Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

65 reviews

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.

jessicafacchinigould's review

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Trafficking

Moderate: Alcohol, Racism, and Gaslighting

aformeracceleratedreader's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

Tiffany D Jackson is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This is a heavy book. Read the content warnings in reviews and at the beginning of the book. 
I don't know what to say. This books shows how power dynamics of famous people are used/abused to target vulnerable people, especially young girls, and how people are so quick to blame the victims and/or gaslight the victims. Like I've stopped listening to some bands once I found out members of them targeted teens and manipulated/groomed them. Also shows how black girls in particular are seen as "more adult" or "knew what they were doing" than their non-black peers in situations of sexual violence. 
Believe victims. And if you are a victim of sexual assault, you aren't alone or at fault.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual violence, Violence, Gaslighting, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, Torture, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Confinement

samanthamurk's review

challenging dark emotional sad

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

wow. I just read that in one sitting, I couldn’t put it down. this is a powerful story and it is wonderfully told. 

Similar book: Muted by tami charles

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Torture, Addiction, Kidnapping, Stalking, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Blood, Child abuse, Rape, Sexism, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, and Trafficking

Moderate: Suicide

ghosttown's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

this was a heavy, heartbreaking, shattering book but also extremely important. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Drug use, Murder, Trafficking, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Torture, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Child abuse

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis

jademeu's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring tense fast-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

3.0

"All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was." - Toni Morrison

"She saw him disappear by the river, / they asked her to tell what happened. / Only to discount her memory." Text from The Waterbearer, by Lorna Simpson.

Tiffany D. Jackson's character, Enchanted, is a waterbearer in this story. In the water in her blood is the memory of her happiness--the sea--as well as the memory of her horror, her abuser. Jackson honors the Black women artists who came before her, such as Toni Morisson and Lorna Simpson, while also fearlessly forging her own craft. The read was short, but it was powerful. The words clear, direct, yet capable of painting beautiful images. A reminder that this story may be fictional, but the stories it was inspired by are real. A powerful voice. A satisfying resolution for Enchanted.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Racism, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Stalking, Blood, Confinement, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, and Physical abuse

lynxpardinus's review

dark emotional sad tense

4.25

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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.

mackinseyjoy's review

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Classism, Racism, and Body shaming

sarahlovesbooks's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

A tough read but so well done. Intense and pulls you in. It has more than the usual thriller. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Body shaming, and Toxic relationship

dahliaist's review

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

it was hard to get into at first, because enchanted’s narration wasn’t really powerful to me, but when it picked up… OMG. i read most of it in a single sitting. the last chapter was a bit confusing but it’s a really powerful, striking book, with a lot of emotional plot twists and a good mystery. possibly triggering topics, though. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, and Rape

Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, and Misogyny

Minor: Suicide