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A review by pagesofplatypus
Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Holy shit. Just holy shit.
This book is a ride! Perhaps Tiffany D. Jackson's grittiest outing yet, Allegedly follows Mary who was tried at the ripe age of nine for murdering a baby. Her life is now in absolute shambles as she lives in a horrifying group home filled with girls who are trying to kill each other 99% of the time.
When Mary herself finds out she's pregnant, the events of her freeing herself from her hellhole life and getting herself exonerated are set in motion.
As always, the reader always feels like they're living everything alongside the protagonist and really getting into their head. The trademark "did This really happen or did the character omagine it" comes into play. And omfg I was not prepared for the last 10 pages! Like dammnn.The fact that Mary really did try to kill Alyssa with sleeping pills so she could escape her Momma!!
It's so hard to organise my thoughts for this. I think this really did a good job of calling to light the horrid conditions child criminals have to face in the aftermath. How horrible the prison conditions are and the abusive reality of group homes.
The theme of what it means to be a mother vs a childare also very neatly explored and all play into what actually happened.The one thing I really hated though is Mary still tried to protect her Momma. And Marisol's whole speech. Like fuck that! Mary's mother brutally beat her, she allowed her fucktoy to drug and attempt to molest Mary, Mary had to do all the work an adult should have been doing (bills, chores, etc.). I just personally don't think she does deserve forgiveness. I mean Marisol uses the argument that she raised Mary and visited her at the group home but that does not make up for the ways she abused and neglected Mary before.
This book is a ride! Perhaps Tiffany D. Jackson's grittiest outing yet, Allegedly follows Mary who was tried at the ripe age of nine for murdering a baby. Her life is now in absolute shambles as she lives in a horrifying group home filled with girls who are trying to kill each other 99% of the time.
When Mary herself finds out she's pregnant, the events of her freeing herself from her hellhole life and getting herself exonerated are set in motion.
As always, the reader always feels like they're living everything alongside the protagonist and really getting into their head. The trademark "did This really happen or did the character omagine it" comes into play. And omfg I was not prepared for the last 10 pages! Like dammnn.
It's so hard to organise my thoughts for this. I think this really did a good job of calling to light the horrid conditions child criminals have to face in the aftermath. How horrible the prison conditions are and the abusive reality of group homes.
The theme of what it means to be a mother vs a childare also very neatly explored and all play into what actually happened.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Pregnancy