Sensitive listeners should heed the content warning about child abuse, rape, and other issues contained in this audio. Joniece Abbott-Pratt’s narration is so authentic that those who listen should be prepared to fully enter the uncomfortable world of 17-year-old Enchanted. Abbott-Pratt portrays a teen who’s not undone by microaggressions at her nearly all-white school and peers’ comments about her parents’ finances, and her confidence blooms when she swims or sings. Her desire for singing fame takes her to a talent audition, where she begins a relationship with the wealthy, famous, and, one later learns, infamous singer Korey Fields. Abbott-Pratt’s reading turns chilling as Enchanted, caught in Korey’s web of violence and deceit, is accused of his murder. Enchanted’s intelligence shines as she turns sleuth to fully regain her power. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

"Tiffany D. Jackson has penned a riveting, powerful love story to Black girlhood and a haunting reminder of the ways in which their innocence is often stolen. Remarkable, suspenseful, and gut-wrenching, Grown is a masterfully told story that stays with you long after you put it down." — Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give and On the Come Up

“With a gripping plot and punch-to-the-heart stakes, Tiffany D. Jackson’s Grown exposes the underbelly of a tough conversation—the seductive abuse of older men who prey on teen girls—providing a searing examination of misogynoir, rape culture, and the vulnerability of young black girls. Groundbreaking, heart wrenching, and essential reading for all in the #MeToo era.”  — Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Belles 

"This is a book that is filled to the brim with shocking twists and turns, but in 'Grown,' Jackson also centers Black girls in conversations about abuse, discussions they are so often erased from." — The New York Times Book Review

“Never have I read a story that so flawlessly hits the highest high and lowest low notes of Black girlhood in pursuit of the American Dream. Tiffany D. Jackson has done it again.” — Nic Stone, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin and Jackpot

“This heart-pounding, powerful story about a young girl trapped in a predator’s web holds up a devastating mirror to our society’s refusal to care about all victims. A call-out and condemnation of the celebrity-besotted culture that allows evil people to destroy lives.”  — Laurie Halse Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Shout

"Gripping in both its content and format... Jackson's writing some of the best thrillers for teens these days." — Booklist (starred review)

"Expertly juxtaposing the glamour of Enchanted’s potential fame against the harshness of her private moments with Korey, Jackson builds the story gradually and painfully to an astonishing, chilling climax." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Compelling; Jackson excels in writing books steeped in social commentary." — Kirkus Reviews

"In another ripped-from-the-headlines novel, Jackson takes readers through a heart-pounding thriller exploring physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, misogynoir, and rape culture... this novel is sure to initiate important conversations while delivering an engrossing story." — Horn Book Magazine

“Grown is equal parts riveting and alarming. It asks hard questions about power, innocence, and who we, as a society, see as worth saving. A captivating and cautionary page-turner." — Ashley Woodfolk, author of When You Were Everything 

"Jackson draws on the R. Kelly case to effectively depict the tightening noose of an abusive relationship, enhanced here by Korey’s wealth and fame…A grim tale that shows how thin a glossy exterior can be."   — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Praise for Let Me Hear a Rhyme: * “Exceptional storytelling, well-crafted, true-to-life dialogue, and the richly drawn Brooklyn landscape will draw readers into this fast-paced blend of mystery, budding romance, and social commentary...Thoroughly engrossing and as infectious as Steph’s lyrics.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

* “Jackson repeatedly proves that she is a titan among her peers, and her latest novel is no exception...  Jackson weaves the three points of view together seamlessly, creating richly drawn and authentically real teen characters.” — ALA Booklist (starred review)

* “Deftly chronicles the timely story of bold young talent gone too soon... Jackson scores a bull’s-eye with her passionate homage to black city life in the late ’90s, yet it’s her earnest takes on creativity, love, and loss that are timeless.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

* “This YA novel harmonizes music and prose to create a certified literary banger.” — Shelf Awareness (starred review)

* “Readers will feel connected to these teens’ love of hip-hop, their loyalty to each other and their love for their community... offers moving portraits of young people... an engaging ode to ’90s hip-hop and to love in many forms.” — BookPage (starred review)

“With thoughtful attention to detail, Jackson offers a believable cast of Black teens immersed in a particularly rich hip-hop moment. The combination of lyricism and narrative realism is an effective mode of representing a particular sort of adolescence against the backdrops of New York City and rap music.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Jackson presents a fast-moving, heart-pounding homage to nineties hip-hop, Brooklyn, and the power of music, love, and friendship. Readers are transported to a time when DJs and MCs rocked the parties and when word-of-mouth could make you a star.” — Horn Book

”A thrilling, heart-rending, unforgettable novel.” — Buffalo News

PRAISE FOR MONDAY’S NOT COMING: “A mesmerizing, punch-in-the-gut story about the power of friendship and the horrors hiding right in front of us.” — Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak and Chains

