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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
Rep: Black MC, Black SCs, Latina SC
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: hoardingdalmavatai's review
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
This was a very impactful and important read, but I was a bit disappointed by a few things concerning the execution.
It was very fast-paced and covered quite a few different things including being introduced to the music industry, going on tour, and then the trial and the police investigation. I honestly would've preferred if it had focused on just one of these things, like the whole book could've taken place during the tour and then the end could've been the investigation and the trial. I felt that because we had so many different settings, I was never immersed in any of them because the scene was just not set well enough, and before I could get used to one setting it had already moved on to the next. Because of this, I at times felt disconnected from Enchanted because her feelings and inner monologue weren't detailed enough to reel me in. Ultimately, I think I wanted less plot and more description and introspection to really engage me.
Even so, I think this book is extremely important, offering commentary on rape culture, victim blaming, sexual exploitation of young girls by older and powerful men, the precarious situation of Black women in society, manipulative and abusive relationships, and more. I loved Enchanted as a main character and her relationship with her family, though, again, I wish it had been more fleshed out and detailed. I also liked how twisty the book got towards the end, I could really feel that it was a mystery/thriller in the last third. I also really enjoyed the final reveal, which I hadn't expected!
Basically, too much plot and too little description for my taste that made me less engaged than I otherwise could've been with a story like this, but that aside, this book is a crucial and timely read.
It was very fast-paced and covered quite a few different things including being introduced to the music industry, going on tour, and then the trial and the police investigation. I honestly would've preferred if it had focused on just one of these things, like the whole book could've taken place during the tour and then the end could've been the investigation and the trial. I felt that because we had so many different settings, I was never immersed in any of them because the scene was just not set well enough, and before I could get used to one setting it had already moved on to the next. Because of this, I at times felt disconnected from Enchanted because her feelings and inner monologue weren't detailed enough to reel me in. Ultimately, I think I wanted less plot and more description and introspection to really engage me.
Even so, I think this book is extremely important, offering commentary on rape culture, victim blaming, sexual exploitation of young girls by older and powerful men, the precarious situation of Black women in society, manipulative and abusive relationships, and more. I loved Enchanted as a main character and her relationship with her family, though, again, I wish it had been more fleshed out and detailed. I also liked how twisty the book got towards the end, I could really feel that it was a mystery/thriller in the last third. I also really enjoyed the final reveal, which I hadn't expected!
Basically, too much plot and too little description for my taste that made me less engaged than I otherwise could've been with a story like this, but that aside, this book is a crucial and timely read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Dementia, Fatphobia, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
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