The Scammer - by Tiffany D Jackson (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Out from under her overprotective parents, Jordyn is ready to kill it in prelaw at a prestigious, historically Black university in Washington DC. When her new roommate's brother is released from prison, the last thing Jordyn expects is to come home and find the ex-convict on their dorm room sofa. But Devonte needs a place to stay while he gets back on his feet--and how could she say no to one of her new best friends? Devonte is older, as charming as he is intelligent, pushing every student he meets to make better choices about their young lives. But Jordyn senses something sinister beneath his friendly advice and growing group of followers. When one of Jordyn's roommates goes missing, she must enlist the help of the university's lone white student to uncover the mystery--or become trapped at the center of a web of lies more tangled than she can imagine"--

Book Synopsis

A New York Times Bestseller
"This suspenseful YA thriller is yet another testament to Jackson's talent."--ELLE

New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers another stunning, ripped-from-the-headlines thriller, following a freshman girl whose college life is turned upside down when her roommate's ex-convict brother moves into their dorm and starts controlling their every move.

Out from under her overprotective parents, Jordyn is ready to kill it in prelaw at a prestigious, historically Black university in Washington DC. When her new roommate's brother is released from prison, the last thing Jordyn expects is to come home and find the ex-convict on their dorm room sofa. But Devonte needs a place to stay while he gets back on his feet--and how could she say no to one of her new best friends?
Devonte is older, as charming as he is intelligent, pushing every student he meets to make better choices about their young lives. But Jordyn senses something sinister beneath his friendly advice and growing group of followers. When one of Jordyn's roommates goes missing, she must enlist the help of the university's lone white student to uncover the mystery--or become trapped at the center of a web of lies more tangled than she can imagine.

Review Quotes

"Jackson's portrayal of subtle brainwashing, leading up to a wholly unanticipated twist, is excellent...Engaging and frighteningly realistic; a suspense-filled winner." - Kirkus Reviews
"Jackson's signature chilling prose presents action-filled and fast-paced plotting rife with tension as Jordyn attempts to puzzle out the mystery behind Devonte's endgame while navigating issues of personal identity. Jordyn and Nick's budding romance--and the obstacles it unearths as it unfolds amid the HBCU setting and the overarching conflict--adds a layer of complexity to this satisfying offering." - Publishers Weekly
"A timely chill." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Another visceral, propulsive thriller from an undisputed master of the genre. The revealing ending will lead readers to question what makes a person tick, what can make them break, and, ultimately, how to heal." - Booklist (starred review)
"Expect the unexpected until the very last page in a cautionary tale that will have readers anxious to see who will survive the machinations of a charismatic manipulator. A highly recommended read." - School Library Journal (starred review)
"A suspenseful thriller." - The Guardian
"This suspenseful YA thriller is yet another testament to Jackson's talent." - ELLE
"The Scammer is a fast-paced, page-turner of a thriller, but it's also a look at the importance of the Black community and the exploitation of minority communities." - Book Riot
"The Scammer continues [Jackson's] exceptional run of pushing boundaries in this particular corner of the YA space." - Paste Magazine

Praise for Allegedly:

"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. This dark, suspenseful exploration of justice and perception raises important questions teens will want to discuss."

- School Library Journal (starred review)
"Searing and true. Effectively joins Ava DuVernay's documentary 13th and Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow (2010) to become another indictment of the penal system's decimating power beyond its bars and, more subtly and refreshingly, a pro-reproductive-justice novel." - Kirkus Reviews (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)
"I have to admit, it's been a while since I've been this rattled by a story. Tiffany D. Jackson chips at the world, then cracks it, then shatters it into shards of discomfort and complexity for the reader to grapple with it. Allegedly, undoubtedly, will linger long after it's over." - Jason Reynolds, award-winning author of All American Boys and The Boy in the Black Suit

Praise for Monday's Not Coming:

"A mesmerizing, punch-in-the-gut story about the power of friendship and the horrors hiding right in front of us."

- Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak and Chains
"This thought-provoking thriller examines issues such as abuse, gentrification, and the marginalization of people of color with nuance and sensitivity. The narrative deftly moves back and forth between past and present, building to a devastating conclusion. A spellbinding, profoundly moving choice for YA collections." - School Library Journal (starred review)
"Jackson's sophomore novel features another ripped-from-the-headlines premise that will keep readers guessing through the final pages. Jackson's characters and their heart-wrenching story linger long after the final page, urging readers to advocate for those who are disenfranchised and forgotten by society and the system." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Praise for The Weight of Blood:

"Jackson's expert reshaping of this tale highlights the genuine horrors of both internalized and externalized anti-Blackness. Horror done right."

- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Jackson effortlessly weaves elements of suspense with issues of race, class, and gender, casting a harsh light on a world that often refuses to notice the disappearances of black and brown girls. The twist at the end is both gaspworthy and heartbreaking." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)
"Jackson doesn't hold anything back when it comes to the pain of abuse and the ramifications of turning a blind eye. It's a frank, devastating read filled with real and flawed characters, and it's a story that needs to be read." - Booklist
"Jackson skillfully explores internalized and externalized anti-Blackness in this striking horror novel. Bone-chilling. Expertly utiliz[es] current true-crime fanaticism to form a powerfully socially conscious narrative that showcases the intense structural racism still inherent in society." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Jackson's nod to Stephen King's Carrie incorporates racially charged social justice themes into a narrative featuring her signature twisty suspense. Supernatural portions of the book are explosive and riveting, with the racist realistic parts are even more horrifying. Readers will be hooked from page one of Maddy's intense journey that detonates on prom night." - School Library Journal (starred review)

Praise for White Smoke:

"Thrilling, chilling, and utterly riveting. Tiffany D. Jackson crafts high-stakes tension, a deliciously creepy atmosphere, and characters you really, really hope make it to the end."

- Karen McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying
"The creeps come on slowly, then start to build. When the cold shivers ran down my back, I wanted to scream--but I was too busy turning pages. I had to know: Just how frightening will it get?" - R.L. Stine, author Goosebumps and Fear Street
"Tiffany Jackson takes the classic haunted house story to the next level by infusing it with her trademark twists and turns and her brilliant and unflinching prose. White Smoke is a gripping, unsettling, and incisive novel by a YA powerhouse who knows her thrills--and her chills." - Courtney Summers, New York Times bestselling author of Sadie and The Project
"Jackson conjures horrors both supernatural and otherwise in a masterful juxtaposition of searing social commentary and genuinely creepy haunts, as well as providing an authentic portrayal of tensions within a blended family. Begs to be finished in one sitting, though maybe with the lights kept on." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Jackson delivers multilayered frights in a true horror tradition, peppered with instantly recognizable references to urban legends and internet horror culture." - Publishers Weekly
"A transcendent, genre-defining masterpiece. Jordan Peele would be proud." - Shondaland
"Jackson is one of the most innovative YA suspense writers in recent years, and her latest is no exception." - School Library Journal (starred review)
"The queen of YA returns." - Entertainment Weekly

Praise for Grown:

"Tiffany D. Jackson has penned a riveting, powerful love story to Black girlhood and a haunting reminder of the ways in which their innocence is often stolen. Remarkable, suspenseful, and gut-wrenching, Grown is a masterfully told story that stays with you long after you put it down."

- Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give and On the Come Up
"Never have I read a story that so flawlessly hits the highest high and lowest low notes of Black girlhood in pursuit of the American Dream. Tiffany D. Jackson has done it again." - Nic Stone, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin and Jackpot
"This heart-pounding, powerful story about a young girl trapped in a predator's web holds up a devastating mirror to our society's refusal to care about all victims. A call-out and condemnation of the celebrity-besotted culture that allows evil people to destroy lives." - Laurie Halse Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Shout
"With a gripping plot and punch-to-the-heart stakes, Tiffany D. Jackson's Grown exposes the underbelly of a tough conversation--the seductive abuse of older men who prey on teen girls--providing a searing examination of misogynoir, rape culture, and the vulnerability of young black girls. Groundbreaking, heart wrenching, and essential reading for all in the #MeToo era." - Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Belles
"This is a book that is filled to the brim with shocking twists and turns, but in 'Grown, ' Jackson also centers Black girls in conversations about abuse, discussions they are so often erased from." - The New York Times Book Review