Grown
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Enchanted wants to sing more than anything else in the world, but it's hard to make her dreams a reality when she's the oldest of five and helping her parents to take care of the kids. So when an opportunity to work, record, and have a romance with the legendary and kind Korey Fields pops up, of course she wants to take it. Touring with Korey would not only boost her career; financially, it could be life-changing for her family. That is, if things were actually what they seemed. After spiraling into a toxic cycle of abuse and narrowly escaping the wrath of her abuser, Enchanted is left to pick up the pieces of her life--including charges for the murder of Korey Fields. This title is gripping in both its content and format, as Jackson moves back and forth through time, using the fractured time line alongside related text threads and social media conversations to stir up questions surrounding what happened to Enchanted and who murdered Korey Fields. Jackson addresses the story's discussion of sexual abuse, rape, assault, kidnapping, and addiction to opioids in a content warning, and ultimately sheds light and perspective on men's abusive behaviors and the power that excuses them through the lens of the abused--in this case, an underaged Black girl.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Jackson's writing some of the best thrillers for teens these days. Expect a long hold list for her latest.

Jackson (Let Me Hear a Rhyme) preaches the word of young women eager to be grown before their time in this story of talent, ambition beyond opportunity, forbidden attraction, and the deadly consequences thereof. Seventeen-year-old Enchanted Jones is a responsible big sister, gifted swimmer, and dedicated student who dreams of a singing career. When she auditions for a national singing competition--"BET's version of American Idol"--she catches the eye of notorious singer Korey Fields, a handsome, worldly-seeming 28-year-old whose attention flatters her. Their relationship begins in secret, under the guise of voice lessons, but soon draws her into a dangerous situation, far from home with no one to rely on. Jackson outdoes herself depicting Enchanted's gradual entrenchment into Korey's influence and the insidiousness of his abusive behavior as it transforms Enchanted from a studious, reliable oldest daughter to the distant, isolated image of his desire. 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. Ages 13--up. Agent: Natalie Lakosil, Bradford Literary. (Sept.)

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

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

Enchanted Jones wants to be a star, but her life is ordinary, until a real-life fantasy unfolds when superstar Korey Fields sees her sing at an audition. It seems her dreams of stardom are within reach, but the dream gradually turns into a nightmare, and one morning, she wakes up with blood on her hands next to Korey's dead body. Enchanted has to endure the character assassination (and victim blaming) that ensues with Korey's death. In another ripped-from-the-headlines novel, Jackson (Monday's Not Coming, rev. 7/18; Let Me Hear a Rhyme, rev. 7/19) takes readers through a heart-pounding thriller exploring physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, misogynoir, and rape culture. Enchanted's first-person narration shuttles between the past and the present, commanding readers' attention with its nonlinear structure. The story also taps into the adultification of Black girls, who are often seen as older than they are (see the book's title, Grown). In light of the #MeToo movement and of the many Black girls whose stories of abuse and assault are not told or not believed, this novel is sure to initiate important conversations while delivering an engrossing story. Monique Harris September/October 2020 p.93(c) Copyright 2020. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

An aspiring singer is taken advantage of by a superstar. Since moving to the suburbs from Queens, 17-year-old Enchanted has been suffering. Although her Grandma's apartment was cramped with everyone all together, Enchanted got to do the things she loves the most--swimming in the ocean, hanging out with her Grandma, and singing. Now, neither her new neighborhood nor her new private school is diverse, and she has to spend her free time watching her siblings. However, she does join the school swim team, and water is used as a powerful metaphor throughout the book. When Enchanted catches the eye of a 28-year-old music superstar at a singing competition, she pushes doubt and her parents' misgivings aside and goes on tour with him. Enchanted is a naïve protagonist, but the decisions she makes in order to launch her career are plausible. As the relationship turns abusive, Enchanted must find the courage to escape. The narrative unfolds in nonchronological order, and toward the end, as the timelines merge, it feels a bit clunky, but the storytelling overall is captivating. The novel shines light on biases against young Black women and the victim-blaming that so often occurs when a predator has power, fame, and money. Major characters are Black. Compelling; Jackson excels in writing books steeped in social commentary. (author's note, resources) (Fiction. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

*Starred Review* Enchanted wants to sing more than anything else in the world, but it's hard to make her dreams a reality when she's the oldest of five and helping her parents to take care of the kids. So when an opportunity to work, record, and have a romance with the legendary and kind Korey Fields pops up, of course she wants to take it. Touring with Korey would not only boost her career; financially, it could be life-changing for her family. That is, if things were actually what they seemed. After spiraling into a toxic cycle of abuse and narrowly escaping the wrath of her abuser, Enchanted is left to pick up the pieces of her life—including charges for the murder of Korey Fields. This title is gripping in both its content and format, as Jackson moves back and forth through time, using the fractured time line alongside related text threads and social media conversations to stir up questions surrounding what happened to Enchanted and who murdered Korey Fields. Jackson addresses the story's discussion of sexual abuse, rape, assault, kidnapping, and addiction to opioids in a content warning, and ultimately sheds light and perspective on men's abusive behaviors and the power that excuses them through the lens of the abused—in this case, an underaged Black girl.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Jackson's writing some of the best thrillers for teens these days. Expect a long hold list for her latest. Grades 8-11. Copyright 2020 Booklist Reviews.

Jackson (Let Me Hear a Rhyme) preaches the word of young women eager to be grown before their time in this story of talent, ambition beyond opportunity, forbidden attraction, and the deadly consequences thereof. Seventeen-year-old Enchanted Jones is a responsible big sister, gifted swimmer, and dedicated student who dreams of a singing career. When she auditions for a national singing competition—"BET's version of American Idol"—she catches the eye of notorious singer Korey Fields, a handsome, worldly-seeming 28-year-old whose attention flatters her. Their relationship begins in secret, under the guise of voice lessons, but soon draws her into a dangerous situation, far from home with no one to rely on. Jackson outdoes herself depicting Enchanted's gradual entrenchment into Korey's influence and the insidiousness of his abusive behavior as it transforms Enchanted from a studious, reliable oldest daughter to the distant, isolated image of his desire. 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. Ages 13–up. Agent: Natalie Lakosil, Bradford Literary. (Sept.)

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