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The Weight of Blood
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2022)" New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson ramps up the horror and tackles America's history and legacy of racism in this suspenseful YA novel following a biracial teenager as her Georgia high school hosts its first integrated prom.
When Springville residents—at least the ones still alive—are questioned about what happened on prom night, they all have the same explanation … Maddy did it.
An outcast at her small-town Georgia high school, Madison Washington has always been a teasing target for bullies. And she's dealt with it because she has more pressing problems to manage. Until the morning a surprise rainstorm reveals her most closely kept secret: Maddy is biracial. She has been passing for white her entire life at the behest of her fanatical white father, Thomas Washington.
After a viral bullying video pulls back the curtain on Springville High's racist roots, student leaders come up with a plan to host the school's first integrated prom as a show of unity. The popular white class president convinces her Black superstar quarterback boyfriend to ask Maddy to be his date, leaving Maddy wondering if it's possible to have a normal life.
But some of her classmates aren't done with her just yet. And what they don't know is that Maddy still has another secret … one that will cost them all their lives. "
When Springville residents—at least the ones still alive—are questioned about what happened on prom night, they all have the same explanation … Maddy did it.
An outcast at her small-town Georgia high school, Madison Washington has always been a teasing target for bullies. And she's dealt with it because she has more pressing problems to manage. Until the morning a surprise rainstorm reveals her most closely kept secret: Maddy is biracial. She has been passing for white her entire life at the behest of her fanatical white father, Thomas Washington.
After a viral bullying video pulls back the curtain on Springville High's racist roots, student leaders come up with a plan to host the school's first integrated prom as a show of unity. The popular white class president convinces her Black superstar quarterback boyfriend to ask Maddy to be his date, leaving Maddy wondering if it's possible to have a normal life.
But some of her classmates aren't done with her just yet. And what they don't know is that Maddy still has another secret … one that will cost them all their lives. "
416 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2022
1769 people are currently reading
75430 people want to read
About the author
Tiffany D. Jackson
23 books10.2k followersTiffany D. Jackson is the New York Times Bestselling author of YA novels including the Coretta Scott King — John Steptoe New Talent Award-winning Monday’s Not Coming, the NAACP Image Award-nominated Allegedly, Let Me Hear A Rhyme, and her 2020 title GROWN. She received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University, her master of arts in media studies from the New School, and has over a decade in TV/Film experience. The Brooklyn native is a lover of naps, cookie dough, and beaches, currently residing in the borough she loves, most likely multitasking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,670 reviews
October 3, 2025
I loved it. The Weight of Blood is such a creative and powerful take on King's classic, Carrie. 10-out-of-10 recommend!!
Original:
me: reads publisher comp line...
It's like all of my Horror-loving dreams coming true. Tiffany D. Jackson bringing a revamped Carrie with something to say? Yes, yes, yes!!!
This cover! I like this. This is powerful ❤🖤
Original:
me: reads publisher comp line...
It's like all of my Horror-loving dreams coming true. Tiffany D. Jackson bringing a revamped Carrie with something to say? Yes, yes, yes!!!
This cover! I like this. This is powerful ❤🖤
October 26, 2022
4.5 stars
Ahhh this was so good! Tiffany D Jackson has done it again. This is probably one of my top faves from her. I love the idea of a retelling of Carrie, because I wasn’t a huge fan of the actual book Carrie, but I love the idea of it! Also, the audiobook is fantastic and I highly recommend listening to it! There is a really cool podcast element, with sound effects and music and multiple narrators, it’s really awesome and so engaging!
Also, random side note but I usually don’t like romance in YA books, but I actually found myself really enjoying the romance that was happening in this book 👀 also the ending was so wild and entertaining.
Ahhh this was so good! Tiffany D Jackson has done it again. This is probably one of my top faves from her. I love the idea of a retelling of Carrie, because I wasn’t a huge fan of the actual book Carrie, but I love the idea of it! Also, the audiobook is fantastic and I highly recommend listening to it! There is a really cool podcast element, with sound effects and music and multiple narrators, it’s really awesome and so engaging!
Also, random side note but I usually don’t like romance in YA books, but I actually found myself really enjoying the romance that was happening in this book 👀 also the ending was so wild and entertaining.
February 9, 2024
First of all WOW, second of all OMG GO READ THIS
March 10, 2024
Remember when I said this potentially looked like my first four-star read of the year? Clearly, that changed.
My first read of February, and I’m disappointed.
The Weight of Blood started strong, looking like a potential four or five-star read. The writing was decent, robust, thrilling, and engaging enough to keep me reading, especially YA. It reminded me how vital this genre can be and how much capability many authors have. I didn’t want to stop reading for one moment, as every page I turned had me wondering what would happen next. The author did a fantastic job setting up the characters. The author never indulges the readers in boring and filling content, providing too much or too little but just enough to keep the reader going. I didn’t mind the unoriginal context, as this is a retelling of Carrie by Stephen King.
Then, the second half hit, and my enjoyment significantly faltered.
For starters, this was all tell and no show. The ending was a huge letdown, a complete disappointment, and a lackluster finale. There is no showing, and it is all telling. I’ve only seen the 2013 movie, but you know that prom night scene where Carrie (played by Chloë Grace Moretz) smiles as she kills the students, smashing their bodies, electrocuting them, making them fall, sending their faces smashing, etc.? This scene? I wanted to see that here. I wanted Maddy to prevail and get that sense of justice for what she was put through. I wanted her to show Jules, Brady, Jason, Charlotte, and everyone involved in her tormenting why they would regret it. So, do we see it? No. Instead, we’re told what she did and what happened through the interviews and interrogations of witnesses, including Wendy, who felt stupidly useless. Telling and not showing is just lazy writing, a huge missed opportunity for the author to show readers her capability of vivid and robust descriptions as the events unfolded. It also took away the development Maddy had through the story. Her powers grew, and she became confident in herself. Her skin felt useless in the end due to how little we see of her using her powers. We see some of her actions, but none of the extraordinary kind where her TK is shown in great detail.
Due to the other characters’ multiple POV shifts, I couldn’t fully connect with Maddy. Sometimes, I lost focus on what was happening because of the POV shifts. This didn’t help the story at all. Instead, it made it confusing, as we’d go from Maddy’s point of view to Wendy’s, Jule’s, Kenny’s, and even one of the officers and the teachers. This messy structure disorganizedes the story, taking away time from focusing on Maddy. The author could’ve easily made this single for her only, as it would’ve helped us get a bigger and better read on her. Many moments and scenes were missed out on her because they focused on other characters instead of providing a bigger picture of Maddy. The transcript scenes didn’t do the story a big favor. I thought they were unnecessary and took up page time. The podcast members and interviewers provided nothing new to the story, as whatever they recounted or talked about was focused on the previous or next scene, therefore not giving the reader any thrilling expectations.
I noticed in some reviews that people found this unoriginal, and I agree. It really didn’t falter my enjoyment, but it is a big flaw. There was no originality whatsoever, and it felt like a copy and paste as if the author sprinkled some of her ideas related to racism, bullying, and social justice to add some radical thoughts yet kept the rest of the story uncreative, showing nothing new. While I’m all for retellings being accurate to the original, there’s a sort of sense of plagiarism feeling here, as practically nothing was different—instead of a white girl you have a black girl who is also bullied and tormented for who she is, only that he here, it grows from the fact that she is biracial, encompassing the themes of racism and discrimination; you have an evil, religious father instead of a mother; you have the ex-bully girl who feels bad for how she treated her so she tells her boyfriend to take her to prom; you have the golden boy who takes the bullied girl to prom; you have the evil, villainous character and her boyfriend who spilled blood/paint on you; the prayer closet; Maddy learning about her powers through books. The list goes on and on. You won’t find anything new here if you’ve seen either of the Carrie movies or read the book. As I said, I didn’t find too much of a problem with it, but it took away from the excitement, as I knew what would happen next, which only made my expectations higher.
The themes of racism and bullying being interconnected were exciting but lacked distinction and consistency. It all stems from race. I can see what the author wanted to do with this, but sometimes it felt like it tried too hard to be too radical, making a point up in your face about social issues but wasn’t consistent. Maddy being biracial was a big thing in a small town as if it was the most prominent and juvenile gossip of the town, and it was only because she was ‘hiding it’, meaning she was passing off as white before her biggest secret was out. One day she’s caught in the rain and her hair isn’t straight and silky but instead is an afro, and it ends up shocking everyone. Yet, there was no issue with Wendy, a white girl dating Kenny, a black footballer. Maddy and Kenny were also not the only black kids in the school and the town. Overall, I didn’t think the book was consistent in what it tried to show. I just don’t understand the big reactions for Maddy but not for the other kids and Kenny. It might be because she’s biracial and nobody knew before because she was passing as white, but I thought it was such an exaggeration. I know Georgia isn’t the most…liberal state, but this isn’t the 1900s. I’m all for vital topics such as this one, as I believe you can learn a lot from these stories, even if they’re fiction, and it’s better when the authors are OwnVoices. However, Weight of the Blood lacked in giving me that compassionate feeling for the entire book, feeling as if I needed to feel a certain way.
Most of the side characters weren’t memorable. Wendy had the potential to be likable, and I found it interesting how the author didn’t change the majority of this story to the original Carrie yet altered the character of Wendy, who is practically Sue, in the 2013 film. I liked Sue; I didn’t like Wendy. Wendy was selfish, narcissistic, and only thought of herself. We think she’ll have character development, but then we realize she only thinks about herself, and everything she’s doing is for herself only, her reputation, and her own sake. Despite spending so much time in the minds of the other characters, including those who were racist, we don’t learn or see much about them that helps the story grow.
A romance grows between Maddy and Kenny, which took me out and felt completely unnecessary. It took away from the tone of the story and added absolutely nothing. Kenny’s love for Maddy felt stronger because she was black (biracial) than anything else. His protectiveness and possessiveness came out of the blue. As a romance reader, the romance here was severely lacking because it wasn’t necessary and did not fit well into the story. It also felt forced, as if there was no way Kenny wouldn’t fall for the one black girl who was being bullied. We don’t get any explanation of his feelings for her other than that he randomly starts seeing her differently because of who she is. Why her and not the other black girls? Why did his thoughts about her shift within the span of a couple of days after ignoring the bullying and torment she went through the past years?
Overall, it was a disappointing read. The first half was a lot stronger than the second half. I can’t even recommend this for anyone looking for a Carrie retelling because you’ll most likely appreciate the effects in the film more than this story, as it felt like there weren’t any effects. For a book focusing on a character with telekinesis, that specific part was the most lacking, which shows laziness as it is one of the most essential parts of the story. I also don’t like it when stories leave me with more questions than I had when I first started the book, and this one left me wondering too much about things that I’ll never find out. I don’t recommend this one.
My first read of February, and I’m disappointed.
The Weight of Blood started strong, looking like a potential four or five-star read. The writing was decent, robust, thrilling, and engaging enough to keep me reading, especially YA. It reminded me how vital this genre can be and how much capability many authors have. I didn’t want to stop reading for one moment, as every page I turned had me wondering what would happen next. The author did a fantastic job setting up the characters. The author never indulges the readers in boring and filling content, providing too much or too little but just enough to keep the reader going. I didn’t mind the unoriginal context, as this is a retelling of Carrie by Stephen King.
Then, the second half hit, and my enjoyment significantly faltered.
For starters, this was all tell and no show. The ending was a huge letdown, a complete disappointment, and a lackluster finale. There is no showing, and it is all telling. I’ve only seen the 2013 movie, but you know that prom night scene where Carrie (played by Chloë Grace Moretz) smiles as she kills the students, smashing their bodies, electrocuting them, making them fall, sending their faces smashing, etc.? This scene? I wanted to see that here. I wanted Maddy to prevail and get that sense of justice for what she was put through. I wanted her to show Jules, Brady, Jason, Charlotte, and everyone involved in her tormenting why they would regret it. So, do we see it? No. Instead, we’re told what she did and what happened through the interviews and interrogations of witnesses, including Wendy, who felt stupidly useless. Telling and not showing is just lazy writing, a huge missed opportunity for the author to show readers her capability of vivid and robust descriptions as the events unfolded. It also took away the development Maddy had through the story. Her powers grew, and she became confident in herself. Her skin felt useless in the end due to how little we see of her using her powers. We see some of her actions, but none of the extraordinary kind where her TK is shown in great detail.
Due to the other characters’ multiple POV shifts, I couldn’t fully connect with Maddy. Sometimes, I lost focus on what was happening because of the POV shifts. This didn’t help the story at all. Instead, it made it confusing, as we’d go from Maddy’s point of view to Wendy’s, Jule’s, Kenny’s, and even one of the officers and the teachers. This messy structure disorganizedes the story, taking away time from focusing on Maddy. The author could’ve easily made this single for her only, as it would’ve helped us get a bigger and better read on her. Many moments and scenes were missed out on her because they focused on other characters instead of providing a bigger picture of Maddy. The transcript scenes didn’t do the story a big favor. I thought they were unnecessary and took up page time. The podcast members and interviewers provided nothing new to the story, as whatever they recounted or talked about was focused on the previous or next scene, therefore not giving the reader any thrilling expectations.
I noticed in some reviews that people found this unoriginal, and I agree. It really didn’t falter my enjoyment, but it is a big flaw. There was no originality whatsoever, and it felt like a copy and paste as if the author sprinkled some of her ideas related to racism, bullying, and social justice to add some radical thoughts yet kept the rest of the story uncreative, showing nothing new. While I’m all for retellings being accurate to the original, there’s a sort of sense of plagiarism feeling here, as practically nothing was different—instead of a white girl you have a black girl who is also bullied and tormented for who she is, only that he here, it grows from the fact that she is biracial, encompassing the themes of racism and discrimination; you have an evil, religious father instead of a mother; you have the ex-bully girl who feels bad for how she treated her so she tells her boyfriend to take her to prom; you have the golden boy who takes the bullied girl to prom; you have the evil, villainous character and her boyfriend who spilled blood/paint on you; the prayer closet; Maddy learning about her powers through books. The list goes on and on. You won’t find anything new here if you’ve seen either of the Carrie movies or read the book. As I said, I didn’t find too much of a problem with it, but it took away from the excitement, as I knew what would happen next, which only made my expectations higher.
The themes of racism and bullying being interconnected were exciting but lacked distinction and consistency. It all stems from race. I can see what the author wanted to do with this, but sometimes it felt like it tried too hard to be too radical, making a point up in your face about social issues but wasn’t consistent. Maddy being biracial was a big thing in a small town as if it was the most prominent and juvenile gossip of the town, and it was only because she was ‘hiding it’, meaning she was passing off as white before her biggest secret was out. One day she’s caught in the rain and her hair isn’t straight and silky but instead is an afro, and it ends up shocking everyone. Yet, there was no issue with Wendy, a white girl dating Kenny, a black footballer. Maddy and Kenny were also not the only black kids in the school and the town. Overall, I didn’t think the book was consistent in what it tried to show. I just don’t understand the big reactions for Maddy but not for the other kids and Kenny. It might be because she’s biracial and nobody knew before because she was passing as white, but I thought it was such an exaggeration. I know Georgia isn’t the most…liberal state, but this isn’t the 1900s. I’m all for vital topics such as this one, as I believe you can learn a lot from these stories, even if they’re fiction, and it’s better when the authors are OwnVoices. However, Weight of the Blood lacked in giving me that compassionate feeling for the entire book, feeling as if I needed to feel a certain way.
Most of the side characters weren’t memorable. Wendy had the potential to be likable, and I found it interesting how the author didn’t change the majority of this story to the original Carrie yet altered the character of Wendy, who is practically Sue, in the 2013 film. I liked Sue; I didn’t like Wendy. Wendy was selfish, narcissistic, and only thought of herself. We think she’ll have character development, but then we realize she only thinks about herself, and everything she’s doing is for herself only, her reputation, and her own sake. Despite spending so much time in the minds of the other characters, including those who were racist, we don’t learn or see much about them that helps the story grow.
A romance grows between Maddy and Kenny, which took me out and felt completely unnecessary. It took away from the tone of the story and added absolutely nothing. Kenny’s love for Maddy felt stronger because she was black (biracial) than anything else. His protectiveness and possessiveness came out of the blue. As a romance reader, the romance here was severely lacking because it wasn’t necessary and did not fit well into the story. It also felt forced, as if there was no way Kenny wouldn’t fall for the one black girl who was being bullied. We don’t get any explanation of his feelings for her other than that he randomly starts seeing her differently because of who she is. Why her and not the other black girls? Why did his thoughts about her shift within the span of a couple of days after ignoring the bullying and torment she went through the past years?
Overall, it was a disappointing read. The first half was a lot stronger than the second half. I can’t even recommend this for anyone looking for a Carrie retelling because you’ll most likely appreciate the effects in the film more than this story, as it felt like there weren’t any effects. For a book focusing on a character with telekinesis, that specific part was the most lacking, which shows laziness as it is one of the most essential parts of the story. I also don’t like it when stories leave me with more questions than I had when I first started the book, and this one left me wondering too much about things that I’ll never find out. I don’t recommend this one.
August 31, 2022
cws. n word usage, racism, bullying, child abuse
god, TDJ does it again and again and again. in her latest blockbuster, TDJ explores the darkness that resides in suburbia. the weight of blood is a forceful twist on Carrie, full of the things that make it such a remarkable horror, while leaving Jackson’s creative stamp on every page.
LOVED the podcast element, the multi POVS, the surprising revelations and witchery. and character work that was EXQUISITE on top of that? Jackson straight up spoiled us. every page was so suspenseful. some scenes were psychologically scarring, others gruesome and twisted. the horror in The Weight of Blood takes many forms - all of them sinister.
go off, Tiffany.
god, TDJ does it again and again and again. in her latest blockbuster, TDJ explores the darkness that resides in suburbia. the weight of blood is a forceful twist on Carrie, full of the things that make it such a remarkable horror, while leaving Jackson’s creative stamp on every page.
LOVED the podcast element, the multi POVS, the surprising revelations and witchery. and character work that was EXQUISITE on top of that? Jackson straight up spoiled us. every page was so suspenseful. some scenes were psychologically scarring, others gruesome and twisted. the horror in The Weight of Blood takes many forms - all of them sinister.
go off, Tiffany.
October 31, 2022
nobody is mothering the way Tiffany D Jackson is mothering. a mother amongst mothers. a grandma if you will.
October 10, 2022
she was inspired by my halloween costume probably (i’m delusional sorry)
so after some thought i think i’d give it 3 stars. i know that segregated proms happen in the south but idk still was meh to me, but i’ll get over it. the main character being half black was so bad she got bullied why was it okay for the popular white girl to openly date a black guy? the contradiction here are really confusing. i get the point of kenny and wendy dating, doesn’t mean it makes sense either. i really think this should’ve just been set in the 50s but that’s just my personal opinion.
it’s a really gripping story and well written for sure. i wasn’t attached to any of the characters unfortunately, especially not Maddy which sucks because the book was about her but i feel like it didn’t focus on her enough for me. i wanted to love it so bad because it was fun and i mean i got through it quickly but it just seems like there are some things the author wanted to force that really didn’t need to be apart of the story and it ended up ruining the story a bit for me.
this book is literally word for word, bar for bar, a carbon copy of Carrie, nothing original added to the plot besides racism. i actually didn’t mind that because i liked that the story was so familiar to me. if i had just so happened to rewatch (or reread) Carrie before reading this i think it would’ve annoyed me a lot more. it is unfortunate that it’s an exact copy because it would never get adapted or else it would just be a third remake. but financially i’m not sure how that would work out for the author. i also hated that so much of this book was spent in the minds of racist. like i hated the scenes around them and i wish they had focused more on Maddy. at least in Carrie it focused a lot more on her. i am interested to read more from this author though.
so after some thought i think i’d give it 3 stars. i know that segregated proms happen in the south but idk still was meh to me, but i’ll get over it. the main character being half black was so bad she got bullied why was it okay for the popular white girl to openly date a black guy? the contradiction here are really confusing. i get the point of kenny and wendy dating, doesn’t mean it makes sense either. i really think this should’ve just been set in the 50s but that’s just my personal opinion.
it’s a really gripping story and well written for sure. i wasn’t attached to any of the characters unfortunately, especially not Maddy which sucks because the book was about her but i feel like it didn’t focus on her enough for me. i wanted to love it so bad because it was fun and i mean i got through it quickly but it just seems like there are some things the author wanted to force that really didn’t need to be apart of the story and it ended up ruining the story a bit for me.
this book is literally word for word, bar for bar, a carbon copy of Carrie, nothing original added to the plot besides racism. i actually didn’t mind that because i liked that the story was so familiar to me. if i had just so happened to rewatch (or reread) Carrie before reading this i think it would’ve annoyed me a lot more. it is unfortunate that it’s an exact copy because it would never get adapted or else it would just be a third remake. but financially i’m not sure how that would work out for the author. i also hated that so much of this book was spent in the minds of racist. like i hated the scenes around them and i wish they had focused more on Maddy. at least in Carrie it focused a lot more on her. i am interested to read more from this author though.
November 23, 2022
Reread immediately to annotate!
There are things I grasped on the second read that flew right over my head on the first.
Love this book.
TDJ has solidified herself as one of my favorite authors.
Reading Vlog: https://youtu.be/fUMwBf0KL9I
I loved this book so GDDAMN MUCH!
TDJ took all the elements of Carrie and perfected them. Then she added some new layers to the pot and did all of those exquisitely as well.
I want to mention, I'm white. I can't speak for the representation of the black experience or the experience of racism. I will say, however, that I recognized a lot of phrases, attitudes and beliefs in the white characters from people I grew up with in the south. TDJ nailed southern middle class racism on the head.
Even though I knew the way the book would end, I was so excited for it. I was wringing my hands WAITING for it to happen. And pumping my fist in the air during the entire climax.
This conversation between a student and teacher was really well phrased.
"Well, just because I don't want to combine proms doesn't make me a racist."
"I didn't say you were a racist. I said the traditions that you're trying to uphold are rooted in racism."
There are things I grasped on the second read that flew right over my head on the first.
Love this book.
TDJ has solidified herself as one of my favorite authors.
Reading Vlog: https://youtu.be/fUMwBf0KL9I
I loved this book so GDDAMN MUCH!
TDJ took all the elements of Carrie and perfected them. Then she added some new layers to the pot and did all of those exquisitely as well.
I want to mention, I'm white. I can't speak for the representation of the black experience or the experience of racism. I will say, however, that I recognized a lot of phrases, attitudes and beliefs in the white characters from people I grew up with in the south. TDJ nailed southern middle class racism on the head.
Even though I knew the way the book would end, I was so excited for it. I was wringing my hands WAITING for it to happen. And pumping my fist in the air during the entire climax.
This conversation between a student and teacher was really well phrased.
"Well, just because I don't want to combine proms doesn't make me a racist."
"I didn't say you were a racist. I said the traditions that you're trying to uphold are rooted in racism."
November 2, 2022
This is such a deeply affecting book. Yes, on the surface it appears to be a modern re-imagining of Stephen King's Carrie, but if you look at it only as that you will appreciate the story but miss the deeper examination of racism and privilege.
I have long been a fan of Tiffany D. Jackson, and this book totally cemented my adoration of her writing. The general premise of this book: Maddy is biracial, but her domineering father has forced her to cover her true identity and pass as white. One day in school Maddy's hair gets wet and her secret is revealed. The white students make fun of her. The Black students wonder why she was so ashamed that she felt she needed to cover it up. Maddy becomes the target of bullying, and a video starts to peel back the racism of the town and its residents. And then comes prom...
So many deep themes here. The "I was just joking" message. One of the Black students pushing back against those unwilling to challenge the racial status quo--even her own Black brother. The actions of everyone trying to preserve a way of life that supports their privilege.
I didn't love the podcast episodes scattered throughout, it felt like a cheesy way to do an info dump, but in the end it ended up being worth it overall. I listened to the audiobook and the full cast recording was totally worth it and added to the overall reading experience immensely.
Highly recommended. Both for the homage to Carrie and for the very astute examination of racism in the world today.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I have long been a fan of Tiffany D. Jackson, and this book totally cemented my adoration of her writing. The general premise of this book: Maddy is biracial, but her domineering father has forced her to cover her true identity and pass as white. One day in school Maddy's hair gets wet and her secret is revealed. The white students make fun of her. The Black students wonder why she was so ashamed that she felt she needed to cover it up. Maddy becomes the target of bullying, and a video starts to peel back the racism of the town and its residents. And then comes prom...
So many deep themes here. The "I was just joking" message. One of the Black students pushing back against those unwilling to challenge the racial status quo--even her own Black brother. The actions of everyone trying to preserve a way of life that supports their privilege.
I didn't love the podcast episodes scattered throughout, it felt like a cheesy way to do an info dump, but in the end it ended up being worth it overall. I listened to the audiobook and the full cast recording was totally worth it and added to the overall reading experience immensely.
Highly recommended. Both for the homage to Carrie and for the very astute examination of racism in the world today.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
November 19, 2022
4.5⭐️
That cover though!! When you finally get to the scene that explains the cover???! Jaw-dropping moment!!
So we are thrust into the book knowing that something dramatic happened. This was great because the whole book was just me anticipating this great big dramatic moment. I haven’t read the inspiration for the book, Carrie
by Stephen King, so I don’t know how similar it is, but I still think this one was exceptionally good. I’m sure it’s not easy to seriously depict racism and its impacts in a very dramatic way while adding some supernatural aspects.
Every single character was well-written. Most of them are “just” high school kids but they each illustrate several facets of deep issues. At first, I honestly thought most of this felt really exaggerated but didn’t feel that way for long. Great ending!
I highly recommend this one!
That cover though!! When you finally get to the scene that explains the cover???! Jaw-dropping moment!!
So we are thrust into the book knowing that something dramatic happened. This was great because the whole book was just me anticipating this great big dramatic moment. I haven’t read the inspiration for the book, Carrie
by Stephen King, so I don’t know how similar it is, but I still think this one was exceptionally good. I’m sure it’s not easy to seriously depict racism and its impacts in a very dramatic way while adding some supernatural aspects. Every single character was well-written. Most of them are “just” high school kids but they each illustrate several facets of deep issues. At first, I honestly thought most of this felt really exaggerated but didn’t feel that way for long. Great ending!
I highly recommend this one!
February 27, 2023
FIVE STARS. This book is a masterclass in how to write a story where the reader already knows the ending and this is probably the best audiobook I've ever listened to.
It didn't matter that I already know the story of Stephen King's Carrie, I was STRESSED reading this book. I know the ending, the book itself even tells you the ending very early on and continues to speculate on it (via a True Crime show discussing the events a decade later, which starts most chapters), and yet Tiffany Jackson still managed to craft a story that had me on the edge of my seat, gasping and wincing when things I absolutely knew were coming finally happened.
None of which is to say that this is a completely unoriginal rewrite. This book takes Carrie and reimagines it with the titular character not bullied just for being odd and poor, but because she's outed as being black. The main character is a white passing bi-racial black girl, and when her incredibly racist school and town find out it drastically changes the already poor way she's treated.
The layers this adds to Maddie's ostracization can't be boiled down to a simple rewrite. It also changes the nuance of the rest of the town and the way other characters interact with the society around them. There are characters of color who cope by loudly and boldly pushing back on the racism of those around them and others who do their best to ignore the micro- and macro-aggressions they see and deal with every day in the name of keeping the peace, and others still who will bend over backwards to change and hide themselves from it. There are white characters who are blatantly and overtly racist, others who choose not to see it, many who excuse it with words like "tradition," some who try to teach and help and guide where they can, and some who tell themselves and everyone else that they're helping while what they're really doing is just enough to feel good while not inconveniencing themselves too much. Suffice it to say I found the characters to be really well written and the students to be believable high schoolers in 2014.
You know how you REALLY know I loved this book? I wasn't bothered by the pop culture references or dialogue like "oh-em-gee," things which would normally have me cringing out of my soul but which here felt natural and additive to the setting.
And I'd be remiss not to recommend the audiobook for this one. I bought the physical book months ago, but once I was going to read it I checked out the audiobook from Libby on a whim because sometimes I like to be able to switch to audio if I'm driving or cleaning or something, but in this case I started the audio and never once switched to the physical book I'd bought. The production quality on this audiobook is what you dream of for all audio. 5 narrators, sound effects and music where it makes sense, and all around great performances. I couldn't turn it off. 100% recommend listening to the audiobook when you read this book.
It didn't matter that I already know the story of Stephen King's Carrie, I was STRESSED reading this book. I know the ending, the book itself even tells you the ending very early on and continues to speculate on it (via a True Crime show discussing the events a decade later, which starts most chapters), and yet Tiffany Jackson still managed to craft a story that had me on the edge of my seat, gasping and wincing when things I absolutely knew were coming finally happened.
None of which is to say that this is a completely unoriginal rewrite. This book takes Carrie and reimagines it with the titular character not bullied just for being odd and poor, but because she's outed as being black. The main character is a white passing bi-racial black girl, and when her incredibly racist school and town find out it drastically changes the already poor way she's treated.
The layers this adds to Maddie's ostracization can't be boiled down to a simple rewrite. It also changes the nuance of the rest of the town and the way other characters interact with the society around them. There are characters of color who cope by loudly and boldly pushing back on the racism of those around them and others who do their best to ignore the micro- and macro-aggressions they see and deal with every day in the name of keeping the peace, and others still who will bend over backwards to change and hide themselves from it. There are white characters who are blatantly and overtly racist, others who choose not to see it, many who excuse it with words like "tradition," some who try to teach and help and guide where they can, and some who tell themselves and everyone else that they're helping while what they're really doing is just enough to feel good while not inconveniencing themselves too much. Suffice it to say I found the characters to be really well written and the students to be believable high schoolers in 2014.
You know how you REALLY know I loved this book? I wasn't bothered by the pop culture references or dialogue like "oh-em-gee," things which would normally have me cringing out of my soul but which here felt natural and additive to the setting.
And I'd be remiss not to recommend the audiobook for this one. I bought the physical book months ago, but once I was going to read it I checked out the audiobook from Libby on a whim because sometimes I like to be able to switch to audio if I'm driving or cleaning or something, but in this case I started the audio and never once switched to the physical book I'd bought. The production quality on this audiobook is what you dream of for all audio. 5 narrators, sound effects and music where it makes sense, and all around great performances. I couldn't turn it off. 100% recommend listening to the audiobook when you read this book.
October 11, 2022
I cannot imagine giving this book anything but five stars. This retelling of Carrie rivals the original, in that it had so much more to say. The racially motivated abuse and bullying was extremely hard to read, but IMPORTANT because white complacency is such a real problem and this book did wonders to put it at the forefront of the story.
Our main character, Maddy, has my whole heart and when I tell you I was excited for prom night so she could flex those superpowers, yeah- I was not ready.
Tiffany D. Jackson is absolutely a new auto-buy author for me
Our main character, Maddy, has my whole heart and when I tell you I was excited for prom night so she could flex those superpowers, yeah- I was not ready.
Tiffany D. Jackson is absolutely a new auto-buy author for me
September 19, 2022
The Weight of Blood is a re-telling of Stephen King's Carrie with a twist, and it was entertaining as hell. I was taken in right away by this YA horror. The characters were vivid and flawed...some more than others, and the setting was one we all know and understand.
Mrs. Morgan had turned around just in time to see the second pencil sail and disappear into a forest of tight black coils and curls. The class all but rolled in the aisles, laughter echoing down the hallways.
I'm not sure if the podcast aspect really added to the story, but I didn't dislike it either.
When I asked him what happened . . . he just kept mumbling, “Maddy did it.”
The story itself was heartbreaking, much like the source material, full of bullying, isolation and child abuse. Throw in a little pre-destined superpowers and a whole lot of vengeful wrath and you end up with book both fun and memorable.
5 stars for me. I think the King would appreciate this one.
Mrs. Morgan had turned around just in time to see the second pencil sail and disappear into a forest of tight black coils and curls. The class all but rolled in the aisles, laughter echoing down the hallways.
I'm not sure if the podcast aspect really added to the story, but I didn't dislike it either.
When I asked him what happened . . . he just kept mumbling, “Maddy did it.”
The story itself was heartbreaking, much like the source material, full of bullying, isolation and child abuse. Throw in a little pre-destined superpowers and a whole lot of vengeful wrath and you end up with book both fun and memorable.
5 stars for me. I think the King would appreciate this one.
February 6, 2023
ALL THE EMOTIONS!!! This is a modern retelling of Carrie with a biracial MC that made me feel just about everything. Mostly anger and sadness, but there was plenty of annoyance interspersed throughout. I HATED these f’ing kids OHMYGOD.
This is the third book that I have read that’s partially written in a podcast format, and it just never works for me for some reason. I don’t want to spoil what ends up happening if you’re not familiar with the story, but the book is essentially leading up to this massacre at senior prom, and it just didn’t hit as hard as I was hoping, mostly because the action was broken up with segments of the podcast and eye witness reports (the latter worked a lot better than the podcast sections imo.)
ALSO, I cannot mention the specifics for spoilers, but the fate of one of the characters had me FUMING!!! And not in a good way!!! I hated it!!! I was so mad!!! 😂😅
But, I do highly recommend this story, and will be recommending it often. If you couldn’t tell, this is a VERY emotionally charged story and was 100% worth the read, even if a few things didn’t work out the way I wanted them to. The payoff/ending sequence as a whole was still well worth the experience imo. 4.5 stars rounded up.
This is the third book that I have read that’s partially written in a podcast format, and it just never works for me for some reason. I don’t want to spoil what ends up happening if you’re not familiar with the story, but the book is essentially leading up to this massacre at senior prom, and it just didn’t hit as hard as I was hoping, mostly because the action was broken up with segments of the podcast and eye witness reports (the latter worked a lot better than the podcast sections imo.)
ALSO, I cannot mention the specifics for spoilers, but the fate of one of the characters had me FUMING!!! And not in a good way!!! I hated it!!! I was so mad!!! 😂😅
But, I do highly recommend this story, and will be recommending it often. If you couldn’t tell, this is a VERY emotionally charged story and was 100% worth the read, even if a few things didn’t work out the way I wanted them to. The payoff/ending sequence as a whole was still well worth the experience imo. 4.5 stars rounded up.
September 28, 2022
This Carrie retelling is everything I would expect it to be coming from Tiffany D. Jackson: horrific, thought-provoking, and gloriously unapologetic. After reading the author's note prior to cracking open the actual book, I felt like the tone was set, as it should be, for what the journey ahead would be. If you've read Stephen King's first novel, then you'll have a good idea of what to expect here. In fact, my only slight criticism is that there isn't really any unexpected twist here as The Weight of Blood stays on par with its predecessor, but perhaps that is how the author intended it to be read. Regardless, another excellent read from the queen herself, and I hope to see her write more in the horror genre in the future.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
December 8, 2022
What a brilliant and topical overhaul of Stephen King's Carrie. When a high school decides to have a joint prom instead of segregated ones in a supposed show of racial solidarity, the deep divide between black and white surfaces in a terrifyingly ugly way. I had no idea segregated proms were a thing but according to Mrs Google, over the last decade a small number have still been held in the US.
The characters were complex and incredibly well written and the audiobook was phenomenal. Tiffany draws attention to the casual racism that is laughed off as a joke in the local high school, whilst also showing that a clear sense of white superiority underpins these interactions. Moreover, this underlying racial hierarchy is present at all levels within the community. Alongside all of this is also of a story of a sheltered girl hoping to find acceptance and love. However, within this girl lies a dark power and when her rage and fury come forth, blood and terror follow. As prom night descends into chaos a clear line between black and white is scorched on the ground. This is an amazing novel and I thoroughly recommend it.
CW:
The characters were complex and incredibly well written and the audiobook was phenomenal. Tiffany draws attention to the casual racism that is laughed off as a joke in the local high school, whilst also showing that a clear sense of white superiority underpins these interactions. Moreover, this underlying racial hierarchy is present at all levels within the community. Alongside all of this is also of a story of a sheltered girl hoping to find acceptance and love. However, within this girl lies a dark power and when her rage and fury come forth, blood and terror follow. As prom night descends into chaos a clear line between black and white is scorched on the ground. This is an amazing novel and I thoroughly recommend it.
CW:
August 10, 2025
This was heavy...extremely heavy.
I highly recommend checking out the content warnings on this one before picking it up.
One of my goals is to finish Tiffany D. Jackson's catalogue and I've owned this book for a while. Though I knew it was loosely based on King's Carrie, I didn't anticipate the darkness and heaviness I felt while reading it. As always, Jackson brilliantly ties in social commentary that is closely related to the experience of the Black community. Being in the head of the racist community members was jarring and difficult, yet realistic to the experience of many. I always admire her ability to take stories that have made headlines and translate them into horror that is accessible for teens. If you want to know more about my thoughts on this one, be sure to check out my reading vlog that I did for July Noir: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuaGo...
I highly recommend checking out the content warnings on this one before picking it up.
One of my goals is to finish Tiffany D. Jackson's catalogue and I've owned this book for a while. Though I knew it was loosely based on King's Carrie, I didn't anticipate the darkness and heaviness I felt while reading it. As always, Jackson brilliantly ties in social commentary that is closely related to the experience of the Black community. Being in the head of the racist community members was jarring and difficult, yet realistic to the experience of many. I always admire her ability to take stories that have made headlines and translate them into horror that is accessible for teens. If you want to know more about my thoughts on this one, be sure to check out my reading vlog that I did for July Noir: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuaGo...
October 2, 2022
Rating it already because I’m really excited and a Karen decided to rate the book three stars for no reason.
Edit: The book is phenomenal.
Edit: The book is phenomenal.
October 16, 2022
Tiffany D. Jackson is a must read author for me and this one didn’t disappoint. I loved Carrie and this retelling with a racism twist was equally horrific and twisty as the original. I will admit I had to check the dates several times because all of the talk of “white prom” and “black prom” were disgusting and felt more 50’s than 2014, but as disgusting as it is I’m sure that was the response of many southern schools - if they have to segregate they’ll privatize the fun things and exclude the African American children. Maddy (the Carrie of this story) is biracial but her father has made her keep her African American heritage a secret and she is light skinned enough to manage this until one day in gym she is caught out in the rain. I loved that the story was told in two ways - direct story telling of what happened and through a podcast exploring the incident of prom night when most of the senior class and a lot of the town died.
October 30, 2022
I loved White Smoke by the same author but didn't think I would like this as much as I did. It seems to be inspired by "Carrie" by Stephen King and I'm not a huge fan of either the book nor film. But this was so good. Highly recommend this one even if you aren't a huge Carrie fan like me.
January 27, 2023
This was SO good and I loved the ways it took the Carrie plot and turned it into something totally fresh and new. Full review to come!
September 14, 2022
Baby Tiffany don’t miss! While reading the last 5 chapters of the book all I could do is stare 🫠🫠🫠 I almost want a story of Maddie part 2 because I need to know some things that left me with a bunch of questions 😵💫
February 13, 2024
READ THIS BOOK! If you're a King fan, if you love horror, feeling your feelings, and pitch-perfect storytelling--you need this one! Full review to come.
November 11, 2025
Ten years ago, on the night of senior prom, nearly 200 residents of Springville perished in what would forever be remembered as The Springville Massacre.
2024 – a new podcast, Maddy Did It, claims to have uncovered never-before-seen evidence surrounding the events of that night. Did Madison Washington really cause the deaths with her rumoured supernatural powers? Is she still alive – or did she perish in the fires along with so many? And who lived to tell the tale?
2014 – For years, Madison “Maddy” Washington has endured relentless bullying from her classmates, mocked as Mad Mad Maddy for her shyness, old-fashioned clothes, and quiet nature. But the truth lies at home: her domineering, racist father forces her to dress and behave “white,” suppressing the Black heritage she inherited from her late mother.
On a rainy May day, just weeks before prom and graduation, a cruel act of bullying against Maddy is caught on video – and goes viral. Suddenly, the small Georgia town of Springville, steeped in deep-seated racism, finds itself in an unwanted spotlight. A town still divided by colour in the 21st-century even at prom, with white students at the country club and black students relegated to a barn, scrambles to prove it isn’t racist. The school announces the first-ever integrated “All-Together Prom”.
But this attempt at unity sets off a chain of events that will leave Springville in ruins.
On the 31st of May 2014, Springville will pay.
Springville will burn!
A fresh, modern reimagining of Stephen King’s, Carrie, The Weight of Blood was a powerful, chilling, one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Carrie’s pyrokinesis was even reference during the podcast, a nod to its classic predecessor. I loved every moment of this book – every sentence, every thought, every line of dialogue. It delivered everything I could have wished for in a story. Although classified as young adult and primarily told from the perspectives of high school seniors, it was the kind of story that will resonate just as strongly with an adult audience.
Though horror played a role, the novel leaned more toward thriller – part high school drama, part family secrets, part coming-of-age, part romance, part female rage – layered with literary themes that confronted racism, bullying, and child abuse head on. Considering the bulk of this was set in the year 2014, the persistence of such entrenched and blatant racism in Springville was archaic and, unfortunately, disturbingly real. It was a school system and community culture frozen in the past, clinging to outdated traditions, most shockingly its racially segregated prom.
The characterisations were incredible. Every character felt fully fleshed out, and I found myself even empathising with the deeply flawed teenagers, who, on the cusp of leaving Springville for college, and beyond, had the potential to grow into better people, if given the chance. It was the adults who bore most of the blame – some of the parents and authority figures in this novel were truly despicable. While reading, my dread steadily mounted. Although I own Carrie, I haven’t yet read it, and my memory of the 1970s movie was hazy – I couldn’t even remember who survived. As I grew more attached to several of the characters in this version, I found myself desperately willing them to survive.
While the chapters were lengthy, the scenes themselves were concise and to the point, separated by paragraph breaks. The final, breathtaking climax occupied the last 30% of the novel and was presented in a meticulous, blow-by-blow style that kept the tension high and the adrenaline surging. The last line sent shivers down my spine.
The podcast segments were fantastic, dropping clues about the massacre through the voices of students, parents, and townspeople whose lives were forever marked by that dreadful night. Also included were interviews with doctors, psychologists, and so-called experts on telekinesis and pyrokinesis, making the true crime documentary feel enthralling and multi-dimensional.
A special shout-out to the audiobook, which delivered a memorable and immersive experience with a full cast performance of talented narrators and rich sound effects. I cannot recommend it enough – it elevated the story to an entirely new level.
When I eventually get around to reading Carrie, I’m not sure it will be able to surpass The Weight of Blood. This is one of the best books I’ve ever read, both within and beyond the young adult genre, and it’s certain to rank very high on my end-of-year favourites list – and possibly among my all-time favourites.
2024 – a new podcast, Maddy Did It, claims to have uncovered never-before-seen evidence surrounding the events of that night. Did Madison Washington really cause the deaths with her rumoured supernatural powers? Is she still alive – or did she perish in the fires along with so many? And who lived to tell the tale?
2014 – For years, Madison “Maddy” Washington has endured relentless bullying from her classmates, mocked as Mad Mad Maddy for her shyness, old-fashioned clothes, and quiet nature. But the truth lies at home: her domineering, racist father forces her to dress and behave “white,” suppressing the Black heritage she inherited from her late mother.
On a rainy May day, just weeks before prom and graduation, a cruel act of bullying against Maddy is caught on video – and goes viral. Suddenly, the small Georgia town of Springville, steeped in deep-seated racism, finds itself in an unwanted spotlight. A town still divided by colour in the 21st-century even at prom, with white students at the country club and black students relegated to a barn, scrambles to prove it isn’t racist. The school announces the first-ever integrated “All-Together Prom”.
But this attempt at unity sets off a chain of events that will leave Springville in ruins.
On the 31st of May 2014, Springville will pay.
Springville will burn!
A fresh, modern reimagining of Stephen King’s, Carrie, The Weight of Blood was a powerful, chilling, one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Carrie’s pyrokinesis was even reference during the podcast, a nod to its classic predecessor. I loved every moment of this book – every sentence, every thought, every line of dialogue. It delivered everything I could have wished for in a story. Although classified as young adult and primarily told from the perspectives of high school seniors, it was the kind of story that will resonate just as strongly with an adult audience.
Though horror played a role, the novel leaned more toward thriller – part high school drama, part family secrets, part coming-of-age, part romance, part female rage – layered with literary themes that confronted racism, bullying, and child abuse head on. Considering the bulk of this was set in the year 2014, the persistence of such entrenched and blatant racism in Springville was archaic and, unfortunately, disturbingly real. It was a school system and community culture frozen in the past, clinging to outdated traditions, most shockingly its racially segregated prom.
The characterisations were incredible. Every character felt fully fleshed out, and I found myself even empathising with the deeply flawed teenagers, who, on the cusp of leaving Springville for college, and beyond, had the potential to grow into better people, if given the chance. It was the adults who bore most of the blame – some of the parents and authority figures in this novel were truly despicable. While reading, my dread steadily mounted. Although I own Carrie, I haven’t yet read it, and my memory of the 1970s movie was hazy – I couldn’t even remember who survived. As I grew more attached to several of the characters in this version, I found myself desperately willing them to survive.
While the chapters were lengthy, the scenes themselves were concise and to the point, separated by paragraph breaks. The final, breathtaking climax occupied the last 30% of the novel and was presented in a meticulous, blow-by-blow style that kept the tension high and the adrenaline surging. The last line sent shivers down my spine.
The podcast segments were fantastic, dropping clues about the massacre through the voices of students, parents, and townspeople whose lives were forever marked by that dreadful night. Also included were interviews with doctors, psychologists, and so-called experts on telekinesis and pyrokinesis, making the true crime documentary feel enthralling and multi-dimensional.
A special shout-out to the audiobook, which delivered a memorable and immersive experience with a full cast performance of talented narrators and rich sound effects. I cannot recommend it enough – it elevated the story to an entirely new level.
When I eventually get around to reading Carrie, I’m not sure it will be able to surpass The Weight of Blood. This is one of the best books I’ve ever read, both within and beyond the young adult genre, and it’s certain to rank very high on my end-of-year favourites list – and possibly among my all-time favourites.
October 13, 2022
5+ stars for this masterpiece!
This book packed a punch, but damn if it wasn’t one that will leave a lasting impression. This Carrie retelling hit deep. It’s horror, but tackles racism in a way I haven’t experienced yet in a read. TW: child abuse, bullying, racism, violence. The story follows Mandy, a biracial “white passing” teen that almost keeps people fooled until her hair gets wet one day. Now for any Black girl/woman, we know the ordeal this is, especially when you don’t have a natural hair style, but use a hot comb. I repeat, a hot comb. My heart broke for Maddy and also Kenny as I could relate to so much that he experienced.
This excerpt says it all.
“Kenny had perfected the art of remaining impartial, though some would call it acute obliviousness. In history class, he ignored the nervous glances during the slavery unit. When a Black kid was murdered for wearing a hoodie, he stopped wearing one. When BLBP protests broke out all over the country, he pretended the news coverage didn’t exist, convincing Jason to have a party at his place instead. He ignored every ignorant comment and causal drop of the N-word. After all, it was in all the songs they loved. He almost managed to make his friends completely forget he was Black.“
Tiffany tackles issues that so many turn blind eyes to. Being born and raised in Mississippi myself, I could relate to so much that this book went over being that it was set in GA.
I wish that everyone would read this one, especially non poc to really get a raw, real picture at racism and the many micro aggressions that come with this. Some weren’t even micro, but huge ones. I’m so thankful that my voice as a Black woman is unmuted now. The things these characters went through and experienced were beyond hurtful. I especially hated her class making fun of her Afro and throwing pencils in it. I love Maddy and Keith so much!!
This book packed a punch, but damn if it wasn’t one that will leave a lasting impression. This Carrie retelling hit deep. It’s horror, but tackles racism in a way I haven’t experienced yet in a read. TW: child abuse, bullying, racism, violence. The story follows Mandy, a biracial “white passing” teen that almost keeps people fooled until her hair gets wet one day. Now for any Black girl/woman, we know the ordeal this is, especially when you don’t have a natural hair style, but use a hot comb. I repeat, a hot comb. My heart broke for Maddy and also Kenny as I could relate to so much that he experienced.
This excerpt says it all.
“Kenny had perfected the art of remaining impartial, though some would call it acute obliviousness. In history class, he ignored the nervous glances during the slavery unit. When a Black kid was murdered for wearing a hoodie, he stopped wearing one. When BLBP protests broke out all over the country, he pretended the news coverage didn’t exist, convincing Jason to have a party at his place instead. He ignored every ignorant comment and causal drop of the N-word. After all, it was in all the songs they loved. He almost managed to make his friends completely forget he was Black.“
Tiffany tackles issues that so many turn blind eyes to. Being born and raised in Mississippi myself, I could relate to so much that this book went over being that it was set in GA.
I wish that everyone would read this one, especially non poc to really get a raw, real picture at racism and the many micro aggressions that come with this. Some weren’t even micro, but huge ones. I’m so thankful that my voice as a Black woman is unmuted now. The things these characters went through and experienced were beyond hurtful. I especially hated her class making fun of her Afro and throwing pencils in it. I love Maddy and Keith so much!!
June 8, 2022
Wow!!! Just wow! Maddy is such a force of nature. The entire time I was literally enthralled. This book is a literal masterpiece. If you're into supernatural/sci-fi/suspense this book is you're next favorite read. Even if you are not, this book was so suspenseful it'll keep you completely hooked! I completely loved the author's writing style. I truly was thrown off my feet by the social racist injustice and assumed this book was set in the 60-70s. However, it's set in 2014 in a backwards town. I loved that Maddy took charge and raged, even though it was tragic for others. The prom scene reminded me of Carrie but with crazy powers. The ending shook me to the core. If there isn't a sequel to this book coming out eventually I'll absolutely cry. I NEED to know more about what's happening after what was covered in the book (cannot be too specific or it would be a spoiler). This is a hands down masterpiece. 5 star! This needs to be a movie! I read this in 1 sitting, it's now 2am and I need to sleep. Lol So fair warning, start it the moment you wake up so you don't lose sleep. You will NOT be able to put this one down.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publishers to read and review. All of the statements above are my true opinion after fully reading this book.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publishers to read and review. All of the statements above are my true opinion after fully reading this book.
April 24, 2022
*Thank you, NetGalley, for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!
In her love letter to Carrie, Tiffany D. Jackson retells the story through a more modern and racial lens.
Maddy Washington is an outcast with telekinesis in a small, predominantly white, conservative town who faces religious and racially motivated abuse from her single father. The biracial teen has been raised to hide her Black parentage her entire life, straightening her hair and actively avoiding any acknowledgment of that side to her.
After getting caught in the rain during gym class, the bullying takes on new life and this is where the story begins.
The book plays out very similarly to the original source material in the religious zealot single parent, the excessive cruelty from the students and town, and the adults witnessing everything being passive with little to no interference. Jackson, like King, inserts excerpts from interviews and research studies about the incident to shape the world around the incident but makes sure to establish separation from the original source material by making the telekinetic teen’s parent her father instead of her mother, bringing racial motivation into the child abuse and bullying, and dropping the possibility in the early chapters that there’s a conspiracy of Maddy surviving the prom night massacre. It’s in these story differences that keep this very familiar story fresh, demanding curiosity to see just how different the ending plays out (especially with an author known for her finales).
We watch Maddy’s father raise her to quite literally worship white women. It’s a very interesting shift in motivation from Carrie White’s mother. Maddy’s father idolizes conservative values and ways of living with intense Christian beliefs being very much included but not the sole focus. Instead of seeing a mother punishing her daughter with the Bible as a result of violent internalized misogyny and self-hatred, we see a white man going to extreme lengths to torture and shape his Black daughter for a range of motivations.
I’m also so fascinated by the depth given to Maddy. On top of the expected interest in telekinesis and prom, Maddy goes on a journey of self-discovery in better understanding her racial identity as well as trying to understand her lost parentage. Instead of just seeking out terminology to better understand her power, she goes a step further to develop a bond to it and looks toward a future where she can finally belong to a community. The gift almost has a personality of its own, communicating with Maddy instead of being a muscle to flex.
Ugh!
White saviors and complacency. How segregation persists in the modern-day. The layers the term “complicit” takes on. A spectrum of the quiet kind of racism that hides behind the excuse of it “just being a joke” and the more violent, undeniable hatred that demands to be acknowledged. Navigating identity and exploring the various approaches to survival.
And, of course, a bloody mess on prom night.
I could talk about this book forever and I genuinely do prefer it over the original book.
CW: child abuse (verbal and physical), police brutality/violence, violence, racism (brief slur usage included), internalized racism, colorism, weaponized religion, bullying, fatphobia, death, murder, mass-murder, blood, slight gore, grief, ableism (brief)
WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!
In her love letter to Carrie, Tiffany D. Jackson retells the story through a more modern and racial lens.
Maddy Washington is an outcast with telekinesis in a small, predominantly white, conservative town who faces religious and racially motivated abuse from her single father. The biracial teen has been raised to hide her Black parentage her entire life, straightening her hair and actively avoiding any acknowledgment of that side to her.
After getting caught in the rain during gym class, the bullying takes on new life and this is where the story begins.
The book plays out very similarly to the original source material in the religious zealot single parent, the excessive cruelty from the students and town, and the adults witnessing everything being passive with little to no interference. Jackson, like King, inserts excerpts from interviews and research studies about the incident to shape the world around the incident but makes sure to establish separation from the original source material by making the telekinetic teen’s parent her father instead of her mother, bringing racial motivation into the child abuse and bullying, and dropping the possibility in the early chapters that there’s a conspiracy of Maddy surviving the prom night massacre. It’s in these story differences that keep this very familiar story fresh, demanding curiosity to see just how different the ending plays out (especially with an author known for her finales).
We watch Maddy’s father raise her to quite literally worship white women. It’s a very interesting shift in motivation from Carrie White’s mother. Maddy’s father idolizes conservative values and ways of living with intense Christian beliefs being very much included but not the sole focus. Instead of seeing a mother punishing her daughter with the Bible as a result of violent internalized misogyny and self-hatred, we see a white man going to extreme lengths to torture and shape his Black daughter for a range of motivations.
I’m also so fascinated by the depth given to Maddy. On top of the expected interest in telekinesis and prom, Maddy goes on a journey of self-discovery in better understanding her racial identity as well as trying to understand her lost parentage. Instead of just seeking out terminology to better understand her power, she goes a step further to develop a bond to it and looks toward a future where she can finally belong to a community. The gift almost has a personality of its own, communicating with Maddy instead of being a muscle to flex.
Ugh!