* “This thought-provoking thriller examines issues such as abuse, gentrification, and the marginalization of people of color with nuance and sensitivity. The narrative deftly moves back and forth between past and present, building to a devastating conclusion. A spellbinding, profoundly moving choice for YA collections.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

* “Jackson’s sophomore novel features another ripped-from-the-headlines premise that will keep readers guessing through the final pages. Jackson’s characters and their heart-wrenching story linger long after the final page, urging readers to advocate for those who are disenfranchised and forgotten by society and the system.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

* “Jackson effortlessly weaves elements of suspense with issues of race, class, and gender, casting a harsh light on a world that often refuses to notice the disappearances of black and brown girls. The twist at the end is both gaspworthy and heartbreaking.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

“Jackson doesn’t hold anything back when it comes to the pain of abuse and the ramifications of turning a blind eye. It’s a frank, devastating read filled with real and flawed characters, and it’s a story that needs to be read.” — Booklist

“The draw of this novel, which was inspired by actual events, lies in its interwoven themes of the effects of gentrification, especially on black residents whose connections, culture, and community become afterthoughts in the face of capitalism. A tragic and heartbreaking tale of love, loss, grief, growth, and perseverance.” — Kirkus Reviews

PRAISE FOR ALLEGEDLY: * “With remarkable skill, Jackson offers an unflinching portrayal of the raw social outcomes when youth are entrapped in a vicious cycle of nonparenting and are sent spiraling down the prison-for-profit pipeline. Dark, suspenseful.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

* “Her novel effectively joins Ava DuVernay’s documentary 13th  and Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow  (2010) to become another indictment of the penal system’s decimating power beyond its bars and, more subtly and refreshingly, a pro-reproductive-justice novel. Searing and true.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

* “The characters are complex, the situation unsettling, and the line between right and wrong hopelessly blurred. It’s also intensely relevant, addressing race, age, and mental illness within the criminal justice system. Well conceived and executed, this is an absorbing and exceptional first novel.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

* “Suspenseful without being emotionally manipulative, compelling without resorting to shock value, this is a tightly spun debut that wrestles with many intense ideas and ends with a knife twist that will send readers racing back to the beginning again.” — Booklist (starred review)

“Seen through Jackson’s dark portrait of the legal system and the failures of parents and social workers, Mary’s environments are as grim as the stories that play out in them; readers fascinated by procedural dramas will be thoroughly hooked.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"Jackson draws on the R. Kelly case to effectively depict the tightening noose of an abusive relationship, enhanced here by Korey’s wealth and fame…A grim tale that shows how thin a glossy exterior can be."  

"Gripping in both its content and format... Jackson's writing some of the best thrillers for teens these days."

This heart-pounding, powerful story about a young girl trapped in a predator’s web holds up a devastating mirror to our society’s refusal to care about all victims. A call-out and condemnation of the celebrity-besotted culture that allows evil people to destroy lives.” 

Never have I read a story that so flawlessly hits the highest high and lowest low notes of Black girlhood in pursuit of the American Dream. Tiffany D. Jackson has done it again.

Grown is equal parts riveting and alarming. It asks hard questions about power, innocence, and who we, as a society, see as worth saving. A captivating and cautionary page-turner."

"In another ripped-from-the-headlines novel, Jackson takes readers through a heart-pounding thriller exploring physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, misogynoir, and rape culture... this novel is sure to initiate important conversations while delivering an engrossing story."

With a gripping plot and punch-to-the-heart stakes, Tiffany D. Jackson’s Grown exposes the underbelly of a tough conversation—the seductive abuse of older men who prey on teen girls—providing a searing examination of misogynoir, rape culture, and the vulnerability of young black girls. Groundbreaking, heart wrenching, and essential reading for all in the #MeToo era.” 

"Tiffany D. Jackson has penned a riveting, powerful love story to Black girlhood and a haunting reminder of the ways in which their innocence is often stolen. Remarkable, suspenseful, and gut-wrenching, Grown is a masterfully told story that stays with you long after you put it down."

”A thrilling, heart-rending, unforgettable novel.

Jackson doesn’t hold anything back when it comes to the pain of abuse and the ramifications of turning a blind eye. It’s a frank, devastating read filled with real and flawed characters, and it’s a story that needs to be read.

* “Jackson effortlessly weaves elements of suspense with issues of race, class, and gender, casting a harsh light on a world that often refuses to notice the disappearances of black and brown girls. The twist at the end is both gaspworthy and heartbreaking.

* “This YA novel harmonizes music and prose to create a certified literary banger.

* “Readers will feel connected to these teens’ love of hip-hop, their loyalty to each other and their love for their community... offers moving portraits of young people... an engaging ode to ’90s hip-hop and to love in many forms.

* “Jackson repeatedly proves that she is a titan among her peers, and her latest novel is no exception...  Jackson weaves the three points of view together seamlessly, creating richly drawn and authentically real teen characters.

Jackson presents a fast-moving, heart-pounding homage to nineties hip-hop, Brooklyn, and the power of music, love, and friendship. Readers are transported to a time when DJs and MCs rocked the parties and when word-of-mouth could make you a star.

Jackson doesn’t hold anything back when it comes to the pain of abuse and the ramifications of turning a blind eye. It’s a frank, devastating read filled with real and flawed characters, and it’s a story that needs to be read.

"Jackson draws on the R. Kelly case to effectively depict the tightening noose of an abusive relationship, enhanced here by Korey’s wealth and fame…A grim tale that shows how thin a glossy exterior can be."  

03/01/2021

This title includes a content warning for sexual abuse, rape, assault, child abuse, kidnapping, and opioid addiction. Jackson's (Let Me Hear a Rhyme) latest has all that and worse: the gruesome opening chapter introduces 17-year-old Enchanted Jones as she confuses the blood of murdered megastar Korey Fields for beet juice. She might have thought she was grown when she insisted on building a singing career with Korey as mentor. True to her name, enchanted she hoped her life must be, to receive his generous financial support for her struggling family. Reality proves to be a never-waking nightmare, as Korey's initially sweet, thoughtful façade reveals a manipulative monster preying on young girls. Narrator Joniece Abbott-Pratt has no easy job here, but her raw, emotional involvement offers an affecting enhancement to an urgent performance. Her versatile voice catches just the right pitch: straddling Enchanted's naivete and sudden maturation, the doubt-filled frustration of her elusive friend Gabriela, and the bitter bite of additional victims. Just as effortlessly, Abbott-Pratt drops to Korey's sly wheedling and rage-filled growls, and quickly ratchets up to parental disbelief-turned-desperation. VERDICT Rife with crucial issues, Jackson's newest YA bestseller will require multiple formats to satisfy audience demands.—Terry Hong, Smithsonian BookDragon, Washington, DC

08/01/2020

Gr 9 Up—Seventeen-year-old Enchanted Jones occupies many roles. She's the responsible older sister who helps out her overworked parents, but she's still the little girl who loves Disney movies. She's quiet and uncertain, but longs to step into the spotlight—and at an open call for aspiring singers, she gets her chance when pop star Korey Fields convinces her parents to let her tour with him. Enchanted becomes the victim of the manipulative Korey, who keeps her a prisoner and preys on her sexually. When Korey winds up dead, Enchanted becomes a prime suspect. While Jackson keeps readers in her thrall as she weaves back and forth in time, some of her plot twists feel implausible. Still, her arresting use of figurative language evokes an authentic portrait of a vulnerable teenager torn between infatuation and terror, convinced that there's no way out. Borrowing heavily from the case of singer R. Kelly, who has long faced accusations of rape and abuse, Jackson urges readers to question why our culture is so quick to excuse powerful men and so eager to depict Black women and girls as complicit in their own abuse. VERDICT A thought-provoking, immersive thriller that will spark discussion.—Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

03/01/2021

Gr 9 Up—Before the story begins, the recording of this title includes a content warning of sexual abuse, rape, assault, child abuse, kidnapping, and opioid addiction. This novel includes those issues and other violence: the gruesome opening chapter introduces 17-year-old Enchanted Jones confusing the all-over blood of murdered megastar Korey Fields with beet juice. She may have thought she was grown when she insisted on building a singing career with Korey as mentor. True to her name, she hoped her life must be enchanted to have his generous financial support for her struggling family. Reality proves to be a never-waking nightmare as Korey's initially sweet, thoughtful façade reveals a manipulative monster preying on young girls. Narrator Joniece Abbott-Pratt has no easy job here, with her raw, emotional involvement an affecting enhancement to an already urgent performance. Her versatile voice catches just the right in-between pitch of naivete and sudden maturation for Enchanted, the doubt-filled frustrations of elusive BFF Gabriela, and the bitter bite of additional victims. Just as effortlessly, Abbott-Pratt drops to Korey's sly wheedling, his rage-filled growls, and quickly ratchets up to parental disbelief-turned-desperation. VERDICT Rife with crucial issues, Jackson's newest bestseller will require multiple formats to satisfy audience demands.—Terry Hong, Smithsonian BookDragon, Washington, DC

Sensitive listeners should heed the content warning about child abuse, rape, and other issues contained in this audio. Joniece Abbott-Pratt’s narration is so authentic that those who listen should be prepared to fully enter the uncomfortable world of 17-year-old Enchanted. Abbott-Pratt portrays a teen who’s not undone by microaggressions at her nearly all-white school and peers’ comments about her parents’ finances, and her confidence blooms when she swims or sings. Her desire for singing fame takes her to a talent audition, where she begins a relationship with the wealthy, famous, and, one later learns, infamous singer Korey Fields. Abbott-Pratt’s reading turns chilling as Enchanted, caught in Korey’s web of violence and deceit, is accused of his murder. Enchanted’s intelligence shines as she turns sleuth to fully regain her power. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine