Excellent re-telling of Carrie, interwoven with issues of race and class. I really couldn't put this down!

I love Tiffany Jackson's writing. I felt like this book is a bit different than her previous novels with the psychological thriller aspect. I love how Tiffany took a different approach with including racism as such a heavy topic. It really made me think about the topic of systemic racism, being complicent, and etc. I grew to be Maddy's biggest cheerleader and loved how she handled all the bullies in the end. I had a love/hate relationship with Kenny. I was a huge fan of Kali. I can see alot of people relating to the different characters. However I do feel like we are left on a cliff hanger because we don't have closure about Kenny and where he went and also it is assumed, Maddy went to her mom but like I felt those details were rushed. Overall I was intrigued and literally read this in 2 days.

Tiffany D. Jackson is just one of those authors that is so good at what she does, I'll automatically read anything she writes. Like she states in her author's note, this story is pretty different from the others she's told before, but it still hits all the familiar elements I associate with her writing. Set in Springville, a small town in Georgia, the book revolves around Maddy, a girl who is bullied at school, and for whom the bullying gets worse when it's accidentally revealed Maddy is Black, and has been passing as White her whole life. Racial tensions increase in town, until Wendy, the friend to Maddy's main tormentor and girlfriend of star football player Kenny, floats the idea of integrating prom (the town had segregated proms all the way until the story takes place in 2014) as a way of making amends. Well, the story is also inspired by Carrie, so fans of Stephen King's work can probably guess how things turn out. But really, Jackson is so great at suspense and twists that even if you think you know what'll happen, you're in for a surprise. I liked the format, with a framing narrative in the form of a true crime-esque podcast investigating the truth around the infamous Prom Night and interviewing involved parties while also flashing back and following different character povs leading up to the event. There's a bunch of different characters and they represent a variety of opinions and outlooks on the issues discussed, though most of the narration is from Maddy's pov. The plot relies on some suspense in the build up, as hints are given to the events everyone is talking about while also giving plenty of room to the characters and their growth, giving another great layer to the complexity of the story. I won't say any more, going in to this story blind is the best way to enjoy it, but fans of Jackson's other books and of suspense and the supernatural in general will want to pick this one up.

I think I liked this even more than Carrie itself! Jackson does a fantastic job of staying true to the original story while also making it her own. I also felt like this had a much stronger and more impactful point of view than Carrie has. I'll definitely be recommending this one.

Integration as been the law for over 50 years, but in a small town in Georgia, there are still 2 proms: a white prom and a black prom. Outsider Maddy Washington is a biracial teen who has been taught to pass for white her entire life or face strict punishment from her white single father. When she is found out, she begins to not only question her upbringing but experiences a new found power from within. This year students decide to integrate proms. Not everyone is happy about that, and Maddy is the target of their revenge.

Without exception, I am a huge fan of all of #TiffanyDJackson's work. I was excited to read #WhiteSmoke, her venture into horror--but horror with a modern twist and focusing on important current and historical topics. With as excellent as White Smoke was, #TheWeightOfBlood is even better. This book is an absolute page turner, not just for fans of Carrie and horror fans in general, but of readers who want a smart read. Jackson balances character development and settings that readers can relate to with rising tensions and Maddy's telekinetic and other powers. There are obvious trigger warnings in the book for racial violence toward Maddy and other black characters in the book, but they are key to the story as a whole and key to Maddy's story. The podcast/NPR storyline works well and helps move the plot to provide additional details as we read along. I cannot wait to recommend this book to the students in my school library. Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for the ARC.

Masterfully crafted with prose, articles, and transcript sections. The author slips in tiny hints about what happens in reality and how the truth can be manipulated in second-hand sources. It's a ride all the way through this book, with the last quarter being incredibly nail-biting! The writing is very cinematic so it's easy to imagine the scenes unfolding.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early chance to read this book.

Wow. Everything Tiffany Jackson creates for me is just always a home run. Or maybe for this book I should say a touchdown?

The best way to explain this story is imagining Stephen King’s Carrie but instead told through a town in the south where antiquated racist ways are still practiced and condoned. Maddy faces teen cruelty but this time her powers are sparked after reaching a tipping point in dealing with this hatred.

Horror is abundant in this novel in scenarios that are happening in our world today (police brutality, colorism, social racism etc) and also in the gore and aftermath that is classic Carrie vibes.

I am a super fan of Tiffany Jackson; I find her writing to be fierce, complex, surprising and dynamic I will (and have) read anything she’s written. My high school students can’t get enough of her books. I was thrilled to get an early copy of this book and jumped in as soon as I could.
In short, this book gets the highest of ratings from me; the ideas, characters, and images are still lingering with me days after finishing. This is a book with supernatural elements, but the scariest thing in the book isn’t the supernatural part but the realistic ones. And to say that about this book that has some of the most creative, yet chilling supernatural scenes, shows its power.

The characters are layered, complicated, and richly-developed. I love that Jackson’s characters aren’t perfect- they are in complicated situations and crummy environments, and influenced by flawed ideas and old ideals, yet some of them are trying to do the right thing. And these are the ones to follow: Maddy, Kendrick, and Wendy. These are the characters that I really rooted for and got to know. They are the ones who tried so hard to do what is right despite everyone around them. Jackson shows us that decisions aren’t always clearly right or wrong- they are complicated and part of who we are, and sometimes we take a lot of turns before we find the right decision for ourselves.

The pacing kept me glued to this story– I carried my copy with me to read in any margin my day would allow. The way the story unfolds - even though I know Stephen King’s Carrie and the podcast frame of this book lets the reader know the ending- there is still this element of suspense - this, “I know there is this big ending, and it is there waiting for me, and what is it going to look like, feel like especially since I know and really like these main characters- the ending can’t be what I think it is?!” Ahhh it is So. Much. More!! This combined with the eye witness accounts really give this book a strong cast of voices to tell the story.

I know a book is great when it makes me ask questions. When it makes me think of connections to the current world and my place in it.The ending chapter of the book “There are No Winners Here” had lines that stuck with me. Tanya’s line in the end: “in fact if everyone involved was allowed to be their true authentic selves without fear of recourse or ridicule, none of this would have ever happened.” And then later, “People need to want to see the truth.” are two thoughts that are still lingering with me….enough that I’m going to need to give this a 2nd read with this lens.

overall, this was good! i thought that the spookiness was just a bit too much, but i absolutely love jackson's writing, it is so immersive.

5 stars

Tiffany D. Jackson is one of the most exciting and prolific YA writers operating right now, and I could not be more thrilled (pun absolutely intended) with her recent turn to horror/thriller/mystery. This newest installment - a modern retelling of King's _Carrie_ with racism pervading every second of the text - is a must-read for fans of Jackson, horror/thriller, and just solid YA.

Maddy, the m.c., is a peculiar individual, but like most unusual teens, the root of her bizarre behavior can be found in her horrific home life and her insidious personal insecurities. The initial secret Maddy harbors is a result of not only her father's seriously misguided attempts to protect her but also her town's extreme comfort with overtly racist practices. Jackson handles every aspect of this - from Maddy's reveals to her classmates' reactions to her town's justifications - in the most sinister (because it's all believable) manner. What makes this book so chilling is not any supernatural element, though this component is really cool. No. It's the realism that is most frightening.

Jackson's spin on this horror classic feels incredibly original and relevant, and it'll stand up as a result of these factors. Jackson furthers the legacy of her outstanding _White Smoke_ by encapsulating social horror and forcing readers to look at the sickening parts of both Maddy's reality and our own. I am here for all of it and will be enthusiastically recommending this one to my students. My greatest hope is that Jackson is relaxing right now so that she can keep releasing life-altering reads for the long haul!

When Tiffany Jackson has a new release, it is always a must read for me. And this one....WOW. It was awesome.

The idea of this book was based off of Stephen King's book (and movie) Carrie. Remember that one? Poor Carrie was bullied at school because of her appearance/clothing and her overly religious beliefs. She was odd, in high school, a time when everyone wants to be like everyone else. The plot of Jackson's story closely follows what I remember of King's: the bullied girl being tormented at home, as well as at school, being locked in a closet to pray, and being invited to the prom, where everything just goes badly because Carrie has skills in telekinesis and those kids make her super mad,

In this story, we also throw in the idea of racism. Not only is our main character, Maddy, biracial, but she and her father have hidden this fact for years in their small Georgia town. A town, in fact, where racism still lives and where the only high school still holds two proms for students in 2014: the prom and the Black prom. And they see absolutely nothing wrong with this because "it's tradition".

The story is told through a podcast, years later, about what happened on prom night in 2014, with survivors telling their sides of the story. In the years since 2014, there has been a lot of speculation about what actually happened and what people saw or think they saw that night. We also have 3rd person narration about what was actually happening.

A quick read and SUCH a great story! I was sorry to see this one end.

Tiffany Jackson’s latest is a reinterpretation of Carrie. Jackson brings to light racist proms in some southern communities. Maddy, a biracial teen, fills the role of Carrie in this community that holds 2 proms on the same night: one for white students and one for black students. Jackson’s message is what makes this story interesting. The podcast and reflection on what happened on prom years later was a great modern addition. The horror backdrop and characters were not for me. I prefer Jackson’s more realistic style. Overall, this is a fast paced read with powerful social commentary.

I always have high expectations for Tiffany Jackson books, and The Weight of Blood did not disappoint! The story explores the role of. race in a small town, borrows from real-life stories of segregated proms, and throws in a nod to Carrie and some telekinesis for good measure. Maddy is such an interesting character and I enjoyed watching her grow and lean into her powers as the story progressed. I can't wait to share this with students in the fall--they will be obsessed!

Thank you, HarperCollins Children's Books. for allowing me to read The Weight of Blood early!

In this Black retelling of Carrie, Tiffany D. Jackson deals with racism and its terrifying history through the eyes of a young biracial girl, Madison Washington. This book was everything it needed to be and perhaps even more than what I expected (in a good way).

Those of us of a certain age All remember the movie, and book, Carrie by Stephen King and the imagery that goes along with it. Using this story it would seem as inspiration Tiffany Jackson has totally blown that out of the water and written a whole unique, engaging, and disturbing story! Maddy Washington has a secret, one her father has told her must be kept at all costs and her stunted life experiences with a father stuck in the 50’s has caused her to be bullied her whole life. That all changes though when the outside world becomes aware of what is going on in this small sundown town where racism and segregation still exist. What follows is a tale of love, false allies, performative support, horrible racism and hatred and ultimately a cleansing for a town in desperate need of it. Told partly as a podcast, partly as eyewitness testimony and with the voices of the main characters this book is hard to put down and will leave you thinking for days!

I LOVE Tiffany D. Jackson as an author, and I was so excited to get my hands on this advanced copy. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!

I absolutely adored this book. It definitely draws on Carrie, but I truly believe this book stands on its own. I also see elements from The Vanishing Half in this book, but I loved this book so much more.

I adored Maddy and her development throughout the book, and her story is at times painful but worthwhile. I especially enjoyed seeing Maddy learn and utilize her power, and the journal plot line was awesome. The tension and conflict in this book was SO well done, and Jackson is a master at including racial plot lines that add meaning and depth to her stories.

Cannot wait to recommend this to my students and possibly include this in my classroom!

Modern day Carrie story with racism! I absolutely love this book. It’s bold, innovative and dark. It’s difficult to believe that this practice is actually still happening but to read about it within the confined of this book was mindbending. I highly recommend this story!