I'll come right out and say it: Grown is not an easy book to read (in particular, readers should be aware of trigger warnings for sexual assault, mental and physical abuse, and gaslighting). While not an easy book to read, Grown is an exceptionally important book to read because it sheds light on a narrative that is far too often overlooked. Enchanted's story is one that is happening to young Black women, men, and people across the world. In Grown, Tiffany D. Jackson has crafted one of the most important and powerful young adult contemporaries to date that I would urge anyone and everyone to read.

This story was extremely heavy and hard to read too much in a single setting. Seeing Enchanted lured away was hard to experience, because the vulnerability of this character was so realistic. I love how Tiffany had the reader even questioning the reliability of Enchanted which nailed home the message of trust in a clever way.. The writing was brilliant and I will be thinking of this one for a while.

A powerful look at how fame and power effect life around us. Enchanted's story is heartbreaking, yet shows how inner strength and resolve can create a fierce character who learns the best way to fins herself and her voice.

The beginning of this book had me completely drawn in and unable to put it down. Enchanted has dreams of being a singer and meets a famous artist at a talent showcase. Korey Fields takes her under his wing and promises to make her a star, until things turn very wrong. I was disappointed in the way this story wrapped up. It feels like the last few chapters were very rushed.

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson is an excellent young adult novel. It has so many twists that truly surprised me, and I couldn't put it down! The way abuse and mental health are portrayed through Enchanted's experience is simply impeccable. You will find yourself simultaneously frustrated and cheering for this young woman as she figures out how to navigate this new, frightening world she finds herself in.

I thought that the premise of this book was as important as it was deeply painful to read. I thought that the storytelling was a little bit all over the place. That worked sometimes because it shows us how young Enchanted is, but it also made parts of the book, specifically the ending, feel rushed and confusing. The commentary on how society treats women and girls who have been assaulted and raped, and Black women and girls specifically, is vital to talk about. This story was heartbreaking and bleak and made me incredibly sad.

Thanks to NetGalley and Katherine Tegen Books for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow..this was good. It's about a young Black girl who gets "discovered" by a famous singer who essentially grooms her and becomes her abuser. The author notes that this isn't about R Kelly but about how the industry uses and abuses young Black women--then once the women go public against their abusers, the media/public end up re-victimizing them again by not trusting their word.

It was definitely hard to read at different parts but it was eye opening to see how the MC was quick to get judged for what happened to her and to make her believe she was losing her mind. Even as a reader, seeing everything she's gone through--you start to question her sanity at one point as well (great writing). The ending wasn't the happiest but I felt that it was all believable and that makes this book so heartbreakingly scary.

Again, this book is a very important one and really needs to be read/talked about more.

*Content warnings--they are listed in the beginning of the book.

5/5

Tiffany D. Jackson has a superb talent for crafting novels that draw the reader in immediately and 'Grown' is no exception. The message comes through loud and clear as an aspiring singer gets wrapped up in the possibility of success and the charisma of an established performer, mirroring how the powerful can continually take advantage of their position.

Grown was a book I couldn't put down. It touched on sensitive topics that are sadly still a big part of our world and culture. We need more stories that reveal the truth, heart wrenching at times but necessary. A powerful book and a must read.

Wow. That was an emotionally exhausting read. Suspense and adrenaline right at the start and then a never-ending waver between heartache, anger, and more suspense. At times, I thought this book would be the death of me. It is rare for a book to evoke such a response from me so I’m equally impressed and resentful. How dare Ms. Jackson make me cry over Imaginary people! The worst part of the whole thing is that these people aren’t totally imaginary. This sort of abuse, kidnapping, sex trafficking, and rape is happening to real girls and young women. There are so many different ways young women and teen girls are victimized by older men who should (and do) know better. If they didn’t know any better they wouldn’t hide it, right? I hope parents will read Grown and make sure to make a safe and open space for their daughters to talk to them truthfully about their lives. I hope others will Read it and gain more of an open mind or maybe donate to one of the charities that help victims.
I think I would use Grown in a teen book club setting. It is such an emotional read and heavy topic that I think it begs discussion. Discussion on a book like this also could lead to very interesting conversation and hopefully new Insights.

This book has been celebrated among my peers and I will be purchasing a copy if I end up in higher grades classroom teaching.

This is the perfect novel to start a conversation with reluctant readers. It covers so many important topics that students will no doubt have opinions about and want to share. The chapters are short and the content is thrilling-students will not be able to put this book down. Tiffany D. Jackson is the put author to put into the hands of reluctant readers and students looking for fast, engaging, and diverse reads!

I want to thank the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I have read other books by this author and couldn’t put them down. This one was no different. Jackson draws you in quickly and keeps you interested.. Not my favorite topic, but an important one, one that needs to be told. I love the family support Enchanted had throughout this story. I highly recommend this story.

This is the kind of book that puts the literature in YA. The storytelling and characterization is every bit as nuanced and deep as my English teacher heart could want.

Enchanted Jones is flawed, loveable, confused, and confusing, that is to say a perfectly written teen girl. As she is groomed by an older man, Tiffany Jackson constantly reminds the reader of Enchanted's age, making the power dynamic an ever present part of the story. This is a necessary addition to my class library.

***Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.***

Wow! Grown is one you need to be prepared for. That was just.. wow! Tiffany D. Jackson has written an intense YA thriller with thoughtful social commentary laced throughout. The story may not have been inspired by R Kelly’s abuse, but it is impossible to not draw parallels between the two. Told from the perspective of seventeen year old Enchanted Jones who dreams of being a famous singer and meets the very famous R&B singer Korey Fields who becomes her mentor. Everything seems too good to be true. Korey has a dark side that comes out and everyone around him covers for him. Then one day Enchanted wakes up with blood on her hands and a blacked out memory. Who killed Korey Fields? The story certainly does a good job of examining rape culture, mental health, child abuse, and the treatment of young black girls. The narrative switches between now and then really drawing readers into the mystery well before it’s a factor. One thing that cannot be argued is how incredible of a writer Jackson is. She is phenomenal at what she does writing important, yet captivating novels that have something to truly say. Readers will take something more that just a good read from this book. I’d highly recommend Grown!

Quite possibly my favorite book of 2020. I was hooked from beginning to end. I can’t wait for what Tiffany comes out with next!

This book was SO powerful. Also extremely disturbing. It portrays the complicated relationship between the abused and the abuser in such a realistic way, so much so that you can actually feel the conflicting emotions of Enchanted pulling her in either direction while you’re reading this. This is the second book I’ve read by Tiffany D Jackson now, and both have been so fantastic.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books for an advanced copy of this book.

Such a good book. Tiffany D. Jackson always tells a story that needs to be told. I was enthralled from this book from the very first page. The journey that the characters went on was horrifying but captivating

Enchanted has always wanted to be a singer, and when her audition is rejected for a TV show and star Korey Fields shows an interest in her, she thinks this is her shot. But is it really when Korey takes her away from her family, controls her life, and doesn't always make her feel appreciated?
This novel is exceptional, even when dealing with such a difficult topic. You see the way a predator can entrap a smart person into their web through this story. It's scary to see that even though people loved Enchanted and tried to protect her, in the end she still had to fight for herself and her story to be known and seen as truth. A haunting tale of an abuse survivor and how society views both the perpetrator and the victim.

I closely followed R. Kelly’s story and watched the document about his abuses towards young girls. This book was very much inspired by that, as is evident in the writing and story itself. I enjoy books that start with the ending first, and use the rest of the book showing you how things reached that conclusion. This book is a hard read, but a necessary read. The author did a great job writing Enchanted. I found myself feeling so frustrated by her decision making, but also had a glimpse of her state of mind. From a educator perspective, this will lead to so many rich conversations on a tough topic related to race, gender, violence against women, the criminal justice system, and who gets believed when stories like this occur.