augustinedreams's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I highly recommend reading this book. It is a fantastic take on the classic Carrie but with a modern day twist that comments on modern racism. Take your time with this book it has so much to give and all of it is brutally honest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Police brutality, Domestic abuse, Gore, Murder, Racial slurs, Violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, and Hate crime
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, Gun violence, Cursing, and Alcohol
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Alcohol, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Racism, Car accident, Child abuse, Colonisation, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Violence, Sexual content, and Vomit
greasertrashh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The Weight of Blood is a stunning retelling of Carrie told from the lens of racism in America. The author did a beautiful job weaving these elements together and making it into something unique and thought-provoking.
The addition of racial tension and generational trauma in a tale that many readers are at least partially familiar with allows the reader to immerse themselves further into the commentary of the novel and creates a more powerful statement which was only enhanced by the “podcast” episodes discussing the incident between chapters.
I rated this a 4.75 out of 5 because, unfortunately, I was hoping for a bit more from the ending. The plot ends in a great place, but somehow felt a bit rushed. May update to a 5 star rating as I revisit the novel.
The audiobook version of this was incredible, featuring a multi-narrator cast, sound effects, etc. Highly recommend both print and audiobook formats.
The addition of racial tension and generational trauma in a tale that many readers are at least partially familiar with allows the reader to immerse themselves further into the commentary of the novel and creates a more powerful statement which was only enhanced by the “podcast” episodes discussing the incident between chapters.
I rated this a 4.75 out of 5 because, unfortunately, I was hoping for a bit more from the ending. The plot ends in a great place, but somehow felt a bit rushed. May update to a 5 star rating as I revisit the novel.
The audiobook version of this was incredible, featuring a multi-narrator cast, sound effects, etc. Highly recommend both print and audiobook formats.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Body horror, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, Blood, Gore, Grief, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Classism, and Racism
tifftastic87's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A retelling of Stephen King's Carrie modernized and with a new twist.
I wanted this to be a five star, but I think it missed a few key points for me.
I really loved the idea of a new twist on Carrie, bringing in an issue that is in our forefront right now and especially in 2020 when it seems like this book was written. I really appreciated the telling of a story about how mean high school girls can be to each other from the perspective of a female writer, but I think the story fell short here. There clearly was intersection between her being a woman and her being bi-racial that given the length of the book could have been used much better.
The main reason I say this is in Carrie the tension in Carrie's home is created by her mother being afraid for her purity and uses her religion heavily to keep that. She believes that any form of sexuality, including puberty, is sinful and is extremely abusive from that angle. Likely because of how she was treated by Carrie's father. In The Weight of Blood, Maddy lives with her father who treats her as his personal housewife because he clearly is one of those men who "long for a simpler time." He only watches old movies, listens to old music and is against new technology. This is never explained really, except that he does it to protect Maddy. He believes if he can teach her to dress and act like *white* homemakers from the 50s, he can protect her from what people will think of her being mixed. My confusion is that Maddy's femininity doesn't play that big of a role in her character development, except that it gets Kenny's attention. We get the root of all of Maddy's father's abuse and it is so we are blaming women at the base of it.
Kenny is convinced by his girlfriend Wendy, who very much has a bit of white savior in her as well as "I don't see color" kind of attitude. She is also very hard to like, even though she gets the best redemption arc, because she is the type of girl who just does everything to have the dream future with the dream guy. Her life revolves around Kenny and Kenny's revolves around football. Kenny shows the most character growth in a way, because he starts trying to push back against his life being determined for him but that is only because he falls for Maddy. And he falls for her because she is "not like other girls." Which is not just me being snarky, it is literally written in a book published in 2022. I have no words, I thought we were past this or at least trying to be. There is also quite a bit that reminds me of those 2000s nerd to hottie movie transformations, because he starts noticing how pretty her eyes are when she starts to not wear glasses and then we get talks about her small frame and thin figure when she starts wearing skirts and "men's undershirts." Honestly, I am kind of sad that Jackson didn't bust out a blue chambray workshirt on us. I think the interactions between Kenny and Maddy and the insta-loviness was just a little too tropey for me.
I also really did not like the explanation we got at the end from Maddy's father on her true roots. It really felt like we were supposed to excuse his abuse of Maddy because he had his own trauma. Abusers often abuse, I don't think we need to be reminded of this and be given a seen where we are supposed to feel pitty for him.
Maddy did a lot of what she did for Kenny, which is from my memory a change from the original story. Carrie did it for herself. She may have had feelings for Tommy and she lashed out from being tricked, but its not the same as what happened here, I mean. It just makes it lose some of it's strong woman vibe.
I will say, Jackson can write. I appreciated her flow and descriptions the pace was nice and characters were developed, even if I didn't like the direction they were developed in. I really hated Jules, right down to her court testimony. I very loudly made a grumbled exasperated sigh noise of disgust when reading that part actually. I was actually upset with what happened to Kenny after the incident in the barn, and it wasn't all just in reaction to the type of event it was. I genuinely cared about him. I do wish we would have got more of his mother and sister, I liked them. His dad is a dick though.
I wanted this to be a five star, but I think it missed a few key points for me.
I really loved the idea of a new twist on Carrie, bringing in an issue that is in our forefront right now and especially in 2020 when it seems like this book was written. I really appreciated the telling of a story about how mean high school girls can be to each other from the perspective of a female writer, but I think the story fell short here. There clearly was intersection between her being a woman and her being bi-racial that given the length of the book could have been used much better.
The main reason I say this is in Carrie the tension in Carrie's home is created by her mother being afraid for her purity and uses her religion heavily to keep that. She believes that any form of sexuality, including puberty, is sinful and is extremely abusive from that angle. Likely because of how she was treated by Carrie's father. In The Weight of Blood, Maddy lives with her father who treats her as his personal housewife because he clearly is one of those men who "long for a simpler time." He only watches old movies, listens to old music and is against new technology. This is never explained really, except that he does it to protect Maddy. He believes if he can teach her to dress and act like *white* homemakers from the 50s, he can protect her from what people will think of her being mixed. My confusion is that Maddy's femininity doesn't play that big of a role in her character development, except that it gets Kenny's attention. We get the root of all of Maddy's father's abuse and it is
Spoiler
because she has the same powers his mom hasKenny is convinced by his girlfriend Wendy, who very much has a bit of white savior in her as well as "I don't see color" kind of attitude. She is also very hard to like, even though she gets the best redemption arc, because she is the type of girl who just does everything to have the dream future with the dream guy. Her life revolves around Kenny and Kenny's revolves around football. Kenny shows the most character growth in a way, because he starts trying to push back against his life being determined for him but that is only because he falls for Maddy. And he falls for her because she is "not like other girls." Which is not just me being snarky, it is literally written in a book published in 2022. I have no words, I thought we were past this or at least trying to be. There is also quite a bit that reminds me of those 2000s nerd to hottie movie transformations, because he starts noticing how pretty her eyes are when she starts to not wear glasses and then we get talks about her small frame and thin figure when she starts wearing skirts and "men's undershirts." Honestly, I am kind of sad that Jackson didn't bust out a blue chambray workshirt on us. I think the interactions between Kenny and Maddy and the insta-loviness was just a little too tropey for me.
I also really did not like the explanation we got at the end from Maddy's father on her true roots. It really felt like we were supposed to excuse his abuse of Maddy because he had his own trauma. Abusers often abuse, I don't think we need to be reminded of this and be given a seen where we are supposed to feel pitty for him.
Maddy did a lot of what she did for Kenny, which is from my memory a change from the original story. Carrie did it for herself. She may have had feelings for Tommy and she lashed out from being tricked, but its not the same as what happened here, I mean
Spoiler
Maddy only snapped out of her grief enough to survive because she was told Kenny was aliveI will say, Jackson can write. I appreciated her flow and descriptions the pace was nice and characters were developed, even if I didn't like the direction they were developed in. I really hated Jules, right down to her court testimony. I very loudly made a grumbled exasperated sigh noise of disgust when reading that part actually. I was actually upset with what happened to Kenny after the incident in the barn, and it wasn't all just in reaction to the type of event it was. I genuinely cared about him. I do wish we would have got more of his mother and sister, I liked them. His dad is a dick though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Racism, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, and Gore
natnat_7's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Racial slurs, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Suicide, Car accident, Ableism, Child abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Violence, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexism, and Vomit
cozyhosie's review
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
When I heard there was a reimagining of Stephen King’s Carrie, I knew I had to pick it up. Carrie is one of my all-time favorite books. I actually recently reread it as a comfort read. Tiffany D. Jackson’s The Weight of Blood is the perfect reimagining of the source material. The characters have more depth, their motivations are clearer, and the growth they experience is more realistic. Jackson includes small homages to King’s original work, such as giving Maddy’s father Ralph as his middle name, Maddy’s ignorance of menstrual cycles, and researchers of TK (an acronym for telekinesis King used in Carrie). She displays a masterful manipulation of her characters that causes you to feel what they feel. You will feel their pain and cringe at the microaggressions that Black people experience daily. I was so invested in the story that around 25% through, I stopped using tabs to mark things I wanted to remember and just let Jackson tell her story. I would recommend this book for fans of Carrie, people who enjoy mixed media stories (part of the story is told through interviews on a podcast), or anyone who is just looking for a good read. I finished this book over the course of an afternoon and evening and, considering I have a busy toddler at home, I attribute that to Jackson’s mastery of language and her excellent writing skills. I’m looking forward to reading more of her work in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs, Child abuse, Cursing, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Police brutality
browniebby's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Police brutality, Death of parent, Violence, Cursing, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Death
pagesofbellerose's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
The Weight of Blood is a brilliant masterpiece that will leave you questioning for days to come.
Rating: Starred
Check out my full review on my blog Belle's Archive now!
Rating: Starred
Check out my full review on my blog Belle's Archive now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Blood, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Physical abuse, Cursing, Bullying, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Racism, Hate crime, and Emotional abuse
carriepond's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson is a masterful reimagining of Stephen King's Carrie that parallels its inspiration while adding in the horrors of racism and anti-blackness. Set in a fictional town called Springville, whose residents still host segregated proms for the town's high school seniors in 2014, claiming that tradition and nostalgia, not racism, motivates them. After high school senior Maddy Washington, who is biracial but passes as white at the insistence of her white father, is unwillingly outed when an unexpected rainstorm during gym class reveals her hair's natural texture, students bully her by throwing pencils in her hair and dressing in black face at a school pep rally. The incidents go viral, putting a national spotlight on the town and its segregated prom tradition. In an effort to pad her college applications and counteract the bad press, a white senior named Wendy organizes the school's first-ever integrated prom and convinces her boyfriend, a Black football star named Kendrick, to take Maddy as his date to show that "everyone in Springville gets along." If you are familiar with the novel's inspiration, you know that doesn't end well.
I loved this book. Jackson uses a classic horror story as the vehicle to brilliantly explore themes like internalized and externalized racism and anti-blackness, microaggressions, colorism, racial identity, classism, performative allyship, and police brutality. It is so well done, and I could not stop reading.
I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend it. The audiobook production is phenomenal-- with different voice actors, music, and sound effects that really added dimension to the reading experience. For example, the story unfolds in two separate timelines: present-day through a podcast dedicated to exploring what really happened at the "Springville Massacre" and in 2014, when the main action takes place. I think if I had been reading a physical copy, the podcast sections wouldn't have worked for me, but in audiobook format, it kept me engaged and didn't slow down the momentum of the main story.
I highly recommend The Weight of Blood to YA horror fans and those who enjoy reimaginings with a social justice twist. This is one you won't want to put down until the final, bloody end.
I loved this book. Jackson uses a classic horror story as the vehicle to brilliantly explore themes like internalized and externalized racism and anti-blackness, microaggressions, colorism, racial identity, classism, performative allyship, and police brutality. It is so well done, and I could not stop reading.
I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend it. The audiobook production is phenomenal-- with different voice actors, music, and sound effects that really added dimension to the reading experience. For example, the story unfolds in two separate timelines: present-day through a podcast dedicated to exploring what really happened at the "Springville Massacre" and in 2014, when the main action takes place. I think if I had been reading a physical copy, the podcast sections wouldn't have worked for me, but in audiobook format, it kept me engaged and didn't slow down the momentum of the main story.
I highly recommend The Weight of Blood to YA horror fans and those who enjoy reimaginings with a social justice twist. This is one you won't want to put down until the final, bloody end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Violence, and Police brutality
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Racial slurs, and Cursing
chloseencounter's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was not only the best book I read this month but one of my new favorite novels of all time. I actually read it twice. The Weight of Blood is a stunning retelling of Stephen King’s Carrie told through the lense of a young black girl in a very racist town. I read this novel and immediately felt this was everything Carrie should’ve been in the first place. The added racial tension gave so much more depth and motivation to each character while keeping the core character archetypes. This book was stunning, emotional, and important. I would recommend The Weight of Blood to literally everyone, though it’s not very graphic I will say it’s painful. I could see why it would be a difficult read for those effected by racism. I actually cried until I thought I was gonna vom near the end but then I still picked this book up and read it a second time this month as well as ordered my own copy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Confinement, Racism, Violence, Blood, Classism, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse