Tiffany D. Jackson Author Study
Tiffany D. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Allegedly, Monday’s Not Coming, Let Me Hear a Rhyme, Grown, White Smoke, and The Weight of Blood and coauthor of Blackout and Whiteout. She has a Walter Dean Myers Honor Book, won the Coretta Scott King–John Steptoe New Talent Award, and has been nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Booklist called her "a titan among her peers." Her books have been named to numerous state award reading lists and are well suited to read together or individually in the classroom.
Common Themes in Tiffany D. Jackson's Work
Though all the protagonists in Tiffany D. Jackson’s works identify as young, Black, and female, their stories of coming of age are complicated by their perceptions of themselves and the misconceptions others hold about them. Mary in Allegedly, Enchanted in Grown, and Maddy in The Weight of Blood are victimized by individuals and societies that should have made and maintained safe spaces for them. As each of the girls navigates fictionalized accounts of events and life stories that closely mirror those from our society, readers learn to evaluate for themselves the significance of individual perception vs. reality. As teaching tools, Monday’s Not Coming, Grown, Allegedly, Let Me Hear a Rhyme, White Smoke, and The Weight of Blood offer opportunities for readers to evaluate the American justice system and its role in perpetuating institutional racism and systemic oppression against Black American individuals and communities through gentrification, police brutality, child welfare, and sexual violence.
Each of the novels offers a unique window into what it might mean for a young Black girl to grow up, live, and love in a society that regularly silences and erases Black female experiences. Tiffany D. Jackson’s writing bravely and unapologetically explores the theme of individual and collective responsibility, in a validating and inspiring pursuit of justice through artistic expression.
About Tiffany D. Jackson
Tiffany D. Jackson is the New York
Times bestselling author of Allegedly,
Monday’s Not Coming, Let Me Hear a
Rhyme, Grown, White Smoke, and The
Weight of Blood and coauthor of Blackout
and Whiteout. A Walter Dean Myers
Honor Book, Coretta Scott King–John
Steptoe New Talent Award winner, and
an NAACP Image Award nominee, she
received her bachelor of arts in film from
Howard University, earned her master
of arts in media studies from the New
School, and has over a decade in TV and
film experience. The Brooklyn native still
resides in the borough she loves. You can
visit her at writeinbk.com.
Tiffany D. Jackson writes riveting
suspense novels that go far beyond
thrills and chills. With throughlines of
gentrification, systemic oppression,
institutional racism, and abuse, coupled
with gripping plots and twisty surprises,
her books are “sure to initiate important
conversations while delivering an
engrossing story” (The Horn Book
magazine).
Explore the Titles
In this striking new novel by the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly and Monday’s Not Coming, Tiffany D. Jackson tells the story of three Brooklyn teens who plot to turn their murdered friend into a major rap star by pretending he's still alive.
Brooklyn, 1998. Biggie Smalls was right: Things done changed. But that doesn’t mean that Quadir and Jarrell are cool letting their best friend Steph’s music lie forgotten under his bed after he’s murdered—not when his rhymes could turn any Bed Stuy corner into a party.
With the help of Steph’s younger sister Jasmine, they come up with a plan to promote Steph’s music under a new rap name: the Architect. Soon, everyone wants a piece of him. When his demo catches the attention of a hotheaded music label rep, the trio must prove Steph’s talent from beyond the grave.
As the pressure of keeping their secret grows, Quadir, Jarrell, and Jasmine are forced to confront the truth about what happened to Steph. Only, each has something to hide. And with everything riding on Steph’s fame, they need to decide what they stand for or lose all that they’ve worked so hard to hold on to—including each other.
"Jackson scores a bullseye with her passionate homage to Black city life in the late ’90s." (Publishers Weekly, "An Anti-Racist Children's and YA Reading List")