a story about the music industry and how men with power take advantage of girls and women. I highly recommend reading this but definitely check out the trigger warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence

caughtbetweenpages's review

dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

Tiffany D Jackson doesn't miss. I read this book basically in one sitting; when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about reading it, and then I kept thinking about it long after I turned the last page. Enchanted is one of the most sympathetic characters I can remember reading in a long time. Not because she made perfect decisions or had an eternally sparkling wit. Because she was a child who should have been protected and was failed, time and again, by a man who groomed her into believing she was only worthy of anything if it was given to her by him. And then, when the justice system theoretically put in place to help victims failed her time and again, she had to maintain her strength through that, too. There is so much more I'd like to say about this book but I don't want to spoil it, because the magic of a Tiffany D Jackson book is the one-two-three-infinity punch of her reveals and the complexity of the webs she weaves for her characters to navigate. Let it suffice to say that Enchanted's strength in surviving Absuer McGee, and the scars left by him, and the aftermath she had to live through again and again to appease a justice system against her for every reason, hit closer to home than I'm willing to elaborate on. Check the trigger warnings first, and then go read this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Stalking, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Child abuse, and Sexual harassment

hapikohw's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

4.0

Damn, Tiffany Jackson and her unwell, unbelieved Black girls. So far I am 3 for 3 with her books. They hurt and are beautiful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Abandonment, Ableism, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Sexual violence, Stalking, Drug use, Classism, Sexual content, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Bullying, and Child abuse

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

kmyr1123's review

dark reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Kidnapping, Murder, Trafficking, Pedophilia, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Drug use, Drug abuse, Torture, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Confinement, Blood, and Stalking

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Dementia, and Suicide attempt

unfxckwhittable's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Characters: 4.5

Plot: 4.0

Theme: 3.5

Cover: 5.0 

17 yo Enchanted Jones’ dreams of becoming a singer seem within reach when she encounters 28 yo superstar Korey Fields. But soon her dreams turn into a living nightmare. 

Tiffany Jackson was one of my favorite authors of 2022. And reading this in 2023 did not disappoint. Jackson has a gift for evoking emotion from me through her words. I utterly detested KF and everyone who supported him and his lifestyle, he gave me the ick from the first touch. But I really enjoyed how this story was written—from the plot twists to the ending. 
This story touches on many important and timely topics, and certainly made me reflect on my own views. I found I was annoyed by Enchanted’s attitude about “being grown” at 17 and wanting to be treated like an adult, even though I was the same way at her age. I caught myself falling into the “fast girls” narrative and had to reflect on why I was judging a child with an adult lens. This book also made me really think about how to build my own children up and communicate with them so they don’t need to find love and value externally, but also so they don’t feel the need to deliberately keep things from their parents like Enchanted did. 
I also appreciated the inclusion of the social media comments on how society forms their opinions on situations like this with BM/BW, because every single comment was one I had seen when talking about R. Kelly. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Stalking, Kidnapping, Torture, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, and Mental illness

booktalkswithregina's review

dark emotional sad 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? N/A

4.0

" Yo, Malcolm X said it best. " The most disrespected person in America is the Black Woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black Woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black Woman".

First, Tiffany D. Jackson's book. One that caught my attention right away with the stunning cover. 

Grown is a punch in the gut! A graphic portrayal of grooming and abuse. 
This was hard to read and deeply uncomfortable. Left me enraged, sad and stressed. 
This is a story about all the abused young girls. Who are lured by the appeal of a  romantic relationship and empty promises. And are then stripped of their freedom and innocence by the hands of a powerful older man. How these victims, while seeking help, are often revictimized by the police force and the judicial system.

Enchanted represents the young dreamer, naive, full of hope and desperation. Going through the growing pain phase that marks adolescence. She feels a lot of restlessness and anger. Easily fooled and manipulated.
Tiffany D. Jackson did a great job portraying and relating the relationship between Korey and Enchanted. How he slowly manipulates, corners and uses his power. 
I enjoyed how crucial the family was in this narrative. In young-adult novels, the parents are often left almost entirely out of the story. In this case, that didint happen. I loved how well the relationship was explored.
And this also provided incredibly touching and poignant father-and-daughter moments.

Another well-explored theme in this book is how quickly victims are villainized for seeking justice. Even by those that have suffered the same plight. Can't forget the layer of racism and colourism that aggravate the possibility of black women being ignored.

Overall it's a good book. I had minor issues with some of the choices made by the author in terms of plot progression and the relationship between Enchanted and her friend Gabriela.
I felt it was unnecessary, and the constant back and forth between reality and delusion was bizarre.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Drug use

Moderate: Stalking

kendal_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence