A timely retelling of Carrie centered on racism. I enjoyed the podcast manuscript laying out the aftermath. There are nuanced characters, there are villains, there are some good characters. The instalove between Kenny and Maddy wasn't believable for me though. Still, this was a compelling read and I enjoy Jackson's work.

This was my first Tiffany D. Jackson read and all I can say is: HOT. DAMN.

THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD is an absolute masterclass in the art of retellings. The way Jackson is able to bring so much nuance to a well-known horror story, and with such interesting and layered characters and beautiful prose is absolutely phenomenal. So much is tackled in this story--from white allyship to internalized racism--and all of it is done beautifully. This is hands down THE perfect read for Fall, and I'll definitely be rereading the physical copy I ordered in time for Halloween. Now I'm off to read all of Jackson's other works!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC (Advance reader's copy) of this book in exchange of an honest review. All opinions in this review are of my own. I will try to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible!

Tiffany D. Jackson does a fantastic job of enticing her readings from the opening pages of this book. From the moment I saw the words "Maddy did it," I wanted to discover who Maddy is/was, what she did, why she did it, and the aftermath. Three simple words hooked me from the jump! I enjoyed the structure of this book as it provided insight from outsiders as well as Maddy as to what occured on that devastating prom night. The outsider's perspective accompanied by what Maddy was experiencing during her time was paired together beautifully! I loved how as the story progressed, so did Maddy as a character. The strength and boldness she began to illuminate was infections and I wanted more! As powerful as this story was, I was a bit disappointed by the ending. To keep this spoiler-free, I would be inclined to ask Tiffany D. Jackson why didn't we get more of Maddy in the "After?" The "After-after prom." I feel as though there should have been a part four of this story and we were only given three. I was left with so many unanswered questions as Maddy set off on her journey. Not only that, but Kendrick. I felt readers finally got to see the true Kendrick instead of "Kenny" just when the story was ending. I would have loved to get more of Kendrick in the closing pages.

From an educator's perspective, this book is a must for all classroom libraries grades 9 and up. As the Department Chair on my campus (in Texas of all states lol), I have requested a pre-order of this book for all of my freshmen classrooms. I feel as though this book will be a hit amongst the reluctant readers as well as the avid ones. This book will lend itself into uncomfortable yet needed discussions. Yes- this book does touch on racism, colorism, identity, sex, drink etc. , but the way the novel is structured and carefully written is worth reading.
Worth talking about.
Worth diving into the uncomfortable comfortable reality that we live in.
Worth being a book that ignites change.

Despite being slightly disappointed by the ending, I could not give this book less than 5 stars. It was just that good-even without a "Part 4." :)

Bravo Tiffany D. Jackson! You've done it again!

An absolute masterpiece Carrie retelling, set in a small, southern US town in 2014, centered around the high school's *first* integrated prom. Yeah, I said first. In 2014. It's gross. And the book addresses so many important things regarding race, colorism, passing, code-switching, not being oneself due to parental or societal pressure. It's so good. My least favorite part was the podcast "manuscript" but it was all still so good I don't care. I'll read this again and I'd love to watch it as a movie!

Another incredible novel by Tiffany D. Jackson! I've read everything she's written and she consistently knocks it out of the park. I love that she's really digging into horror with the past few titles.

This book is Carrie meets colorism in the best possible combination. I absolutely loved everything about this: the formatting, the characters, the subtle and not so subtle references to King’s original work, but mostly I loved Maddy. I don’t want to give too much away since this book is just coming out, but this may be Tiffany Jackson’s best work yet. And that’s saying something, because she is incredibly gifted.

Written in podcast format. Readers follow the story through narration of events, after the fact interviews, and newspaper articles. Everyone says Maddy did it. But, there’s a lot of blame to go around as the rural Georgia town hosts its first integrated prom in 2014. Classmate bullying ramps up when the community discovers Maddy’s secret. Her father's control has worked to hide her biracial identity until just before graduation. A town simmering with racism boils over when a prank goes too far, and emotions Maddy had bottled up release the telekinesis she had only been toying with until that point.

Sure to be popular with fans of Jordan Peele’s horror movies. The striking cover and reinterpretation of the King classic will have students clamoring for this title. Be sure to have plenty of copies. Trademark Jackson, this #book brings all the energy and adrenaline in a faceted storyline inspired by news events. Students will be hooked by the storyline that also delivers plenty of discussion points. A good #BookClub #read. A great addition to any high school classroom or #library collection. Pre Order now for 9/6/22 publication.

4.5 stars. Wow this horror YA was really well done! Reminiscent of Carrie for sure.

Maddy is biracial and raised by her father in a small town to be ashamed of her black heritage. She is bullied at school, at home and the town in inherently racist, including having separate proms! She starts to fight back with her telekinesis and blows up the town in more ways than one.

The history and characters were amazingly written, heartbreaking and real. This book started a little slow but picked up quickly and never let let off the gas. Truly enjoyed reading this book and it’s emphasis on American history and racism.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Riveting. Jaw Dropping. The Queen of Thrillers does it again!! Tiffany D Jackson never fails to craft an immersive story with an unreliable narrator. I have never read an author who has me rooting for the untrustworthy girl like she does. As an homage to her favorite movie Carrie, Jackson does NOT disappoint. She tackles current race issues through the lens of Carrie, and does a superb job. Like most of her novels, giving a summary would have a spoiler in it somehow. This book is off the charts and the ending? Perfection. I was worried….I had no clue how she would rectify something that I absolutely loved in this story, and she did it. It’s the perfect YA thriller, and I can’t wait to share it with my students!

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson Is a brilliant, unputdownable young adult suspenseful mystery/horror book that seamlessly addresses some of the the most complex deep-rooted issues of our society into this supernatural story.
At the beginning of this novel, there is an author’s note to the readers discussing the fact that there are still segregated proms in SEVEN states in real life!!! That is mind-blowing & stomach-sickening that it still exists. That horrific fact sets the tone for this intelligently crafted Carrie-esque retelling that tackles gut-wrechingly realistic portrayal of racism, bullying & more. It doesn’t shy away from displaying the rigid societal norms, stereotypes & prejudices that often saturate many places. These characters are complex & offer glimpses into the roles many must utilize to get through life along with their want & need for change.
The Weight of Blood metaphorically provides a mirror onto our society & especially to the seven states that still have segregated proms & begs the question do you want to make changes now?! I certainly hope so.
There’s a supernatural element to this novel but I feel like the catastrophic consequences from racism & bullying aren’t as far-fetched as one might hope.
If you have not yet read anything by Tiffany D. Jackson, you are only divesting yourself from absolutely brilliant writing. She has such an incredible voice that radiates through any & all books I’ve read from her & I highly recommend moving her to the top of your TBR pile!

The Weight of Blood comes out September 6, 2022!

Massive thanks to NetGalley & HarperCollins Children’s Books for giving me the opportunity to read an arc of this in exchange for an honest review:

Trigger warnings: This book mentions &/or contains racism, bullying, fire, murder, violence & death.

I will post to my social media as it gets closer to release date & add links once I do.

I was sold when I heard this described as a retelling of Carrie but it ended up being so much more! Not only does Jackson make you feel the horrors of high school, you feel the deep, horrifying impact of racism. It really showed how microaggressions can be as insidious as overt racism (we see that too). That real life element made the story much more unsettling. If this book were around when I was a teenager, I would have gone crazy over the combination of horrors, both fictional and real life.

I really enjoyed the formatting of telling the story on a true crime documentary after the fact. The way we go back to it throughout the story added suspense. I read the eARC but look forward to reading a physical copy when it is released, I think the interview parts could be reformatted a bit to stick out more and I'm hoping they are clearer on the published copy.

Such a well-done retelling of Carrie. This story is tense, and I loved the backstory that Tiffany added to the parts of Carrie that I felt were lacking. This story is fast-paced and scary, and I loved every minute of it.

Tiffany Jackson has done it again. I love her style of writing. It always leaves you wanting more. This is a great read very similar to the movie Carrie. That made me love it even more. Maddy was a young girl, that just wanted to be like every one else. She was adamant about following her dad’s rules. She ended up learning more about her true self when she stopped following his rules. I like how it was a modernized version of what’s going on in the world today. It explores high school drama along with romance. I like the aspect of the interview throughout the story.

I didn't think Carrie needed a retelling. I was wrong. Tiffany D. Jackson knows better than me, and The Weight of Blood is proof of that. I couldn't put this book down.

An investigative podcast "Maddy Did It" explores the seemingly supernatural events surrounding Springville's first integrated prom. And, no, this is not historical fiction. It's a contemporary thriller set in the mid-2010s. And, yes, there are still segregated events in schools today. It's important to read Jackson's preface to understand the generational trauma embedded in this book. Despite freedom, no one is free due to institutional racism and traditions.

