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betweentheshelves 's review for:
The Weight of Blood
by Tiffany D. Jackson
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My second time reading this, this time for a book club! I also listened to the audiobook, which I think enhances the experience. Especially with different sound effects and narrators. It really brings you into the story, and I'd definitely recommend listening to it if you enjoy audiobooks!
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All her life, Maddy Washington has been the victim of bullying in her hometown of Springville. However, until a fateful rainstorm, it wasn’t because of her race. It was just because of her upbringing. But when rain reveals that Maddy is biracial, everything changes.
A video of Springville students bullying Maddy goes viral, forcing them to rethink their separate proms. So, they come up with a plan to host the school’s first integrated prom. After getting asked to prom by the quarterback, Maddy thinks things could be normal. But her classmates have other plans. Little do they know, Maddy has more power than meets the surface…
Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Weight of Blood to review! Tiffany D. Jackson is a favorite author of mine, and I was immediately pulled in by the cover of this book. I mean, look at it! Pulls you into the story just from that image.
This is a retelling of Carrie by Stephen King, which I actually haven’t read. But from what I know, I enjoyed the way that Jackson played with the original story. Like in most of her novels, she takes the story and puts a social justice spin on it. A large part of this book is about the ways that white people perpetuate racism. In fact, the segregated prom thing is actually something that’s happened recently in the United States (sadly). Jackson doesn’t flinch away from the difficult topics, and will leave you thinking long after you finish the book.
Throughout the book, there are also excerpts from news outles and podcasts that add to the mystery of the overall story. My only complaint about them is I wish they occured at the beginning and ends of chapters, instead of in the middle. Sometimes it took me out of the story. But these sections also helped to flesh out some of the characters, and I appreciated them for that!
All in all, if you’re looking for a new horror book to read this fall, I’d definitely recommend this one!
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I still think Mondays Not Coming is Jackson's best book, but this one was well done! Maybe not as horror-y as I thought it was going to be, but still a good read. Stay tuned for a full review!
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All her life, Maddy Washington has been the victim of bullying in her hometown of Springville. However, until a fateful rainstorm, it wasn’t because of her race. It was just because of her upbringing. But when rain reveals that Maddy is biracial, everything changes.
A video of Springville students bullying Maddy goes viral, forcing them to rethink their separate proms. So, they come up with a plan to host the school’s first integrated prom. After getting asked to prom by the quarterback, Maddy thinks things could be normal. But her classmates have other plans. Little do they know, Maddy has more power than meets the surface…
Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Weight of Blood to review! Tiffany D. Jackson is a favorite author of mine, and I was immediately pulled in by the cover of this book. I mean, look at it! Pulls you into the story just from that image.
This is a retelling of Carrie by Stephen King, which I actually haven’t read. But from what I know, I enjoyed the way that Jackson played with the original story. Like in most of her novels, she takes the story and puts a social justice spin on it. A large part of this book is about the ways that white people perpetuate racism. In fact, the segregated prom thing is actually something that’s happened recently in the United States (sadly). Jackson doesn’t flinch away from the difficult topics, and will leave you thinking long after you finish the book.
Throughout the book, there are also excerpts from news outles and podcasts that add to the mystery of the overall story. My only complaint about them is I wish they occured at the beginning and ends of chapters, instead of in the middle. Sometimes it took me out of the story. But these sections also helped to flesh out some of the characters, and I appreciated them for that!
All in all, if you’re looking for a new horror book to read this fall, I’d definitely recommend this one!
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I still think Mondays Not Coming is Jackson's best book, but this one was well done! Maybe not as horror-y as I thought it was going to be, but still a good read. Stay tuned for a full review!
Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Alcohol