Grown

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2020

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Part 4, Chapters 73-78Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 4, Chapter 73 Summary: “Beet Juice 5”

In the present day, Enchanted is taken into police custody as Korey is pronounced dead. Mrs. Jones is interrogated by detectives, who explain that “[Enchanted] was the only one found at the scene of the crime” (300). The detectives point out that when Enchanted was touring with Korey, Mrs. Jones threatened to kill him. They accuse Mrs. Jones of only caring about money, but she explains that Korey never gave them a cent, and she only cared about getting her child back. The detectives reveal that someone used Mrs. Jones’s car to go into the city on the night of the murder, and she guesses that it was her husband, looking for Enchanted.

Part 4, Chapter 74 Summary: “Peter Pan”

As news breaks of Korey’s murder, Enchanted meets with her new lawyer (courtesy of the Will and Willow mothers). He tells Enchanted that she is “public enemy number one” (304), but the police have to release Enchanted because they don’t have enough evidence to issue a formal arrest warrant. He warns that they are gathering evidence, and they will try to arrest her before long. Enchanted swears that she didn’t kill Korey. When Enchanted is back home with her family, she gets an anonymous phone call from a woman threatening to kill her.

Part 4, Chapter 75 Summary: “Pictures Worth a Thousand Words”

As the world mourns Korey Fields, comments online are divided. One person asks why they should “just [...] jump and believe this girl” (307), while someone else implies that Enchanted is a liar. Some insist that Enchanted should be believed, while others make excuses for Korey, pointing out that he’s “had a rough childhood” (308). The final commenter points out that Black women are historically disrespected and neglected in America, and this story follows that trend.

Part 4, Chapter 76 Summary: “The Other Woman”

Korey’s wife speaks at a press conference. She calls him “a loving, devoted, faithful husband” (312), and she dismisses the allegations against him. Louie explains to Enchanted that other women are coming forward with allegations of abuse. Enchanted is suddenly saddened by Korey’s death, and the news starts to show footage of Enchanted’s father running into Korey’s building on the night of the murder.

Part 4, Chapter 77 Summary: “The Real Hero”

Footage begins to emerge of Enchanted’s father trying to get her back from Korey. Enchanted says that “The media has twisted it. They see Daddy stalking Korey… I see Daddy trying to save me this whole time” (316). Enchanted’s father is interrogated by police, and as he tries to explain that he was just trying to get his daughter back, the interrogation is interrupted with news that Enchanted has been attacked.

Part 4, Chapter 78 Summary: “Press Conference”

Enchanted’s lawyer encourages her to hold a press conference, but as Enchanted takes to the stage, a woman storms towards her and hurls a brick at her head. Enchanted ducks, and the woman tries to stab her, but is dragged away. The woman, who Enchanted recognizes as the anonymous caller who has been threatening her, yells that “He never loved [Enchanted], stupid Bright Eyes!” (320). As Enchanted is pulled away from the chaos, another woman passes her a note that says “There are others. You’re not alone” (321).

Part 4, Chapters 73-78 Analysis

Enchanted’s torture doesn’t end when Korey dies. The aftermath of Korey’s death triggers a firestorm in the media. He is painted as a tragic hero, but the comments sections online hint that not everyone bought his “nice guy” act. There is an abundance of victim-blaming, but there are also plenty of people who recognize that a celebrity predator is still a predator. The comments also emphasize the racial undertones of this story: one commenter states that young Black women are held to adult standards, and if Korey’s victims had been white, he would have been punished long ago. Korey took advantage of a vulnerable population of girls, and he chose victims that he thought no one would believe or come looking for. The novel’s title also appears in the online discourse, as commenters debate whether a 17-year-old girl should be considered “grown” or adult. Through Enchanted’s emotional immaturity and teenage interests, Jackson makes the argument throughout the novel that considering a 17-year-old girl as an adult is absurd and dangerous. Jackson also uses the comments section to explore how Enchanted has completely lost agency over a narrative that she is at the center of, an outcome she has feared since Korey released the sex tape.

The woman who threatens and attacks Enchanted represents a different type of trauma response: She was one of Korey’s victims, and instead of recognizing that she was abused, the nameless woman protects her abuser. The loss of Korey pushes her to a breaking point, and rather than blame Korey for the abuse he inflicted, she takes her anger out on Enchanted. Jackson’s use of this character alludes to the public outcry in the wake of the allegations against American singer and convicted sex offender R. Kelly. Superfans who were loyal to the singer not only discredited his victims, but launched all-out assaults on those who dared to point the finger at their favorite artist. With the nameless woman in Grown, however, there is something far more sinister at play than just being a fan of Korey. His manipulation and control didn’t end when he was dead, and Jackson uses this character to demonstrate how abuse can cause a ripple effect in the lives of those it touches.