This quick-paced thriller is told in third-person narration interspersed with news articles, podcast transcripts, diary entries, and police statements. We know that tragedy is coming, but we don't know what will be the final incident that sets off the events. The Weight of Blood is a must read for horror fans, thriller enthusiastic, true crime podcast bingers, and those looking for fiction that challenges racist ideas and institutions.

Madison Washington is an outcast in her home and in her school. She has been holding a secret her entire life, and the weight of that is about to break.

I have to say that Tiffany Jackson surprised me with The Weight of Blood. I have read several of her other books, and I wasn’t expecting this story. The book goes back and forth between a podcast happening now and the story unveiling in 2014. Jackson did a superb job of using this method to parcel out clues and details regarding the overall story while blending everything together. Many authors can’t pull this off well. She also addresses small town racism and colourism head-on. The attitudes shown by the town are still present in so much of the United States. Throw in some Carrie-esque drama, and this is a fantastic book that may just show up in my teen book club.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was provided by HarperCollins Children’s Books.

I was able to read an ARC of this novel thanks to NetGalley. *All opinions and thoughts are those of my own!*
I absolutely loved this book. I enjoyed the plot, the spin on Stephen King's novel "Carrie" and the themes that were included throughout the book. So, the book follows several teens, but mostly the main character Maddy who we find out early in the novel that she is "passing" for being a white student. Because of her fair skin and straight hair, she is able to get away with it until one day it rains and her hair transforms into a huge afro. Apparently, Maddy has always been the "awkward/weird" outcast at school. The incident of students bullying her because she is black, but passing for white is what spirals the chain of events in the novel. The story is set in 2014, but one would think the story is set in the 50's from the way the students behave regarding a person a color who isn't in the "inner circle."
The other amazing portion of the novel is how the town of Springville is a small town with a power-plant that is the central point of income for most of the families. The story of the power plant is similar to the Netflix documentary entitled "Three Mile Island". Love the way that Ms. Jackson is able to intertwine fiction and historical information together.
I highlighted several quotes, one that states, "They were always making a big deal out of anything, blaming racism on everyhing, arguing with teachers over nothing. Kenny breezed through school, didn't cause trouble, and had led his team to the state championship, twice. He didn't belong in those secret circles." This quote is so profound about how people actually think and downplay the racial tension that is prevalent today.
I highly recommend this book for everyone to read.

I'm a huge Tiffany Jackson fan and I was super excited about this new book but ultimately am disappointed. I think I've enjoyed the originality of her novels and this spin on Carrie didn't hit the marker. It wasn't the usual thriller and suspense that Tiffany gives us. It was a struggle to read continuously because of the storyline. Although some things may still happen today, it was hard to imagine and understand the point. I hope her future books bring back her umph that we all love.

This was such an interesting read, especially having already known the story of Carrie. I think it was perfect for teens. Jackson did a great job of blending the future and present, and even though we knew what was going to happen, it still felt incredibly suspenseful.

Holy crap this was so good. My mother always says every teenager should be required to read Carrie. I say this could easily be added to that. A retelling of Carrie based around a school in 2014 holding their first interracial prom (seriously. 2014. And this is real! Segregated proms STILL happen). This novel is a powerful discussion on race, youth, and racist ‘tradition’ in a time where that kind of discussion is necessary. Hell, even today my student and I were discussing how one of her roommates took her story of a black Greek woman in America for college who hasn’t personally experienced overt racism as a sign that ‘most’ black people don’t experience overt racism.

I really really loved this novel. I liked the characters(well- I disliked most of the characters, but they were all very real, even the “ bad guys” were complex and three dimensional) and I felt like it addressed the issues it wanted to address without spoon feeding or being pandering. And I especially liked the ending! It’s known that King doesn’t write the best endings, and I really loved the ending Tiffany Jackson thought up!

I received this book in exchange for review!

Also-

It’s listed as YA, but I feel like that’s almost a technicality since the main character is a young adult. It doesn’t read like most YA and I definitely feel like most adults could enjoy it.

Tiffany Jackson has done it again -- a fast-paced, scary, smart as hell YA thriller with horrifyingly real characters and a relentless plot. At this point, we've all seen a million CARRIE reboots and spoofs and homages, but Jackson manages a wickedly clever revision of the original, transforming the bloody prom queen to the biracial daughter of a nostalgic racist and the nondescript suburb to a modern-day sundown town. Jackson offers a brilliant analysis of the ways in which racism is ingrained into American history and society & simultaneously skewers the true crime genre. I'll certainly be handselling this beauty all fall long!