Allegedly Lib/E

Product Description Orange Is the New Black meets Walter Dean Myer's Monster in this gritty, twisty, and haunting debut by Tiffany D. Jackson about a girl convicted of murder seeking the truth while surviving life in a group home. Mary B. Addison killed a baby. Allegedly. She didn't say much in that first interview with detectives, and the media filled in the only blanks that mattered: a white baby had died while under the care of a churchgoing black woman and her nine-year-old daughter. The public convicted Mary and the jury made it official. But did she do it? There wasn't a point to setting the record straight before, but now she's got Ted--and their unborn child--to think about. When the state threatens to take her baby, Mary's fate now lies in the hands of the one person she distrusts the most: her Momma. No one knows the real Momma. But does anyone know the real Mary? Review A riveting, gut-wrenching thriller.-- "Daniel Jose Older, author of Half-Resurrection Blues"

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)"

Bahni Turpin's stunning narration of this audiobook at some points seems like a multivoiced performance...Mary is unsure of many things, and Turpin catches every nuance. More amazing, she expresses the many layers of all the characters...giving dimension to even minor characters...From the gripping beginning to the unsettling ending, Turpin maintains the intensity of this compelling story. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.-- "AudioFile"

Jackson's gritty portrayal of the life of a juvenile criminal living in a group home makes her debut novel shockingly authentic. As readers see the hardships that Mary must endure, they become incredibly invested in uncovering the truth along with her. The author cleverly keeps readers engaged by dropping hints about Mary's past, with excerpts from interviews and court documents sprinkled throughout the book. The subject matter is daring for a novel labeled young adult, but the story will stay with readers weeks after they've finished it.-- "RT Book Reviews (4 stars)"

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)"

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)"

Well executed, powerful.-- "Mindy McGinnis, Edgar Award-winning author"

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. Verdict: This dark, suspenseful exploration of justice and perception raises important questions teens will want to discuss. An excellent selection for YA shelves.-- "School Library Journal (starred review)" About the Author Tiffany D. Jackson is a TV professional by day, novelist by night, awkward black girl 24/7. She received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University and her master of arts in media studies from the New School. A Brooklyn native, she is a lover of naps, cookie dough, and beaches, currently residing in the borough she loves with her adorable chihuahua, Oscar, most likely multitasking.

Bahni Turpin has guest starred in many television series, including NYPD Blue, Law & Order, Six Feet Under, and Cold Case. Her film credits include Brokedown Palace and Crossroads. She has won numerous AudioFile Earphones Aw