Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

54 reviews

unlyke_li's review

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Child abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

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

angelacher's review

challenging emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Violence, Drug abuse, Rape, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

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

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

happynessheals's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

WARNING! this book can be triggering for some. It’s a great read, but in the middle I stopped reading because it was triggering me. the plots are great and the ending did not feel rushed! The ending was actually extremely unexpected and this book was a thrill ride!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Violence, Stalking, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Addiction, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Murder and Adult/minor relationship

kits_little_library's review against another edition

challenging dark informative tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

Tiffany D Jackson writes hard stories that are based off true stories like no other YA author. 

This book is HARD to read but it was done so well. It is written with a lot of grace, care, and confidence. The characters feel so raw. And as always, Tiffany D Jackson always makes me believe one thing, question those things, and then slaps me with shock.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Violence

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Minor: Rape

sarahreads2222's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.5

Okay, the ending though.....This book was TOUGH to get through. triggers up the wazoo. But such an important story that so many people need to read. Enchanted was such a strong character but reading from her POV you can see how even strong personalities can get brainwashed and end up in the horrific things that she went through. I don't feel qualified to review this one but wow. Amazingly written again by Jackson. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, Stalking, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Blood, Drug use, Murder, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Violence, and Sexual content

hue's review

challenging dark informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual content, and Stalking