Week 34 Review: The Weight of Blood

From Goodreads:

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 change their image: 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.

My Review:
This book was so amazing! I've loved Tiffany D. Jackson's books before, but like she says in her note, this is the first of them that directly addresses racism, and oh, did it inspire a lot of emotions. And it's a retelling of Carrie. And it was so freaking good!

The fact that Maddie has been forced by her dad to keep her hair dry-or else her hair would give away that her mom was black-because Maddie is pale skinned enough to pass as White, is horrible. That just sets everything up for the dominos to fall over. There were some pretty awful characters, like Jules, who just couldn't get that it was her own actions that were ruining her life, her own mindset, and it was so frustrating! 

One thing that infuriated me, was there was this one point during the podcast, where someone who was featured, was giving context for the racism at the school. Apparently they were asked if slavery should still exist, and some people said yes, to bring in the cotton. And I'm like, you'd prefer to own people, to paying people to do the work? Some people are just not right in the head!

Oh, that ending! I mean, it's got similar beats to Carrie, and I enjoyed that. And there were some pretty interesting reveals-I was not expecting that from her dad. I do wish we could've had a bit of closure, about where these characters ended up, but I guess the last chapter talks about that. Still, I'd love some more answers! 

Loved reading this book, and I can't wait for more by Tiffany D. Jackson! 

Author: Tiffany D. Jackson 
Read: August 26th, 2022
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really great, and it's a SAC 2022 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Expected Publication: September 6th 2022

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars