I was eager to read "White Smoke" after attending a webinar in which the author was a speaker, and now, after reading three of her books, Tiffany D. Jackson has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her characters are fleshed out, the writing rich and fast-paced, and the stories are engaging. "White Smoke" was no exception. Marigold and her blended, multi-racial family have moved to a small town in hopes of a fresh start. But, between a rocky family dynamic, missing friends and family back home, and a possible haunted house, this proves to be difficult. This page-turner will have you guessing all the way to the end!

I want to list the TW for this novel first: TW for drug use, addiction, incarceration, anxiety/invasive thoughts, bug phobia (esp. bed bugs). While this is not an extensive list, these are the triggers I think are most prominent and likely to potentially do harm to someone reading this novel.

As a huge fan of Jackson, I was so excited to see information for this novel. The premise - Marigold has moved from her life in California to the small town of Cedarville, along with her mother (who has accepted a job with the prestigious Sterling Foundation), brother, and new step-father and step-sister. Marigold is fleeing from the metaphorical ghosts haunting her past - her fears, her anxiety, her phobias, and her addictions. On the surface, life in Cedarville seems to be idyllic, but deeper down, there are secrets. And when these secrets come to life, they could threaten everything that Marigold is trying to rebuild.

In the end, I wanted to like this novel more than I did. For the most part, I think that this has more to do with me than with Jackson's writing, which is as strong as ever. Although I enjoyed the novel, I very much struggled with the abruptness of the ending and the lack of closure in the resolution of the book. As stated, Jackson's writing is exemplary. She is a master craftsman when it comes to weaving together plot elements. The first night I began reading the novel, I had to take a break or two because I was completely freaked out (like Marigold, I share a phobia of bed bugs, although mine is not as debilitating as hers). There is a real sense of blurred lines, which is what you want from a horror novel. Is this paranormal? Are there ghosts? Is something really happening or is it all in the character's mind? The building of suspense and tension was excellent, as is the subtle feeling that something is not right with the town that only becomes worse as the story continues. Jackson blends together more traditional horror tropes with a grounding in the real that helps the reader feel unsettled. However, once reaching the climax, the novel quickly picks up the pace and then ends without any type of epilogue or a clear resolution of 'after'. I love that I didn't see the turn/twist coming, but I also feel a bit let down by the ending and not feeling like I had a good sense of what would happen to everyone after. I liked the novel, but I think this one just wasn't my favorite.

I absolutely love Tiffany D. Jackson and how different every book by them I have read has been so different.

The anxiety rep in this book was to real for me. I have a huge bed bug phobia and at one point was in tears while she struggled. Is it truly evoked a fearful emotion in me. Same with some of spooky scenes, I could feel myself unedge.

There are a lot of big feelings in this book between the characters.

What I didn't enjoy was something off would happen and next chapter it like it didn't. There was a disconnect between the chapters for me until about the last 30%. Something awful happened I'm gonna be to go back to her single focus. And when she was sharing with her friend nothing seemed to be inspired. Like if spooky stuff happening I would expect the character to investigate. And that was my other problem that I wanted more time explaining or exploring the past history history of the town and how it is now. We didn't get too sit and discover the information long enough to give it weight.

Let me begin by saying that horror is NOT my jam. I don't watch scary movies. I don't read scary books. I don't enjoy being scared! But when one of your favorite authors decides to venture into the horror genre, you follow.

Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC of White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson. The novel was free, but all my thoughts are my own!

I tried to be vague, but warning: there may be spoilers ahead.

The beginning of this book did not excite me. In fact, I was wondering how I was going to get through the rest of it. The haunted house trope is tired and I could not for the life of me figure out what was going on with the whole drug undertone. I kept wondering to myself if the author really needed to make this character addicted to weed.

By the end, I understood and I was hooked. Only Tiffany D. Jackson can take a story about a haunted house which has been done SO many times before and make it fresh and relevant. This story contains nods to real cases (as all of her books do) which makes it THAT much more creepy. Several times I found myself actually scared and hating myself for it because that's just not me! I don't do scary. But the writing is SO good. She makes you feel like the haunting is actually happening to you. Now I am going down a rabbit hole of researching like cases. I only have two words: Oooooh my.

It also has to be said that Jackson poignantly sends a message loud and clear about the effect of drugs (and capitalism) on neighborhoods. I was so impressed with how she intertwined this incredibly important message into a horror story.

This is definitely one of Jackson's stronger pieces and although it goes without saying, it deserves repeating. I will read absolutely anything this woman writes.


>>> This currently appears on my Goodreads account, but I will discuss it on social as well! @samanthainsecondary

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4076862975?book_show_action=false

Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this to review. 3.5/5
Super spooky and full of twists and turns! Teens are going to love this book and the premise of "The Haunting of Hill House meets Get Out" is spot on. I agree with others that the ending is abrupt but it could easily be one of those books you read in one sitting only to turn around and read it again just to catch anything you missed the first time.

Tiffany D. Jackson easily jumps from the thriller genre to the horror genre with WHITE SMOKE. Combining elements of traditional Gothic haunted house stories with themes of systemic racism and injustice makes for a scary tale that not only takes on the haunted house trope, but real life horrors (such as prison pipelines and property discrimination) that happen every day in modern America. I loved Mari, who is a great Gothic heroine as she is intrepid, isolated, and because of her high anxiety and past dependency issues is questioning whether or not the strange things in her new home are actually happening to her and her family, or if it's just her imagination. And the horror and ghostly aspects themselves are fantastic, as front and center is the story of The Hag, one of my favorite pieces of horror folklore. There were moments in this book that I was so wound up and freaked out that I would have jumped ten feet in the air if caught off guard. It's not surprising that Jackson so easily writes horror, given that her thrillers sometimes have horror potential in their subject matter, but it's awesome that she can effectively do two of my favorite genres without any major impediments or bumps in the road. There's a reason I love her books.

WHITE SMOKE is a must for horror fans. It's landing just in time for Halloween, and I suggest you get your hands on it if you want a good scare.

Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this to review! Generally, I’m not a horror genre kind of person, but I love everything that Tiffany D. Jackson writes. No exceptions here! As her first foray into the horror genre, it accomplished all of its spooky glory. For the most part.

First, Jackson does a great job from the beginning creating a spooky atmosphere, one where you know something sinister is going on right from page one. This book is pitched as Get Out meets The Haunting of Hill House, and honestly, that’s the perfect description for the way this book feels. For instance, things are happening behind closed doors, and no one really wants Mari and her family there. It just adds to the spooky nature of what’s happening in their house.

For the most part, the characters are well fleshed out and add a lot to the story. Mari has a severe phobia of bed bugs, and her anxiety is part of what helps in building the suspense. As events in the house start to escalate, I couldn't put the book down!

However, the ending felt too abrupt to me. Honestly, there’s a lot of buildup for a great resolution, with parallels to what’s happening in the real world. We get a little bit of resolution, but I wanted more! Usually I’m okay with open endings, but another 10 or 15 pages I think would have pushed it to where it needed to be.

All in all, if you’re looking for a great spooky book to add to your fall TBR, this one will definitely fit the bill!

Creepy and fast paced, with characters you'll want to spend more time with. White Smoke deals with addiction, mixed families, gentrification, and, oh yeah, a haunted house. I do wish there had been more about the Foundation and I found myself surprised at the quick ending. But still, highly recommended and perfect for the upcoming spooky season.

I did enjoy the ghost story aspect of this book, but I found the ending to be extremely abrupt, as it ends in the middle of the action. Perhaps there will be a sequel, but it was still awkward. Some characters weren't as developed as others, and it really stood out, as did the fact that the kids seemed to have far more common sense than their parents.

Numerous difficult topics are addressed, including drug abuse and mental health issues. I liked the twist, but the book just felt unfinished and didn't quite hit the mark for me.

This book was so creepy and so so good. I absolutely loved it. I read it in one sitting and I definitely should not have read it at night. It was super creepy and there were parts where even I, a person who enjoys horror, was thoroughly creeped out. Tiffany Jackson has once again written a fantastic book that is unique in its element.

Who doesn’t love a good ghost story?
Seriously though, Tiffany D. Jackson has a unique talent for writing genuinely tense, suspenseful stories and scenes that work for a young adult audience. Horror is not an easy genre to write. Jump scares, blood, and gore don’t work in print the way they do on film, so good horror writers have to instill fear and suspicion in more subtle ways, by slowly building up a sense of anxiety through actions, story and dialogue. White Smoke accomplishes all of this while sticking to Jackson’s YA roots. Teens and early adults will love and root for White Smoke’s young heroine, Marigold, as she battles poltergeists alongside her personal monsters.
Put this one of your list for spooky season when it’s released in October.

I was approved for this book a couple of weeks back and I just recently finished it. I was not expecting the main character to be a druggie but it made the story very interesting. I enjoyed reading about how desperate she was tp get high and her thought process. we get into the ,mind of an addict and get a front row seat to see how drugs affect them and their family. I liked the spooky atmosphere of the book and the pacing of the story.

Change is good. Change is necessary. Change is needed.

This mantra sets the whole tone for this novel. This novel took me on a journey! I was terrified at some moments and I wasn't sure if I was reading another version of Paranormal Activity or Wrong Turn. There were several legitimately terrifying moments in this story. Whether it was the rampant racism, the ghost, or something else. Tiffany Jackson has created something that I think so many audiences will love.

One moment that I felt was unresolved, but it made sense to be unresolved, was the Foundation component. Without too many spoilers, I am ready for another book that takes on the Foundation.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an egalley for review. “White Smoke” by Tiffany D Jackson is definitely a departure from her other books, by writing a haunted house story, but is still very true to her Tiffany D Jackson core. The neighborhood that Mari moves into has a past that no one talks about, except during a purge-like burning during Halloween. Tiffany D Jackson comes through again with social commentary blended with a ghosts and haunting perfect for Halloween.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you have never read a Tiffany D. Jackson then you may not understand this, but this woman puts me through it. And I keep coming back for more. I am not afraid to say I am definitely a Tiffany Jackson superfan. I was ecstatic when I saw that she had a new book coming out but also a little nervous because it is a genre she has never written before. I should’ve known better because this book did not disappoint. This book is fantastically creepy.
Marigold and her family move from California to a small midwestern town. Marigold’s mother won an artist’s fellowship that allows her and her family to live in a newly renovated home. The move not only allows Marigold’s mother to follow her dreams as an artist but is also a new start for Marigold who is a recovering addict. Mari knows her past actions have destroyed the trust between her and her parents. But she is trying to do better to regain their trust. once had in her and she is trying to do better. But trying to navigate a new school, trying to fight her panic attacks, anxiety, and constant need for marijuana it’s getting to be more than she can stand. Not to mention, she can barely stand to live in this new house without wifi or cell service. When unexplainable things begin to happen in the new house Mari comes to realize wifi and cell service are the least of her problems.
I love all things horror. Considering I mainly read YA I haven’t found a good horror novel until now. This book gave me the creepy crawlies and had me freaking out every time I heard a creak in the house. As creepy as it was, I had a hard time putting this book down. My only critique is I really wish there was an epilogue, I need to know what happens next! This book is dope!! I seriously can’t recommend it enough, I highly, highly recommend it. Age recommendation 14+.

I need this book for my classroom. I haven't read a YA novel this relevant and yet spooky ever. It's a fresh take on the haunted house genre with a smart main character, realistic setting, and nuanced handling of real issues.

This book will appeal to students looking for relevant topics such as gentrification, blended families (with parents who get along), and drug abuse in a nuanced way that feels accessible to teens, without talking down to them. It also appeals to the kids who crave creepy books. The scares in this book are real and I couldn't put it down.

The only complaint I can think of is that it ended a bit abruptly, which I am hoping means there will be a sequel? For the masterful pacing of the entire novel itself, the ending felt a bit unresolved. But don't think that means I won't be racing to pick up the next one if there is one. I already bought another one of Jackson's books for my classroom to fill the gap until I get my hands on this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Teen for the early release copy.

This was a lot less twisty than I expected, but still an extremely enjoyable book. I really liked the subplot about having a blended family.

Wow. This was a good one. I love thrillers and creepy themed books and this one was amazing, especially for a YA book. The perfect intertwining of a creepy haunted house story with real social issues like gentrification. I loved the characters but I do feel like a few storylines were kinda left hanging and the ending jumped up pretty quickly. But I really like this book and I was sucked in the entire time while reading it.

“Doesn’t matter how many new coats of paint or how many floorboards they replace...this will always be my house. You’ll never take it from me. It’s mine. Paid for with my family’s blood. It will always be mine.”

Mari’s new blended family moves from California to the midwest for a once in a lifetime opportunity. Her mom won a writing fellowship that provides free housing. But the neighborhood is more vacant than inhabited, many houses charred shells. And there are so many creepy things happening in the house, especially at night. The noises, the missing items, and the smell. Mari is isolated by her destructive choices and her absolute crippling fear of bedbugs. Mari’s isolation threatens to undo her. Everyone sees her suspicions as repeated anxiety behavior. The WIFI keeps dropping and she can’t contact her best friend. Who will believe her when it matters most? Will her new friends continue to support her when they know all her secrets? Be afraid. Very afraid. Especially, of what is in the forbidden basement.

Wow! Absolute edge of your seat thriller. Your students are going to LOVE this book. I consumed it in almost a single sitting. This is the book all your horror fan students will want to read this fall. Make sure you have copies ready. It is a great haunted house ghost story. What’s more, Mari’s struggle with anxiety and drug addiction add depth and weight. Not a story to take lightly, it will thrill horror fans and provide discussion points for readers. A great addition to school libraries and classroom libraries alike.

Content warnings: drug addiction, drug overdose

I've said it before, but I will read anything that Tiffany D. Jackson writes! This was TDJ's first foray into horror, and girl it was good. This book was soooo spooky and I could not get enough of it! Made my skin crawl, gave me chills, all the spooky vibes. I love the comparison of The Haunting of Hill House meets Get Out- perfect description. Also, no one writes a twist like this author... Every book leaves you collecting your jaw from off the floor. Highly recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley & Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins for an advanced copy of this book!