Wow! Grown had me hooked from the very beginning as the story starts off with one of the main characters being murdered. It goes on to tell the story of Enchanted Jones and how she met superstar Corey Fields and his promises to make her a star. Corey Fields is 28, while Enchanted is 17 but the two form a relationship that is more than just making music. The story has glimpses of the night of the murder, but the story does not come full circle until the end. It is a story of tragedy but has a message that everyone needs to hear.

This book contains triggers for those that have been abused. The author says that while the story is loosely based off of the R. Kelley case, it is completely fiction. She wrote it to help shed light on mental, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse that women in the entertainment industry are subject to if they want to get ahead. It also discusses how black women voices are never heard, always dismissed.

I highly highly recommend this book to everyone, but especially women and more specifically women of color. I hope this book empowers women to speak out against abuse, no matter how hard it may be, and women voices are heard.

*Please note that I work at Barnes and Noble* So, my ability to suggest the audiobook is dependent on its availability in nook book form. I have also listened to Monday's Not Coming on audiobook before and this is not the same narrator. I loved Imani Parks. However, Joniece Abbott-Pratt (who also narrated Burn by Patrick Ness brilliantly) did an outstanding job with Grown.

Tiffany D. Jackson Retrospect- Updated
Disclaimer: This review of Tiffany D. Jackson's Grown serves as an update to one of four of my favorite posts on this site. It is a post I wrote when Let Me Hear A Rhyme came out, last May. At that time, I wrote not just a review of Tiffany D. Jackson's second book, but a collective homage to Tiffany D. Jackson's work, as an author, and I hope, as a person. I initially became of Tiffany D. Jackson when her first book, Allegedly came out, when I attended, what would become my last educational conference- ALAN-YA.
Coincidentally, it is also where I discovered: Adam Silvera, Neil Schusterman, and Holly Black. While I was already well aware of their work. I also had the tremendous honor of meeting, and hearing, both Jason Reynolds, and Angie Thomas speak. My point, and I do have one, is that I have always been a staunch and vocal advocate for Tiffany D. Jackson's work for reasons that I could not always find succinct words for. However, I happened to see Jeff Zenter speak on a panel and he couldn't have put it more perfectly.
Zenter said (and I'm paraphrasing only because at the time I wrote the original post, it had been over a year ago) when you read any of Tiffany D. Jackson's books, she has the ability to take the vegetables (social issues- the most difficult of them, in multitudes) that we need and have to eat. But she does it in a way that wraps those vegetables up in a story that makes the reader feel like they are eating ice cream (that being a wickedly, twisted and entertaining story).


Thank You To Katherine Tegan For Arcs of Let Me Hear A Rhyme (at the time) and Grown in exchange for an honest review
________________________________________
This is essential because I don't believe anyone in publishing (not young adult or adult) is doing what Tiffany D. Jackson is doing. I said that when Let Me Hear A Rhyme came out and I stand by it on the day that Grown releases.

The rest of the original post will continue after my review of Grown. And I hope that everyone will check it out because one of the things I learned when I posted it, and still find to this day, is that a shocking, disturbing, and depressing amount of people still don't know who Tiffany D. Jackson is, or her of her gifted work.
And if I have to scream my throat raw? I will do whatever I have to do, to change it. If Katherine Tegan was willing to send me a case of books. I would carry them in my car, and I would drive them to schools, libraries, wherever they wanted. I'd carry them with me and leave them mailboxes, hold giveaways and pay for postage.
I do everything I can when I'm throwing books and on my website. That is a given. But if there was more? I would do it. Without a blink of an eye.
________________________________________
Six Months... Nine?
I keep saying six months. It has actually been more like nine months that I have been gagged to shut-up. Part of that is my fault, fine. The second I downloaded Grown, I stopped everything. Then I did not leave my couch until it was done. That is Tiffany D. Jackson. Once a year, I get this amazing experience where I am not only engaged in social issues where I am forced to value my "verbal shocks." Verbal is in quotes only because I'm reading. But I am, also, entrenched on an entertainment level that should be illegal. The combination of the two? For those of you reading it, in 2020. Let it be a "bright" spot on your bingo card. Bright is in quotes because of Grown's topic. It isn't bright, obviously.
________________________________________
Disclaimer:
I am always very clear when reviewing a book where things are outside of my lane on what I should and should not discuss. I mentioned it in the original post that this is "technically," serving to update. I am going to go ahead and state that claim again, along with an additional one.
1. In the third section, I am going to list the themes and social issues that Grown addresses. However, I am not going to comment on them because I don't believe that is my place, to do so. As far as these themes/social issues go, I believe it is my job to shut-up and listen to the community, about them. There are a couple of them that I have read about (non-fiction) or seen media curated by Black Creators. However, that does not make me an expert in any way but in #2.
2. If you are white like I am. And you read the below list and want to come into my comments with comments such as
o But white women experience a, b and c...
o The same comments are made about all women
If #2 is you? Please disavow yourself of the notion that you are going to make those comments on this website.
I invite discussion. I definitely invite others from the Black Community to tell me if anything I've written is harmful, incomplete, or misinterpreted. For whatever my list is, below. I am still looking through my lens, and am sure to have missed important themes. I will, without question, rewrite, fix, or take it down, until it is correct.
However, whatever the experience is of the white woman? That same experience, for Black Women, is ten times as harsh and life-threatening, soul-crushing, than for us. That is not invalidating anyone else's life experiences. It is the truth. I have, without a doubt, suffered a couple of these traumatic experiences. They still haunt me. I don't believe it is the same level of trauma as if I was a Black Woman. So, no. You will not come on my site and start that conversation.
________________________________________
Grown By Tiffany D. Jackson
Grown *to start* is based on the events surrounding R. Kelly. The girls he abused for decades while making everyone believe they could fly. I remember that song being played at dances. As I got older, I remember hearing it and thinking, but wasn't he accused, if not convicted, of raping underage girls? Why am I hearing this song a decade and more later? It never made sense to me. I never listened to it because I was sure it was the same person. It had to be. I wasn't going to support it. But it bothered me, a lot. It wasn't until the recent airing of Lifetime's Surviving R. Kelly that I found out everything that had happened in all the time between those school dances and when I became batshit confused as to why that song was still on the air, and in commercials.
Within that initial starting point, Tiffany Jackson weaves many more themes and racial (micro or otherwise) that Black Women and Teenagers face in society, inner-struggles that Chanty expresses in her inner-dialogue with herself. It is also played out in her interactions with others. Again, I'm going to list them out and also, where I can, pull a couple of quotes that led me to list them (I may not be able to because of spoilers, in some cases). But beyond that, again, I'm not going to analyze them, because it isn't my place to.
________________________________________
Themes
I don't know if themes are the right word for everything in this list (probably not) but I don't have a better word at the moment.
1. Rape and Sexual Assault
2. Mental Abuse and Abusive Relationships (which often includes #1)
o How it starts with all the shiny promises and then slowly deteriorates
o Almost without you knowing
o And then the other personality comes out after you've lost touch with all you care about
o They've been fed lies, you've been fed lies
o And that makes "you should just leave" not so "you should just leave
3. With one and two: Drug Addiction- without even knowing until you are addicted because it is slipped to you.
4. Older men that are attracted to younger girls, period.
o Putting the blame where it belongs.
5. The pressure of (and perception or reality of) to bring your family out of poverty
6. Status symbols in entertainment and their inner-circle of protectors- again the money factor of what they provide those people to look the other way
o When it starts- I'm sure a lot of people are going to want to judge Chanty for believing this older, famous singer could be interested in her
o But - why? I will comment just because of celebrity. I have no issue believing that a 17-year old could meet someone famous and be blinded to the fact that they are getting texted by their favorite singer. Then that person is wooing them, offering their dream to them. And then not wake-up to reality, until it’s too late. Some teenagers would find that sketchy. But MANY, myself included, probably, would have been pretty blind.
7. When you take all of the above. You have to look at: Blaming the victim
8. With Grown, the cover is important.
o There is a lot around wigs that he wants Chanty to wear and a lot of inner dialogue around how she feels, and how it makes her feel
9. High-school reality (and I'm just going to throw a couple of quotes out)
Parkwood High School is the only private one in the county that doesn't have a strict dress code, but the student handbook specifically says no hats, no short skirts, no "distracting" hairstyles.
Yeah, I can read between the words unsaid there, too. I solved that problem by shaving off my locs. But somehow, my presence is still distracting.
My goggles are tight, but on purpose. I hate when chlorine slips through the crevices and I end up with red eyes like I've been smoking a blunt. Not that I'd know what that's like but being one of the ten black students in the entire school.... the stupid assumption would be too easy.
________________________________________
Characters
Chanty is a girl with a dream. She wants to be a singer and at the very moment, that dream doesn't come true? Along comes this handsome star and he offers her everything. Chanty thinks she's grown. But she isn't. Through her actions and dialogue. Tiffany Jackson demonstrates that she isn't it. But see, it doesn't matter. That isn't the point. He knew better, as the hashtag goes. Or at least, he sure as hell should have.
Chanty wanted so much to believe in this dream. That he was her everything. Her dream, love, and forever. And when her friends and family warned her, distrusted it. She believed it for them until they believed it too. And then Jackson wrote Korey as perfectly as she wrote Chanty. The Jeckell/Hyde personality switched on and off that gave me blood-curling whiplash.
He wasn't the Korey in the study that sang with Chanty, related to her, and wooed her into believing he was her everything. Now he was barking at her to get off her phone. He was convincing her that every time he snapped at her, it was her fault. And that her family and friends weren't showing up because they didn't care. When really, he wasn't telling them. And that's just the start of how good he played the nice Korey and how sinister the true Korey really was.
I can't talk a whole lot about the supporting cast without spoiling a lot. When you see them, though? They are essential and powerful. I'll leave it there. Tiffany Jackson will tell you the rest.
________________________________________
Multiple Worlds
It isn't just that Tiffany Jackson created multiple places- where Chanty came from, her high school, her home. And then the life she has with Korey, on the road. And then what life is like when he turns into the Korey she can't recognize. The one she blames herself for.
Jackson also builds emotional worlds. Chanty is forced to compartmentalize some much of what is happening to her out of a sheer need to survive, because of the trauma that is inflicted. In the moment that it starts and as it continues to worsen, Chanty is constantly in a state of trying to sort things out. There are multiple fronts hitting her at once that are severely traumatic. And again, I can't say what all of them are, but they cause a dynamic within her mind.
Because it is a first-person narrative, it was crucial that readers experience all of these different emotional states through Chanty. Those emotional states are almost as erratic at times as Korey's and because of that, it is disruptive and impactful on whatever physical setting they may be in. That illuminates and heightens the suspense, impact, and reality of not just the ice cream of the story but the vegetables, as well.
________________________________________
Before I Jump Back In Time To A Year Ago...
From start to end Grown is a fast-paced mystery, a thriller that doesn't stop. It will keep readers enthralled from the first word till the last. That is wrapped up in various themes that speak to the Black Girl/Woman experience. That means that it is just as important for white women, as much as Black Women to read it. Because we need to stop being ignorant, blind, or uncaring to these plights. We need to shut up and listen. We need to understand more and better.
Also, we need to read more diversely within diversity. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn comes out today, for example. It is not entered in Black Trauma. Read it, too. I am. I'm creating a whole table for non-trauma centered works by Black Authors/Black Main Characters at the bookstore. Both are essential. Both need to be lifted up. There are so many amazing works coming out. Whatever your genre, your reading preference (no one is asking anyone to read genres they don't like- I am not- you don't have to- there's plenty to find), find books that will remove your blinders and those that are just great reads. And review them, share them, discuss them. Support them.
________________________________________
Now... From May 2019---
Before I Get To Let Me Hear A Rhyme By Tiffany D. Jackson
First, both Allegedly and Monday's Not Coming came out before my blog started. So, this is the first Tiffany D. Jackson book I have had to review. It is everything and more. Second, it has become woefully aware to me during my time reviewing books, how few people are aware of Tiffany D. Jackson's work and that breaks my heart.
I couldn't do justice to Let Me Hear a Rhyme without at least introducing those that are not yet aware of what makes her work unique; the epitome of reaching those that otherwise have not the exposure, or do have the ability to ignore injustice with a riveting plot that seizes you from the first page, and doesn't let go until the final gut punch that leaves you breathless and renders you forever changed. Last, it is impossible to review any book by Tiffany D. Jackson without giving away the entire book. The less you know going in, the more you'll enjoy it.
________________________________________
Allegedly And Monday's Not Coming By Tiffany D. Jackson


What I can do, is what I did above. I can talk about "the vegetables." I can even tell you about <some of> the ice cream. I tried not to do that with the first two novels for fear of this post becoming a novel unto itself. However, that is about as far as I can go. And that isn't nearly enough.




Recently, I had an incredible conversation about Tiffany D. Jackson's first book, Allegedly, with someone that broke down at least a half-dozen social issues including, but not limited to, the juvenile incarceration system, the profiting prison system, mismanaged group homes, post-incarceration leading to the broken cyclical system of poverty, and who is responsible for how broken these children become. Thus, leading to the further actions and consequences of a system based on keeping marginalized people down rather than providing support, solutions and ways to lift them up- breaking that cycle.
Were that conversation repeated around Monday's Not Coming, I have no doubt that it would repeat. However, the discussion would surround the blind-eye of justice in DC when it comes to missing African American girls. In addition, the broken Child and Protective Service Agencies that serve not just DC, but cities across the nation because these are the social issues that inspired Jackson's second novel.
Stats and quotes regarding Monday's Not Coming below:
________________________________________
April 2019 Stats On Missing African-American Girls
In an article published in April 2019 by the Washington Informer the following stat was given:
More than 424,066 girls of all races have gone missing since the beginning of 2018, according to NCMEC. More than half of that total are women and girls of color, according to BAM, which, like NCMEC, rely on statistics from the FBI.
You would think someone would have developed a task force or do something. But no. That number has just continued to grow. In an article from Bustle (I highly suggest you read the entire article... Jackson stated:
I incorporated the way kids slip through the cracks in the system, the way there is no immediate sense of urgency when black teen girls go missing, and lifted parts of their tragic end. I also focused on the media bias when it comes to reporting about missing white children vs. missing children of color. Coincidentally, when I turned in the book to my editor, the hashtag #missinggirlsDC had just gone viral.
________________________________________
Let Me Hear A Rhyme
So here is what I can tell you about Let Me Hear a Rhyme. In regards to everything mentioned in Jackson's previous works? Checkmate.
Steph is a budding musician with so much to give to the world when a senseless shooting ends his young life. No one is talking about it, no one seems to care. Least of all the cops but his closest friends and sister want answers. Aiming to find out what happened and let his music see the light of day, they find his unfinished songs and give them their time in the sun. Starting in clubs, everything is going great until a label hears it and wants to sign Steph.
Except, of course, Steph is dead. Why let death stop you? The plan is hatched and they go along with dead Steph signing a record deal with said record company oblivious to their dead star. When the secret of Steph's death and the circumstances around it come to light? Everything starts to unravel, and spiral out of control. Soon the trio realizes that trying to outrun death is one thing. Outrunning the secrets left in the wake of death, secrets still held by the living is impossible.
________________________________________
Privilege and Judgement- SHUT UP
Before continuing, I need to qualify the following because while I was born and raised in Brooklyn, before moving to the Midwest at 32, I am Brooklyn-Italian, white- Caucasian.
That doesn't give me any right to say I understand or have even learned to understand what it was like then or now to be a person of color in any part of this country, Brooklyn included.
Brooklyn wasn't a picnic for anyone when I was growing up. But that gives me no right or space to claim any voice in this discussion. What I can do? Is shut up, read, learn, and have a sense of moral compassion, empathy, and foremost lack of judgment.
Anyone who judges Jazz for relating to Malcolm X's beliefs, or why a character falls into dealing drugs? SHUT UP. You want to judge Jackson for writing those characters and their choices? SHUT UP. You had privilege, choice, and didn't know. You weren't there. I don't know and so it isn't my place to say anything. It is only my place to shut up, listen, and learn what I didn't know about any of it and shamefully understand how little I knew then and how little has changed in almost forty years.
________________________________________
I Wrote This Over A Year Ago... And Yet...
(I.e I wrote this over a year ago when reviewing Let Me Hear A Rhyme) Police brutality, talented lives cut off too soon, young lives left behind and now traumatized forever, poverty, and desperate "choices" are all dealt with throughout the storyline in Let Me Hear a Rhyme. Testing the strength of friendship, love, and the ability to find where you stand, along with the willingness to fight for it, at all costs are at its core.
________________________________________
Tiffany D. Jackson Wrote The Shit Out OF It
First, there is interwoven music and pop culture of the nineties that are utilized brilliantly. I won't pretend to know all of it, but I knew some of it and it brought back a lot of memories. Hell, the way Tiffany D. Jackson brought Brooklyn to life as a character in ways that you would only understand if you lived there? It made me smile and rarely, if at all, do I miss my hometown. See people assume that if you are from NYC, you've seen the world. They don't get it. If you live in Brooklyn? Queens might as well be France. You are lucky if you leave your five-block radius in a year, let alone any given day. Jackson gets it.
________________________________________
The Ice Cream... Wait For It...
How about the ice cream you ask? How can you take all that heavy... the vegetables and make it digestible and accessible... the ice cream? Well. Let me tell you. This is a bit of a contrast to the "ice cream" parts of Monday's Not Coming and Allegedly, which offered the entertaining storyline up in a much more dark and twisted fashion that doubled down on Shonda Rhimes territory. However, make no mistake, this was incredibly twisty and irresistibly fun.
________________________________________
Remember That Movie? Weekend At Bernie's?
Well maybe you don't

These two guys trying to get ahead in a company find out someone is embezzling large sums of money at this company they work for. Thinking they are going to be handsomely rewarded; they tell the CEO. However, it is the CEO that is embezzling and he's doing it for some very dangerous people.
They have decided he's gotten a bit sloppy. So, when Bernie (CEO) invites the kids over to his house in the Hamptons, he thinks it is so his dangerous crew can kill them.
Except, SURPRISE! They kill Bernie to pin it on the kids. Double surprise! The kids freak out and run around the Hamptons with a dead Bernie all weekend. I'm not saying Jackson got the idea for parts of Let's Hear a Rhyme from Weekend at Bernie’s but, I think I remember a tweet where she mentioned it but don't quote me on it.
ng storyline up in a much more dark and twisted fashion that doubled down on Shonda Rhimes territory. However, make no mistake, this was incredibly twisty and irresistibly fun.

Remember That Movie? Weekend At Bernie's?

Well maybe you don't

These two guys trying to get ahead in a company find out someone is embezzling large sums of money at this company they work for. Thinking they are going to be handsomely rewarded; they tell the CEO. However, it is the CEO that is embezzling and he's doing it for some very dangerous people.

They have decided he's gotten a bit sloppy. So, when Bernie (CEO) invites the kids over to his house in the Hamptons, he thinks it is so his dangerous crew can kill them.

Except, SURPRISE! They kill Bernie to pin it on the kids. Double surprise! The kids freak out and run around the Hamptons with a dead Bernie all weekend. I'm not saying Jackson got the idea for parts of Let's Hear a Rhyme from Weekend at Bernie’s but, I think I remember a tweet where she mentioned it but don't quote me on it.

Either Way

I certainly had flashbacks to it that were highly entertaining.  Until it couldn't be anymore.

But as I stated before, there is just no way to explain what that means without all the spoilers and leaving you to form your own view of the vegetables. And that is what Tiffany D. Jackson does. And she's the only one doing it.

It is a better publishing world, a better world period, for having her put the gift of her talent into it. If you don't know her talent. If you don't know the causes upon which she stands? You are doing life wrong.




I said that in May of 2019 and I will day on that hill still today,
and I imagine for as long as Tiffany D. Jackson continues writing books.

"This book is not about R Kelly. It’s about adults who know the difference between right and wrong because no matter where you stand in the issue. He knew better."

Everyone, and I mean everyone needs to read this. It was so good. It explained so perfectly how a predator with money and power can and does get away with it. How they surround themselves with people who help them. How it’s your word against theirs. How they gaslight, manipulate, isolate, and abuse their victims all while making them feel like they deserve it. It’s powerful. It’s sickening. It’s too much at times. I had to stop listening to the audiobook from time to time. It took me longer to listen to than a 35 hour audiobook because it was too much. It messed with me so much I had to listen to something fun. It’s definitely not for everyone.

I do have one small complaint. It was a strong 5 star read until the last 10%. It’s like at the most important part of the book, the book didn’t know what it was about. Is it about mental illness? Is it a psychological thriller? Is it a murder mystery? Is it about abuse and privilege? Is it about race and class? The book itself developed multiple personalities and it was so weird. Luckily it was at the end and I was so invested in the story and the characters it didn't matter.

What an incredible story. This story had a great narrator and the story was so engaging that I could not stop listening. I really felt like the story could have gone longer and I almost wish it did.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio for complimentary audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Grown by Tiffany Jackson is a well written and powerful book with such an important message to tell. As I listened to the book, I was transported into the life of Enchanted Jones. A young girl seizing her opportunity for a singing career from one of her idols. Tiffany Jackson does a top notch job in capturing Enchanted's wide eyed enthusiasm and innocence as well as her love of family and friends. And the narrator on this book is top notch in capturing that innocence and the disillusionment that follows.

This is by no means an easy read. As the mother of a teen daughter, I'll be honest, I almost DNF'd a few times. But please stick with it because the whole of the book is such a wonderful and powerful statement on the flaws in both a judicial system as well as in the societal judgement of girls or women who are victims of sexual assault.

Why I requested this: Honestly, because just like Tiffany D. Jackson’s debut, Allegedly, this book will probably stay in my thoughts for a long time.

Pros:
The audiobook narrator does an excellent job expressing the right emotions for the situations at hand.
The delicate way the topics are handled. This book covers a lot. The audiobook actually has a list of some of the more major triggers in the beginning of it.
That being said, this book also does not hold back when talking about these topics. It is a heavy book. You really feel for Enchanted and her struggles throughout. Tiffany D. Johnson crafted a realistic book.

Cons:
Sometimes the “then” and “now” format was not my favorite; so it may not work for everyone. That being said, it was not enough to take away from my enjoyment. I’m just impatient and do not like jumping around sometimes.

Overall: A hard book to read because it will probably hit close to home, but absolutely worth it if you can handle the material.

Wow! While Grown by Tiffany Jackson was amazing, it was also very hard to listen to at times. Enchanted, a young black teen, is an aspiring singer who is noticed by a famous singer, Korey Fields, who takes her on as his protégé. However, Korey is manipulative, cruel, and possessive. Innocent and trusting Enchanted is groomed for a life much different than what she imagined.

Grown, loosely built on R Kelly's shameful past, respectfully tackles tough topics of abuse, rape culture, and the systemic and societal oppression of black women. Jackson endeavours to empower these women to take a stand and use their voices. It is a mature YA read, for sure, but such an important read.

The audio version was well-done.

First, the narrator was perfect for this book. She did a wonderful job of portraying the emotion in the text. I especially appreciated how, in parts, she sounded so young.

The book itself hurt me to read because, like all of Tiffany Jackson's works, it's written with a heavy dose of reality and empathy. The protagonist, Enchanted, could be most any teenage girl with a dream. Her parents struggle to manage all the expectations and obligations of their lives, but they are present, loving, and devoted to their children. This is not just a book about a predator taking advantage of a naive teenager, but rather a book about society's failings to protect and stand up against abuse. I would not recommend this book to all readers as not everyone is prepared to handle the content, but for those looking for an intense, hard-hitting novel about physical and sexual abuse and the systems in place that allow it to thrive, this is a solid choice.

Enchanted has always dreamed of becoming a professional singer. Her parents do not support this dream because of its impossibility. She is expected to do well in school, take care of her younger siblings, and attend community groups before even thinking about singing. When Enchanted tricks her mother into taking her to an audition for a reality singing competition, she catches the eye of adult singing genius Korey Fields. While she doesn't move further on the reality show, Korey offers to take her under his wing. Enchanted and Korey strike up a texting relationship, without her parent's knowledge. Korey invites Enchanted to come with him on tour to begin working on her career. Enchanted has seen sparks of Korey's dark side, but once on tour and living with him, she is trap and isolated. Enchanted is still desperate for her career and she loves Korey (he loves her too, right?). However, the pain and monstrous actions are becoming too much.

This book shook me to my core. The audio reader was a perfect pairing with this novel, she gave life to the lyrical words. Jackson's way with words was poetic within narrative form. The pain spills from the page, but also the strength that one can find in times of need. This novel gave life to many news stories that have occurred between fans and stars. It brings this toxic culture to light and shows how easily parents and children/teens can be harmed by these monstrous people. This book has rich layers that bring topics to the discussion table. It is a solid book that I can see being used in the classroom, (though to be honest probably the college classroom based on the topic. While it is important for older teens, I can see it being difficult to include this in a high school curriculum.)

The events that take place in this story are an absolute nightmare. And I mean truly, truly horrific. As a parent I think I felt the pain of them even more acutely than I might have otherwise.

But the story itself is masterfully woven and told. I don’t want to give too much away but it will have you on the edge of your seat, dying to know how it ends while simultaneously screaming at the main character to get out, get away, to save herself.

The book opens with a horrific murder scene—blood everywhere—and our leading lady, Enchanted Jones, waking up and having no idea what happened. We then go back to the beginning and watch the whole horror story unfold.

In the author’s note Jackson states that this book is not a true story, but loosely based on pieces of her own life and inspired in-part by a court case. She does specifically call out that it’s not about R. Kelly, but rather, it is about the abuse of power and how grown men never seem to be held accountable for their actions, but young girls are always discounted, not believed, or victim-shamed in these situations. It’s also about corporations covering up horrific crimes if it means the cash keeps rolling in.

Of course, after hearing all of that I had to go look up the whole R. Kelly story. I knew bits and pieces from more recent press, but really hadn’t heard the whole story, in part because I was pretty young when it first came to light, but I was also living in Australia and I doubt it was as big in the news there as I’m sure it was here in the USA. I also had no idea about the rumor that he married Aaliyah (illegally since she was only 15 at the time). I adored her.

Anyway, back to the book. I couldn’t put it down. The characters were wonderfully developed, the emotions real and complex, and the story was fast-paced and gripping.

The audiobook was narrated wonderfully by Joniece Abbott-Pratt and comes in at 8 hours and 18 minutes at 1x speed. She gave Enchanted even more of a voice and really brought her to life for me. I definitely recommend you grab this one.

Ohhhhh Tiffany Jackson does it AGAIN! She is a masterful storyteller, and her latest, Grown. is no different. This book addresses so many things, I can't even list them out! Just take my word for it and get your hands on this incredible YA book.

When I read that this book was ripped from the headline story that has plagued the Black community for decades, I was unsure what Jackson would do. I'm pleasantly surprised and I'm thankful this book exists.

Enchanted Jones is a beautifully written character who is believable and also wise beyond her years. As her story of abuse and devastation unfolds at the hands of abusive mastermind and R&B superstar Korey Fields, Tiffany D Jackson answers the questions we as a society have to grapple with when we read about famous men serially abusing girls: How does this happen? Where are her protectors? How many people does it take to hide this secret in plain sight? and finally: how are we all implicated?

Jackson weaves her signature murder-mystery magic through this real-life tale and elevates the story into one that indicts an entire society that is complicit in trading Black women and girls. I listened to the audiobook and greatly enjoyed the narrator; the whole story is devastating, haunting, beautiful, and extremely important.

Thanks #NetGalley for the eAudio ARC. Whew, prepare yourself for this. Even knowing what it was about, as an adult reader I felt physically queasy, especially in the first third as you see all the grooming taking place and you know where's it leading and that it can only get worse. Jackson has said that she loosely based this on the R Kelly story (every trigger warning here) but it's truly about misogynoir and how we as a society don't believe, trust, and protect Black girls. As is expected in her books, the twists keep coming right up to the very end. I liked that she told some of the story through outside perspectives, like a group chat and police interviews. The audio was well read and compelling to the last sentence. I will be stocking up on copies because this one is going to fly.

