Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

5 reviews

m2deloria's review

challenging emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Racial slurs, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping

Minor: Cursing, Dementia, and Gaslighting

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

---

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

lynxpardinus's review

dark emotional sad tense

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Stalking, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Racism

Moderate: Suicide, Vomit, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual content

Also includes graphic depictions of victim blaming, and frames a relationship with a smaller yet still notable age gap as misunderstood. There is also a scene where the main character narrates that she forgives somebody who attempted to sexually assault her.

aimzthereader's review

challenging dark tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

Perfection! Read this so quickly because everything about this book was perfect. Unique premise, mystery, good handling of tough topics, amazing writing. I will read more of Tiffany D Jackson 

Now this is full of sooo many trigger warnings ajd it is a very tough topic. Adult-minor relationship, abuse, sexual assault, racism and more 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Racism, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Body shaming, Grief, Mental illness, Police brutality, and Racial slurs

cherry__tomatoes's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

An amazing read! One of my favourite reads of this year. Impeccable cast of characters and outrageous plot line and the plot twists though out the weeks. My one thing is that this book follows the trauma of a black girl named Enchanted. The black trauma in this book is quiet a lot but I feel like Tiffany handled it quiet well with this very traumatic topic. Please check and read the content warnings as this is quiet a heavy book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, and Violence

Minor: Racial slurs