An homage to Stephen King's Carrie written like a Jordan Peele film, "The Weight of Blood" is a social thriller about a high school's first integrated prom and the systematic racism in a town and how it affects it young inhabitants.

"The Weight of Blood" tells the story of Maddy a misunderstood racial mixed girl that may be a witch, and her classmates: Jules the bullying yet popular rich girl, Wendy, her best friend and girlfriend to Kenny, the star athlete, who is just trying to please everyone. using flashback to 2014 of the events that led up to the prom and a podcast over a decade later the story goes back and forth between the real events and what the podcasters believed happened on the fateful night,

I highly recommend Tiffany Jackson to my students all the time and once we purchase several copies of this title, I will without a doubt recommend this book to all students! From reluctant readers to those that are elevated in their thinking -as this books as several layers to unravel!

This suspenseful YA thriller explores America's history of racism through the compelling story of Maddy, a biracial teen navigating bullying and her school's first integrated prom. This book has prose that sings and genuine scares, building atmospheric horror and claustrophobic tension until its explosive finale. Not to be missed!

Wow this book was so much more than I was expecting, in the best way possible. Tiffany D Jackson is easily on of my favourite authors and this book was no exception.

I loved the podcast aspect of the book and the switching timelines, it kept me invested and turning the pages. The conversations about racism, colourist, and privilege were seamlessly incorporated and made for a profound and thrilling read. There are some horrifying scenes of racism so TW! But honestly this added to the horror of the book, it was something that could happen in real life but was also so horrifying and really well written. It makes you angry in the best way possible.

The characters and character growth was something I really enjoyed. I think everyones feelings throughout the book felt real and relatable. Jackson has a way of immersing you into the story and never letting you go.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC.

Madison “Maddy” Washington, who lives with her controlling and abusive father in their small town of Springville, Georgia, has spent her whole life “passing” as white. She straightens her hair, dutifully applies sunscreen, and stays home if there’s any chance of rain. An unexpected spring shower curls her hair and reveals that she is black, closely followed by a racist incident of bullying that is captured on another student’s cell phone. As the students at Springville High attempt damage control to prove to the world that they are not a racist community, they consider ending the tradition of segregated proms for black and white students and holding the school’s first All-Together Prom. One of the popular black students asks Maddy to prom as part of a stunt to keep up appearances, and readers familiar with Stephen King’s Carrie will suspect where things are headed. Author Tiffany D. Jackson mixes Maddy’s point of view with transcripts of a podcast called “Maddy Did It,” press coverage of events in Springville, and the perspectives of several other students. The climactic prom chapters are gleefully, horrifically over the top. Jackson’s second foray into horror (after last year’s White Smoke) is the work of an author at the top of her game. The Weight of Blood has broad appeal, from the cover image of a blood-soaked prom queen to the foreboding tagline: “Uneasy lies the head that wears the tiara.”

This is an intense read that illustrates Tiffany Jackson's broad range as a ya author. In this horror novel, racism and bullying are the basis of the conflict in this story set in a small, modern-day, southern town. Maddy Washington, the protagonist, is a loner and a wallflower, having lived her life hiding in plain sight. Her single father is a dictator who has governed her every move: go to school, cook dinner, care for the house, and be a devout Christian. He has raised her as if it's the 1950's, not 2014. They only watch old black and white tv shows and movies, their meals are straight out of Betty Crocker, and Maddy's clothes consist of poodle skirts and a cardigan. It is a bleak existence, but Maddy doesn't really know any better until disaster strikes and she is forced to confront the ugliness of the town and the power that resides within her. Bloody Prom Night is the culminating event that ensues after people's true selves are revealed and retribution is sought. At the heart of it all is racism, how white people deny it, how black people internalize it, and how it remains an evil force that divides us all. The metaphors are rich and relevant. A gruesome tale that illustrates the darkest side of high school and our society, as a whole.

Jackson utilizes various points of view and keeps the story moving at a good pace. Magical realism adds interest and mystery to the story and the horror scenes are gruesome! It has strong Stranger Things and Carrie vibes, but it goes beyond just horror. It reminds me of books by Grady Hendrix or Stephen Graham Jones in that it's culturally relevant.

Let me start off by saying that this book blew me away. I was hooked immediately! This is a updated retelling of Carrie and even after finishing it this weekend, I'm still thinking about it and Maddy Washington. This is not a book that I will forget from this year. Add this one to your spooky season TBR!!

😍Loved: Fast paced plot, the MC Maddy Washington is incredibly memorable, the full cast audio is AMAZING. It's twisted, dark, haunting, sinister - just SO good.

😀Liked: Didn't read like YA to me, rooting for characters but also hating them simultaneously, crime podcast incorporation, multiple POVs, made me Google and learn about what integrated prom is and when it started occuring - very eye opening.

😐Lukewarm: I liked so much about this book, so nothing to add here! Lots of trigger warnings to be aware of: racism, bullying, child abuse to name a few.

I loved this book. I liked the retelling of Carrie and how Jackson switched it up. I like how this was well researched (didn't realize segregated proms were still a thing) and I very much enjoyed how it all wrapped up.

Another excellent book by Tiffany D. Jackson. While horror is not usually my genre, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read this Carrie retelling with a twist. I love how Jackson pulled in the original Carrie story, but turned it on its head to include social issues for today's teens. I couldn't put it down, and the audio is excellent as well. I would dare say the audio is better than the physical book. Told in podcast format, with flashbacks, and the main plot through the main character's eyes, this is a wonderfully attention-grabbing book and will keep teens (and adults) on the edge of their seats

Tiffany D. Jackson's latest book is an excellent thriller. Maddy Washington has been teased her entire life for being poor, quiet, and dressing much older than she is, but when her hair gets wet one day after gym class, it's revealed that she's biracial. Strange things start happening to Maddy-things she can't explain, but she's starting to feel comfortable with her new found power.

At the same time, the most popular couple at school (she's white, the class president, he's black, the QB) is facing a problem: their small town has always had segregated proms. When she prompts her boyfriend to ask Maddie to the integrated prom as a sign of positive change in the community, everything is set into motion. No one knows exactly what happened on prom night, just that Maddy's to blame.

While the framework for the plot is based on Stephen King's Carrie, this book is much more than that. Tiffany D. Jackson really uses that as a vehicle to explore several ideas.

Tiffany D. Jackson is one of my favorite authors, but this one was a disappointment, unfortunately. I went into this book blind, so I did not realize it was a retelling of Carrie. I'm not big on retellings, especially someone who is trying to rewrite a Stephen King classic. Tiffany changed some of the major plot lines such as; religious father v religious mother, paint v blood, etc. The racial component was plotted heavily.

I think it's fair to say that Tiffany D. Jackson doing a retelling of Carrie is absolutely genius. I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN!! The racial twists, the powers, the characters, the abuse, the discussion of being "black" enough, the podcast and news sprinkled through the book, and multiple POVs. It was all amazing!

I had to research this but cannot believe that segregated proms didn't stop when school segregation stopped. Oh, and prepare for when you get to the prom night part because you will not be able to do anything until you finish the book. The madness of that night. The tragedies. The revelations. I just had to sit there for a bit with my thoughts when I finished the book. But that happens after I finish any book by Jackson.

“You, my child, were created in a hurricane, leaving destruction in your wake. You, as they say, are a storm with skin. Death and rebirth will follow you everywhere. How can one man who knows nothing of the weight of blood tame you? For wherever you go, there you are.”

Got an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The source material is apparent in this one, which does make it a bit predictable at times- nonetheless, no one's writing grips quite like Tiffany D. Jackson's and I'm excited to see more horror from her!

I have to admit- I’m not a huge horror fan. I’ve only seen bits and pieces of Carrie, which this book is based on, but as soon as I heard that Tiffany had another release, I knew I had to read it. So I put my scaredy cat feelings aside and started reading.

Boy am I glad I did! Tiffany has a way of taking inspiration and making it her own. She did an amazing job with this. I do still have some questions but I would recommend this book for anyone wanting a thriller or something similar to Stephen King. Nicely done Tiffany!

3.75 rounded up

Tiffany D. Jackson retells Carrie through the lens of a school’s first integrated prom. We follow Maddy, a biracial girl who is ridiculed by her cruel and racist classmates.

I’m a big fan of Jackson’s work, and when I heard the concept of this book I was amped. Overall, she delivered on the retelling. Knowing that this was a take on Carrie contributed to the tension as prom night crept closer. Also, I liked Maddy’s character.

However, the tension was held almost too long and it got to the point where I was bored with the build up; the middle felt a tad drawn out. Also, I’m normally a fan of having things like podcast transcripts interspersed in a book, but in this case I found myself wanting to skim these chapters because the podcast hosts were completely unrelated to the story, and therefore I didn’t care about their perspective.

Overall, this was a solid YA horror that I’d recommend picking up around Halloween! T

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the copy of The Weight Of Blood. Stephen King’ Carrie was masterfully revisited by Tiffany D. Jackson and it enthralled me. The characters were multidimensional and felt real. I loved how modern social commentary was woven into the story. The story wasn’t neatly wrapped up at the end, allowing my imagination to run wild! If you’re looking for a book with propulsive writing, great characters and a story that will be impossible to forget, this is the book for you!

Carrie was based off THIS book, change my mind!

CW: Violence, Death, Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, and Body horror

this was an atmospheric/spooky-ish, infuriating and just down right great read!

The themes of racism throughout this novel was just downright infuriating, but the lessons were plenty and relevant - Ms. Jackson never strays from incorporating difficult topics into her books and I commend her for that each and every time!

While this wasn’t as spooky as White Smoke, there’s definitely a spooky/horror-ish vibe to it that makes it perfect for the Fall season!

I listened to the audio for this via Audible and the narration and production was incredible! I loved the storytelling mixed with the podcast format and def recommend giving this one a listen!

4.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and HCC Frenzy / HarperCollins Canada for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

One of the best books I've read this year!
This book left me more educated, speechless, and simmering rage. And this title - weight of blood. Genius.
Well done. Just so well done.
Maddy did it. A town massacre. Maddy did it. No intense investigation. Just gossip and vicious rumors and fear.
A podcast personality decides to dig deeper, years after That Night. Interviewing experts on telekinesis, townspeople - the reader gets an intense look at prejudice, small town politics and school policy.

Quite a few days late but, A big thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for approving me of a copy of an e-arc of this book!
Such an interesting story, and not in a bad way! 5-stars says it all!

Okay this book was great and is a must read! I went into this barely knowing anything which I think was perfect. It was gripping and kept me on the edge of my seat and I could barely put it down.

You go into the book aware of the Springfield Prom Massacre, so in a way you kind of know how things end, but you don’t know the exact details. The book follows a podcast host and his co-host as they go through the evidence behind this case—pretty much a true crime podcast. But we also get POVs from the main characters leading up to and including the actual incident. It was really nice going back and forth between the different POVs and the podcast interviews and news articles.

The author opens the book with how this story focuses more on racism than her other books have. I had no idea segregated proms were a thing that still happen to this day. This book focuses on Maddy who is white passing and has lied to everyone that she’s actually white (at her father’s behest) until her secret is exposed. She’s already treated terribly by the other students for how she dresses and barely talks, but things take a turn for the worse as her fellow classmates show how racist they truly are, even if they try to deny their actions or take responsibility.

This book will make you angry, but in some ways it’s also relatable. Seeing Kendrick’s side of the story was really interesting as a Black kid who’s sort of left behind his identity in order to fit in. I grew up hearing and seeing other Muslim students trying to act more white in order to fit in, and even I have said and done things to make myself belong in a situation. Kendrick’s character growth was really well done throughout this book.

Wendy annoyed me so much oh my gosh. She’s very self obsessed and wants to be the martyr and have everyone think she’s selfless and good, when in reality she only does things to benefit herself first. While she does go through some character growth, I was meh about her character as a whole and honestly most of the other white characters. It was hard to look past their racist ideals even if they had one or two decent moments.

Jules can die, I hate her with a passion. But this story goes to show how white people love twisting the story to make themselves the victims at the end.

I did love how the co-host for the podcast highlights that the title of the podcast “Maddy Did It” points the blame on Maddy entirely instead of considering everything she experienced at school and by her racist white town. I’m not a fan of true crime myself and I think this book highlighted some of the ways people like to take a story and strip it down for the thrill and ignore the actual implications and lessons learned.

This book should have major trigger warnings for parental abuse, racism, and gore. It wasn’t scary or too disturbing for me personally, but the details of the actual massacre are quite vivid.

Overall, the ending was pretty well tied up and went in a direction I wasn’t expecting. 4/5 stars, highly recommend and can’t wait for the HCCFRENZY event.