Allegedly audiobook

“Well, people tend not to think clearly when a black girl is suspected of killing a little white girl,” Ms. Cora says. Allegedly is dark, gritty and disturbing. Sometimes the best kind of books are those that make me sad, afraid and just FURIOUS for the characters - and this was one of those books. If you want to be angry, then put this on your reading list.In fact, it was a solid five-star read up until the very last chapter. The ending took a turn that I thought weakened the story; throwing in a last minute "oh my god!" for the sake of thrills, but losing some of the powerful messages that had been built throughout. That being said, I would still recommend this to anyone with a strong stomach and a liking for thought-provoking reads that shine a light on some of the darker aspects of the world we live in.Mary B. Addison is a black teenager who allegedly killed a three-month-old baby when she, herself, was nine. The white baby girl, Alyssa, was left in the care of Mary and her mentally ill mother, but when her parents returned later that evening, Alyssa was heavily-bruised and no longer breathing. Fast forward to the present and Mary has just been transferred from "baby jail" to a group home. Most of my life, no one has bothered to explain anything to me. It’s been one “’cause I said so” scenario after another. I stopped asking questions and in six years I have not run into one adult who would do me the common courtesy of explaining why something is happening to me. It is told in a very straightforward style without feeling emotionally manipulative, complete with urban slang/AAVE. For me, this kind of narration is all the more powerful for its simplicity - the only authors who can pull a strong emotional reaction out of me are the ones who don't seem like they're trying to. Mary is an extremely complex and sympathetic human being, bullied by the other girls she lives with and the women who work at her group home. She longs to take the SAT and go to college, but doing so requires a lot of complicated hoop-jumping, and those in charge of her well-being constantly discourage her by pointing out how colleges and employees will not want a murderer.She is stuck; unable to change her life, better herself, or make any of her own decisions. If I wasn't already pissed, I would have been the minute she becomes pregnant and the adults decide that her baby will be adopted. As someone who is an advocate for reproductive rights/choices AND a new mother, I was enraged. It also prompted me to do some further reading about the babies of pregnant prisoners being taken away and the high depression rates of those women - it is truly so heartbreaking and scary. “What does it mean when you love and hate someone at the same time?” I ask.He laughs. “It means they family.” Mary suddenly finds new reason to fight for her freedom when they threaten to take her baby away. But it's a complicated battle and it seems like the whole world is against her. She is torn between her natural desire to protect her sick mother, and her need to tell the truth. She hits roadblock after infuriating roadblock in her quest for justice.Though I desperately wanted many things to turn out different, I also felt that Jackson made it very easy to understand Mary's reactions and decisions, for the most part. She also highlights the importance of black female friendships and support - something so rare in YA, where people tend to celebrate the inclusion of the lone non-white character - and it is extremely moving. Seventeen out of eighteen chapters were utterly fantastic. I just can't help feeling let down by that ending.Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...Oh my...ALL THE STARS!!This is a dark, emotional, twisted, and powerful novel that blew my mind.Mary B. Addison killed a baby when she was just nine years old...AllegedlyThree month old Alyssa Richardson was taken care of by Mary's mother, Dawn Marie Cooper. Mary would often be present in the Richardson household while her mother was working. She grew very attached to both Alyssa and Mrs. Richardson.Six years later, Mary. B Addison is now fifteen years old. She is anxiously awaiting a visit from the most conniving woman in the world....Her mother.Every other Sunday, her mother comes to visit her at the group home where Mary now lives. She arrives at 2:35, right after church. Hair, make-up, and clothing all perfect. Always putting on a show, even if no one is watching."Momma is all about appearances"Many people think she's a wonderful mother who deserves an award for visiting Mary."Inside her bubble, nothing or no one could get her down. She smiled during evictions, smiled after Ray would beat the shit out of her, smiled when we were dead broke, and even smiled during my manslaughter sentencing ("See baby, it's not so bad. At least it's not murder!"). She's the most optimistic person on earth. Even when she's visiting her daughter in a group home."Her Momma doesn't ask how she's doing. She talks about Church and Mr. Worthington, Mary's new stepfather. Talks about all the good food she eats and trips she's taken. But never does she bring anything for Mary or ask if there's anything she needs. And her visits are never EVER longer than fifteen minutes.Mary says she can name several people who wish she was never born. There's even books written about what happened....The Devil Inside: The Mary B. Addison Story and What Happened to Alyssa?Throughout her trial she never spoke a word. When she was sentenced she never spoke. However, things are different now. Now Mary has a very important reason to speak up.But after all of this time can she? Will people believe her? Should they believe her?What really happened to baby Alyssa?I flew through this book. Honestly I could have read this book in one sitting if time had allowed. I was so engrossed in the story and Mary's past and present. The story is told from Mary's point of view. It flows well and is easy to follow. We see how the case played out in the media. There are news articles, book excerpts, court transcripts, depositions, and interviews interspersed throughout the book. All of this added to the story.Mary is an awesome and complex character. I think that all of the characters came across as realistic. Damaged and flawed but still real. The author writes about relationships in a way that is authentic and compelling. It was fascinating reading the dynamic relationships between characters, especially between mother and daughter.I think that this is a fantastic novel. Very well written. It's hard to believe that it's the author's debut novel. Powerful, heart-breaking, suspenseful, and gripping. Any way you cut it, in my opinion it's an amazing read.I am really looking forward to reading more from Tiffany D. Jackson.Thank you, Katherine Tegen Books for providing an advanced copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.

This book was really intriguing. I felt like I was watching a true crime series. 🧐 A 15 year old girl tries to navigate life as a parolee living in a group home. She was convicted of killing a baby when she was 9... allegedly.... You find yourself really rooting for this girl and saddened that all the adults in her life failed her. 😔 I can’t say I was happy with the twist at the end. 😬 But the book sucked me in and I’ll likely be thinking about it for a long time to come 🤔 - so i really think it deserves this rating!

This is going to be one of my favorite books this year! Although I've only made it through four books so far! Lol! Book ruts happen! Absolutely phenomenal debut by Tiffany D. Jackson! All the feels! This was probably one of the best audio's I have ever listened to. The narrator, Bahni Turpin, hits it out of the park! Truly brilliant! I will be listening to more of her audio's in the near future. That's for sure. She's so good!Mary B. Addison is 15 and in a group home/halfway house. She "allegedly" killed a baby 6 years prior from where the story begins. Did she kill the baby? Does Mary get out and start her life? What happens to Mary in the home? Well I'm not going to say, but if you read this, you will go down the rabbit hole and into Mary's dark, sometimes funny and twisted world!Even if you do not normally read YA you might love this one.Highly recommended!!!

Beyond compelling. Well-crafted. Simply unputdownable. I could not stop reading until I found out the truth. It’s shocking that this is only the author’s debut!Mary B. Addison allegedly killed a baby at nine years old. Mary’s mother was babysitting the three month old baby when it happened. She never said what happened, but was convicted anyway and has rarely spoken since. Did Mary do what everyone says she did? Guess birthdays don’t mean nothing in a group home. I mean, it kind of makes sense. Hard to celebrate the day you were born when everybody seems to wish you were never born at all. Especially after you come into this world and fuck it all up. She was in “baby jail” for six years until the state decided she wasn’t a threat and could be put in a group home where she has been for three months when our story starts. It’s awful, which is a nice way of putting it. The girls are horrible and are all there for serious crimes themselves, only they hate Mary from the beginning like most everyone she comes into contact with. Because she is a baby killer after all. Allegedly.Eventually Mary finds out she is pregnant with another nursing home volunteer’s baby. This changes things when she comes under the realization that nobody in their right mind is going to let her keep her baby when she is in the system especially with the crime she committed. So for the first time Mary is going to fight to clear her name. What really happened to baby Alyssa?The story is interwoven with fragments and excerpts from books, newspaper articles, depositions, police interview transcripts, magazine articles, and several other different kinds of reports. This helped to break up the story slowly revealing the details of Mary’s crime through the eyes of those involved in the case (whether police, witnesses, or even the media reporting on it). Other than these excerpts/fragments, the entire story is told from Mary’s perspective. I enjoyed her voice. She is complex and one hell of a narrator. That joke of a bookshelf has the same crap they had in baby jail I’ve inhaled three times over and I’d kill for something - anything - new to read. But I’d never say that out loud. I’m a killer after all; they’d probably think I’d really do it. Figures of speech are luxuries convicted murderers are not allowed to have. This book had a way of tugging at your heartstrings while also immersing you into this dark world. It was truly the perfect blend of contemporary realistic fiction and mystery/thriller. I could not get enough! I enjoyed how the criminal justice system and state foster care system played such a huge part in the story. It is a harsh reality and was depicted in a way that shows just how much research went into writing this novel. It’s phenomenal.It’s brilliant how the author displayed the effects of sensationalization done in the media. And there’s the look at mental health and life in a group home. Not to mention the real star of the story which ended up being the increasingly convoluted relationship Mary has with her mother. But I can’t be a fly, not today. I have to prepare. Be on high alert and focused. Because in a few hours, the most dangerous, most diabolical, most conniving woman in the world is visiting me today:My mother. There are so many elements of Allegedly that I could rave about. That ending! The fact that it was based on the actual 2012 case in Maine where a ten year old girl was charged with manslaughter of a three month old baby while her mother was supposed to be babysitting. Diversity!! It’s dark and filled with the most compelling writing I’ve read in a while. The main point here is that you should definitely read this book. It will 100% keep you guessing leaving you on the edge of your seat. I can’t wait to see what Jackson comes out with next.

One of the best things this book did for me was have me explore more about theAmerican juvenile justice system. I found myself reading about other high profile cases about children who commit murder, the psychology behind it, and punishment. The current debate on juvenile justice reform in the United States focuses on the root of racial and economic discrepancies in theincarcerated youth population. Zero tolerance policies in schools have increased and numbers of young people facing detention. Low income youth, youth of color with learning and cognitive disabilities are over represented in the justice system and aredisproportionately targeted by zero tolerated policies. Plus much of the criticism revolves around the effectiveness and rehabilitating juvenile delinquent. This book was a mixed-bag for me -- mostly because I wished for the story to have moved in a different direction---more 'direct' focus on rehabilitation- for a child's crime- was my interest ---but I understand the high ratings. I think it's a great discussion book... which opens questions from "should kids who commit adult crimes go to jail in the first place"? to.... how do we get to the bottom of what really happened when a child is accused of a killing? It was not a matter of me liking or disliking the ending of the story..... I'm actually neutral about it --but the choice that the author made invalidates the purpose of the entire story. It was a manipulative type ending.... which didn't fit - didn't flow - didn't match well with the rest of the story. Even if people liked it - or didn't like it --- either way --- it was a very controlled tightly chosen ending. As I say... I'm neutral about it myself --my emotions aren't strong one way or another about it. However ...The ending took away some of the integrity and authenticity of what I believe the authors overall purpose was in telling this tale: which was to give us an inside look at a broken juvenile justice system. Tiffany D. Jackson got many parts right though too. We 'do' see and feel the injustice around race for example. We do see how hard it is to rehabilitate the youth from a group home for trouble kids. We feel the cruelty, the abuse, emotional and physical...and we see how horrible it is to be in a facility where because of a high profile case everyone knows your specific story: your horrendous crime: whether it's true or not. As for the love story in here - well, I could have taken it or left it. There was some stereotyping and predictable scenes..... again --I was kinda neutral about this part of the story. Overall -- there some important things in this book. Plus, for me it generated expanded interest. I deepen my awareness and hope that we come up with better solutions to reform juveniles that commit a crime.... solutions that work - for them and Society. 3.5 rating

4 stars! This was an intense, gripping and powerful read! And that ending!?!?!?.....I’m still working on picking my jaw up off the floor……The story follows Mary who, at the age of nine, was convicted of murdering a three-month-old baby. Mary is now fifteen years old and living in a group home after surviving six years in “baby jail”. Mary’s situation really got to me – I found myself rooting for her from the first chapter. The novel is highly emotional, disturbing and very sad at times. With that being said, it is so well-written that it sucked me right into the suspenseful drama where I was hanging on every single word eagerly anticipating what would happen next. The characters were very well-developed. I had strong feelings (both good and/or bad) for each character – several times I wanted to reach right into the book to interfere with the storyline and where ‘I thought’ it was headed.I will warn readers to be ready for some BIG feelings (mainly sad) when reading this intense story. The group home setting is very negative and quite hard to read at times. Though I found myself cringing through a lot of the story detail, I have to hand it to the author, Tiffany D. Jackson, for making me feel a whirlwind of strong emotions. Jackson packs a powerful punch – this story made me feel anxious, hopeful, nervous, upset, heartbroken, disappointed, shocked, angry and frustrated. It was such a fantastic experience to buddy read this with my amazing GR pal Kristin – it was so nice to have someone along with me on this crazy ride! I would recommend this novel as it is a very well-written and powerful book. However, I warn readers to be mentally prepared for some tragic and heartbreaking events.

Actual rating: 4,5Only few books can shake me. Allegedly is one of them.After I finished this compelling novel, I needed some time to process everything that was going on in the book, as well as calm myself so I could understand my feelings.Reading this, you probably think I’m exaggerating.If I was you, I’d probably think the same.But I am telling the truth. Sometimes we don’t know how we’re going to react to a certain book, and sometimes our reactions can surprise us.Going into this story, I knew it would be difficult for me. I was even aware how disturbing it was.You probably hear about Allegedly, as one of novels written in own voices, one that was praised in “reading diversity” movement (if that’s a movement, I’m not 100% sure), the book that is important to read.First of all, I agree with the statement how it is important for this book to be read, and for author’s voice to be heard.This is one hugely important, disturbing book that represents not only people of color, but minority that we don’t get to read often about – teenagers in group home.Honestly, I am afraid how I’m going to sound when I say this, but I will say it anyway: this novel reminded me how happy my life is. When I reflect and compare it to lives like ones I read about in this novel, to teenagers who yes, committed crimes during their lives, but are still alive and have to live with invisible “Scarlet letter” that follows them every where they go, without support of their families, in poverty and with someone else deciding about everything in their life, I understand how privileged I actually am.And once again, I used the word I am really not a fan of, but there is no other word to say it better.The story is told in first person, following Mary’s POV.Beside Mary’s narration (and I have to state that Mary is one of the best narrators I had a pleasure to read about), there are bunch of newspaper articles, police interviews, excerpts from doctor’s papers and other similar stuff.Reading Allegedly was thought provoking and emotional experience.It definitely wasn’t easy.Some scenes were violent and disturbing, some were harder to understand, some were extremely sad, but what hit me the most was how everyone underestimated Mary all the time.I rooted for her, even though she never stated if she did it, if she killed the baby. She said she did, allegedly.But yet, you as a reader don’t believe she would do such a thing. She does not seem like that kind of person.The writing style is amazing, and I simply can not believe this is a debut novel.One more thing I’d like to emphasize is the role of the State (here I mean criminal justice system and state foster care).Mary’s (and other girls’) destiny depended so much on those two, that it feels like the State has it’s own personality.There is one more thing we need to discuss: the last chapter.I tried and tried to decide whether I like how this story ended.At fist I was shocked, but resolved that I liked it.Now, after some thinking, I wish the story ended differently.Why?Because, even though I understand why the writer chose to end the story the way she did, I can’t help but feel that some messages delivered through the story were (partly) erased with that conclusion.Fun fact: When doing my research, I found out that this book was inspired by true event that happened in 2012, when 10 years old girl was charged with manslaughter of a three month old baby. Read this and more reviews on my blog: https://bookdustmagic.com

The first word that came to mind when sitting down to write this review was heavy.Tiffany D. Jackson did not flinch when writing this raw and emotional story of a nine year old black girl caught up in the system after being convicted of murdering a three month old white baby. I mean, seriously, if that doesn't grab your attention then I don't know what would....and to make it even more compelling, everything is not what it seems....MUAHAHAHAThis isn't just a story, this is an eye-opening dissection of a profoundly flawed legal system when it comes to mental illness and especially race. This story is brutal and necessary and one that I can wholeheartedly recommend.💖

“Doesn’t matter what you say about racial equality, you’ve never seen white families storming the steps of city hall demanding justice for a little black baby. They’re pushing for the death penalty and don’t even realize executing this little girl is no different than murdering that baby.” This book holds the crown for best-book-I-hate-the-ending of. Let’s discuss. # SPOILER-FREE GUSH REVIEW SECTIONMary is one of the strongest characters I've ever read in YA. She's realistic and just as full of contradictions as anyone. She's been in juvenile detention, she's been up and down the block a few times, but she still wants a family and wants to be loved. In places, she doubts herself and thinks she's a bad person. All she wants is to break free from her mother, but she still loves her mother and wants her acceptance. All of these traits blend together into one of the most amazing character arcs I have ever read in a book. The plot was engaging and I desperately wanted to find out what happened. The writing style is great, flowing so well that I lost myself in this book. Tiffany D. Jackson takes every opportunity to build dramatic tension. The different themes of both the book and Mary's character arc blend together perfectly. Every moment of the book is pitch-perfect. The only problem is that awful plot twist and ending.# WHY THE ENDING FEELS WEAK - SPOILERY DISCUSSIONMary's narrative is so strong that the ending feels weak and cheap.(view spoiler)[There was so much about escaping the cycle of abuse, and her abusive mother, and then in the end, it turns out she fucking did it. Way to abandon the premise and her entire character arc, which, by the way, was so much more brilliant than this nonsensical twist. Can we emphasize “nonsensical”? There are actual holes in whether or not the twist made any sense. THE TIMING DOES NOT MAKE SENSE AND SEVERAL OF THE THINGS SAID IN THE NOVEL NO LONGER MAKE SENSE BECAUSE OF THIS TWIST. I had a fifteen-minute discussion about how nonsensical and full of holes it was with another woman who read this book. Unreliable narrator is an interesting trope. But I'm sick of seeing it spoil good character arcs. If you can write a good character arc, don't. spoil. it. Unreliable narrator is interesting when it's a deviation from the norm, but I have seen it in at least four different YA novels at this point. This is a flawless book, one of the best I've ever read, without the twist. Mary deserved better. (hide spoiler)]The thing is, even with my hatred for the ending, I still have to give Allegedly five stars! Nothing could truly ruin my love for this book and my instinct to recommend this to everyone I know. I'll definitely be waiting for this author's next book.Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Youtube

Even though I could say Allegedly is an intensely gripping read, I honestly could not read more than three to four chapters a day. It was a tough, really exhausting read. Normally, I could finish a book in two days, one if it’s an easy read but I had to stop reading Allegedly every after a few chapters and read something light and fun because the plot of this story is like a hard punch in the gut. It’s blatant, it’s violent, it’s nasty, it’s gritty, it’s painful and you just have to have enough guts to be able to go through the story. I could not remember the last time I felt so stressed out by a novel but I think that suggests a good thing because it only means that the story and the characters got through me.What drew me to this novel is basically the premise. Teenage girls who committed serious crimes but are not old enough to go to prison stay together at a group home. Go figure the outcome. The group home is basically like the Hunger Games exclusively for girls but this one’s worse because they’re not mandated to kill each other. They simply just want to. I swear I could hear my heart beat against my chest every time I picked the book up worrying about what horrors await this time. That’s what Mary (who at nine years old was allegedly convicted of murdering a baby) had to face every day. That’s only the background picture though because the bigger picture is this- Mary who is now 16 is going to have a baby. How effin' ironic is that?! The characters felt real and the entire thing was very genuine because of the straight to the point writing using the voice of Mary, as she narrates the story. The book is emotionally a challenging read but I admire the author for boldly addressing social issues like racism (as Mary is a black girl who is convicted of killing a white baby), abuse, parental neglect and so many other bigger social issues that are often taken for granted. The only thing that didn’t work well for me is the ending because as much as I enjoy surprises and plot twists, I honestly don’t think it worked this time for this novel. For me, it didn’t sit well with the preceding events of the story or perhaps, it was a bit forced. But still, this is a pretty strong debut novel and if you’re up for a challenge and want to go out of your comfort zone, this is highly recommended.

Such a thrilling novel that shows the injustices within the American penal system, especially for Black and Brown youth. Allegedly follows Mary E. Addison, who was served six years in jail for allegedly murdering a white baby at the age of nine. After those six years, she was placed in a group home with mean “caretakers” and several other girls who don’t seem to have each other’s backs. Mary’s life shifts once again when she gets pregnant, with the child of her coworker Ted who she met at her assignment at a nursing home. Now with a baby on the way, Mary feels more fire to set the record straight and prove that she did not commit murder at the age of nine. But to fight for her case and for the life of her baby she will have to uncover a lot of her past secrets, both about her mom who abandoned her to her fate and about herself.A really sad and sometimes disturbing novel, its grittiness reminded me of the young Asian girl in Nami Mun’s Miles from Nowhere , especially with the focus on a young black girl wronged by a system and now unjustly forced to pay the price. Tiffany Jackson does an excellent job of showing all the barriers Mary faces in her quest to improve her life. For example, even taking the SAT, which was such a non-issue for a privileged person as myself, is extremely difficult for Mary given her lack of an ID and her lack of baseline supportive adults in her life. Allegedly highlights a legal system that exploits the developmental vulnerabilities of children and maintains their suffering instead of helping them heal and grow. I most loved Mary’s persistence in the face of these obstacles and her determination to create a better life for herself and her child.Similar to many others, such as my bff Bri, I felt disappointed by the ending of this book because it portrayed Mary in a way that reduced the complexity of her character and her quest for something different in her life. As Bri wrote perhaps this is Jackson’s way of portraying how we can become the system that abused us, but the ending did feel a little reductionist to me. Furthermore, I wish the other characters in this novel received more characterization and complexity, such as the other girls that Mary lived with. I think it would have been interesting from a relational standpoint to see Mary’s trust or lack thereof with these girls beyond the many conflicts they had with one another, especially if they all received some additional character development.Overall, recommended to those searching for a suspenseful and engaging young adult contemporary. There’s strength and there’s sadness throughout the novel, a solid debut from who appears to be a pretty prolific author.