White saviors and complacency. How segregation persists in the modern-day. The layers the term “complicit” takes on. A spectrum of the quiet kind of racism that hides behind the excuse of it “just being a joke” and the more violent, undeniable hatred that demands to be acknowledged. Navigating identity and exploring the various approaches to survival.
And, of course, a bloody mess on prom night.
I could talk about this book forever and I genuinely do prefer it over the original book.
CW: child abuse (verbal and physical), police brutality/violence, violence, racism (brief slur usage included), internalized racism, colorism, weaponized religion, bullying, fatphobia, death, murder, mass-murder, blood, slight gore, grief, ableism (brief)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2022
Update: the longer I think about it, the more I hate it, so knocking it down from 2 stars, to 1 star.
I have a lot of thoughts about this book, most not good…
*Note: Being that this book is by a Black author, I feel the need to state that the way she chose to write her book is valid! Though I do not agree with the way she wrote it, doesn’t mean it’s problematic in any way. Also, I am a Black woman and this review is coming from the perspective of me as a Black woman.*
I’ll start out with the couple of things I liked about this book. I liked the podcast element, since it broke up otherwise monotonous writing. And I thought the character work was good. By this I mean, I thought the characters were exactly who they were supposed to be? Did I like anyone other than our protagonist Maddy? No. But the characters were developed well.
Now, let’s get into the main thing that ruined this book for me and why I hate it. The protagonist of this book was Maddy, but most of the pov chapters were in the minds of racists and racism apologists. I assumed that our protagonist was the main character and that her voice would be centered in this novel, but it was not. Instead the story mainly centered 2 people, one being the main racist’s bestfriend who condones the racist things her bestfriend does and even laughs and enjoys those things, and the second one being the Black boyfriend of that character who only cares about the white gaze and also is okay with the racist things his friends do, even though he himself is Black. We all know people like that right? Well, I do not want to read a book that centers their povs. It was EXHAUSTING being in their heads. And had I known that we would spend most of our time with them, I would’ve never picked this book up.
Also, I made the mistake of picking this as a group book for the Black readathon I’m hosting, not realizing that it centers the racists more than our protagonist. So, I definitely regret picking this book for a readathon that centers the Black experience. And I would’ve DNFed this book at about 30% in if I hadn’t chosen it.
I have one more thing to say, but this thing includes a major spoiler, so if you don’t want spoilers please don’t read the review beyond this point😊
❗️❗️SPOILER WARNING❗️❗️
The worst racist of them all not dying at the end was incredibly disappointing. Also, little miss racism apologist that I mentioned up above, got off very easily and no harm came to her at all. A book that’s supposed to be about getting revenge on racists with no revenge on the biggest racists, how dreadful…
Also, why would the Black students want to have an integrated prom with those racists? The whole integrated prom thing would’ve been way more believable if the school wanted to do damage control and decided to integrate the prom. No group of Black people that I know would ever want to go to the same prom as a group of racists. I found that to be almost a plot hole.
I have a lot of thoughts about this book, most not good…
*Note: Being that this book is by a Black author, I feel the need to state that the way she chose to write her book is valid! Though I do not agree with the way she wrote it, doesn’t mean it’s problematic in any way. Also, I am a Black woman and this review is coming from the perspective of me as a Black woman.*
I’ll start out with the couple of things I liked about this book. I liked the podcast element, since it broke up otherwise monotonous writing. And I thought the character work was good. By this I mean, I thought the characters were exactly who they were supposed to be? Did I like anyone other than our protagonist Maddy? No. But the characters were developed well.
Now, let’s get into the main thing that ruined this book for me and why I hate it. The protagonist of this book was Maddy, but most of the pov chapters were in the minds of racists and racism apologists. I assumed that our protagonist was the main character and that her voice would be centered in this novel, but it was not. Instead the story mainly centered 2 people, one being the main racist’s bestfriend who condones the racist things her bestfriend does and even laughs and enjoys those things, and the second one being the Black boyfriend of that character who only cares about the white gaze and also is okay with the racist things his friends do, even though he himself is Black. We all know people like that right? Well, I do not want to read a book that centers their povs. It was EXHAUSTING being in their heads. And had I known that we would spend most of our time with them, I would’ve never picked this book up.
Also, I made the mistake of picking this as a group book for the Black readathon I’m hosting, not realizing that it centers the racists more than our protagonist. So, I definitely regret picking this book for a readathon that centers the Black experience. And I would’ve DNFed this book at about 30% in if I hadn’t chosen it.
I have one more thing to say, but this thing includes a major spoiler, so if you don’t want spoilers please don’t read the review beyond this point😊
❗️❗️SPOILER WARNING❗️❗️
The worst racist of them all not dying at the end was incredibly disappointing. Also, little miss racism apologist that I mentioned up above, got off very easily and no harm came to her at all. A book that’s supposed to be about getting revenge on racists with no revenge on the biggest racists, how dreadful…
Also, why would the Black students want to have an integrated prom with those racists? The whole integrated prom thing would’ve been way more believable if the school wanted to do damage control and decided to integrate the prom. No group of Black people that I know would ever want to go to the same prom as a group of racists. I found that to be almost a plot hole.
January 25, 2023
An updated homage to Stephen King's Carrie with a more modern twist that explores racism and a small town with deeply rooted racist traditions. Although this is set in 2014, it felt more like the 50's or 60's with segregated proms and ignorantly racist characters. If you can chalk that up to fiction, then you will enjoy this.
I've read several books over the past year that attempted to tackle similar topics, but walked away with nothing. Where The Weight of Blood succeeds and others have come up short is showing, not telling. Tiffany Jackson did a fantastic job setting the scene and showing us how these people think - the racist queen B Jules, the black star athlete who brushes off his friend's racist comments/actions in order to be accepted Kenny, and the racist's best friend sympathizer Wendy. It wasn't a one sided story. And, more importantly, it wasn't preachy in the "woke" way that is so popular (I hate the word "work" btw, but at the moment lack a better word to draw the connection).
This book would make for great conversation in a book club, especially a character study of Wendy. A character who wanted to be good and thought so diligently that she wasn't one of the racist in town because she was dating a black guy, yet condoned her racist best friend's awful behavior.
An eye-opening, thought-provoking exploration of racism... oh yeah, and there's some cool telekinesis/witchcraft/fire wielding stuff in there too. I loved how Jackson broke up the text with podcast scenes, news clippings, and book excerpts AFTER the events of that night. Don't be scared off by the YA genre slotting. I don't usually enjoy YA novels, but I really couldn't tell here. Reads more like adult fiction with a sci-fi twist that centers around high school kids.
4.5 stars, rounding up. Cheers!
I've read several books over the past year that attempted to tackle similar topics, but walked away with nothing. Where The Weight of Blood succeeds and others have come up short is showing, not telling. Tiffany Jackson did a fantastic job setting the scene and showing us how these people think - the racist queen B Jules, the black star athlete who brushes off his friend's racist comments/actions in order to be accepted Kenny, and the racist's best friend sympathizer Wendy. It wasn't a one sided story. And, more importantly, it wasn't preachy in the "woke" way that is so popular (I hate the word "work" btw, but at the moment lack a better word to draw the connection).
This book would make for great conversation in a book club, especially a character study of Wendy. A character who wanted to be good and thought so diligently that she wasn't one of the racist in town because she was dating a black guy, yet condoned her racist best friend's awful behavior.
An eye-opening, thought-provoking exploration of racism... oh yeah, and there's some cool telekinesis/witchcraft/fire wielding stuff in there too. I loved how Jackson broke up the text with podcast scenes, news clippings, and book excerpts AFTER the events of that night. Don't be scared off by the YA genre slotting. I don't usually enjoy YA novels, but I really couldn't tell here. Reads more like adult fiction with a sci-fi twist that centers around high school kids.
4.5 stars, rounding up. Cheers!
December 26, 2022
as a Texan it is hilarious to see the racist white girl dreaming of going to Texas A&M (notorious for being where the racist white people go)
short rtc, 3.5 stars
short rtc, 3.5 stars
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