My mind is shook.
There was so much I could relate to in the author's note.
The abuse of power that men take and use against young women, hell children, is disgusting - but it's real, and it's happening in the time we are sitting in right now. Enchanted was the same type of girl as anyone that you see in your classrooms. How easy it was for her to be coerced and swept away all in the name of "love" that she felt. She left her family so easily, but only to be awakened by the brutal reality of what a man of power, a man of fame, a man - was physically capable of doing, and not just to her. To several. The abuse he inflicted on her family to keep her away.
This was an uncomfortable story to read, but it was so, so good. My uncomfortableness comes from a place where I've had snippets of this scenario, I know friends who have, but also the reality of how many women out there ARE and have zero way out, zero support, currently.
What a phenomenal book. Tiffany has done it again.

I want to thank Tiffany D. Jackson, Harper Audio, and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy of Grown in exchange for an honest review. This was one of my most anticipated releases for the 2020 year, and it did not disappoint. This book will haunt me for years to come, but in the best possible way.

This book shares the story of Enchanted, an aspiring singer who comes into the life of a popular singer: Korey Fields. When given the opportunity to chase her dream with a boy who shows interest in her, she quickly takes the bait. The problem? Korey Fields is not a boy. He is nearly 11 years older that 17 year old Enchanted. What transpires next is a cautionary tale of who to trust and when to ask for help.

Tiffany D. Jackson continues to pen masterpiece after masterpiece. She never fails to evoke true emotion and discuss the truly difficult topics that can happen to anyone in this world. Jackson crafts the most elegant of narratives while leaving out none of the gritty details. This book is not for the faint of heart, but it is incredibly significant.

When recommending this book, I will absolutely be recommending that readers accompany it with the audiobook. Joniece Abbott-Pratt, the narrator, brings so much depth to the character of Enchanted. She brings the anxiety, the desperation, the confusion and the wish fullness that Enchanted holds to life. I will absolutely be looking for more audiobooks narrated by her in the future.

Overall, I thought this was an emotional and riveting read that is extremely important for readers of all ages, backgrounds, and genders to read and reflect upon. I will be recommending this to everyone!

This book tackles some very tough topics, but important topics! As I was reading, I kept going back and forth trying to figure out what happened......it definitely kept me intrigued throughout the story.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Audio, and Katherine Tegen Books for an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

The protagonist, Enchanted Jones, is an aspiring singer who is victimized by the powerful and predatory megastar, Korey Fields. After Korey discovers Enchanted at a local city-wide audition, he promises to make her his protege; and, an elated Enchanted feels as if her fantasy of becoming an R&B performer are finally coming to fruition. However, now that Korey is dead, her hopes have turned to horror.

The narration for this title, delivered by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, is absolutely flawless.

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson is an irresistible and imperative read for many of today's youth. This fast-paced, Suspense-Thriller explores a gamut of pressing issues that range from addiction, biases against teenage girls of color, and toxic masculinity. This title takes on the task of delving into the intersectionality of gender and race in the era of the #MeToo Movement. Ms. Jackson also made sure to include a plethora of resources for youth who have suffered and/or are surviving sexual abuse.

Grown is another ripped from the headlines book by Tiffany D. Jackson. Inspired by the R. Kelly cases, we follow Enchanted Jones as she is groomed and then abused by an older famous singer, Korey Fields.
I appreciate what the author is doing. We need more stories about black girls. We need more authentic depictions of the black experience told by black authors.
One issue I have with this story is it lacks focus. The author introduces too many minor storylines and tries to make too many points. Also, I wouldn't say I liked the conclusion to the story. The first half was better, but once it got into psychological thriller territory, it lost something. The goal of humanizing victims that are often dehumanized was lost to shock value and cheap thrills.
I listened to the audiobook, and I enjoyed the reading. I wish I liked the book more. I gave it three stars because it is a great conversation starter and draws more attention to black victims of abuse.

The perfect book. the perfect narrator. my god. Audio-book is usually a difficult format for me (my particularly neuro-divergence makes it tricky) but this one HELD my attention effortlessly. I'm so, so amazed. This book was heartbreaking and timely and absolutely brilliantly done.

I loved the book. I think that this hits some really deep subjects and feelings, but at this time is not able to fit in the curriculum with the themes. I will be thinking really hard about the possibility of next year's curriculum. I think that this is relevant and necessary for students to have to understand how to address feelings inside of them.

Great story. Relevant.