Grown

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.