Reviews tagging 'Death'

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

83 reviews

k_lupin's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Addiction, Death, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, and Gaslighting

mathenam's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Sexual violence, Stalking, Blood, Addiction, Sexual assault, Rape, Violence, Domestic abuse, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Murder, and Death

bookishpixie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Torture, Stalking, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Drug use, and Murder

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

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

alyvia_jeane's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Addiction, Stalking, Rape, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death, Cursing, and Blood

Minor: Gaslighting

nytephoenyx's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

5.0

This book was exceptionally hard to read. The themes are dark, and the constant gaslighting and abuse are hard to stomach. I cannot recommend enough that potential readers review the trigger warnings before proceeding. That said, it is amazingly well written and impactful. It’s an important story to tell, particularly when black women are so easily disregarded in these situations. It’s an incredible book, but it is devastating.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Kidnapping, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

The protagonist is a Black female-identifying teenager. Her best friend is LatinX, passing. The villain is a Black male. There are numerous Black supporting and minor characters.

krisc1989's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Trafficking, Violence, Kidnapping, Death, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Stalking, and Addiction

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