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itsheyfay's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Violence, Ableism, Blood, Toxic friendship, Murder, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Gun violence, Police brutality, Abandonment, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Animal death
bookcheshirecat's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
“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.”
➽ The Weight of Blood was a compelling Horror book full of intrigue and paranormal powers! I've never seen Carrie (though I know what it's about), but I could definitely feel the same vibes in this book. The story is about Maddy, a biracial teen who has hidden her identity because of her white, racist father. When it comes out that she has a black mother, Maddy is viciously bullied by both her peers and her furious father. The video of her bullying goes viral, so the school is forced to host its first integrated prom ... but it ends in disaster and everyone blames Maddy. I loved that the book was told in a mixed-media format. There were interviews, newspaper articles and podcasts about what happened at prom, but we slowly found out how it could even get this far. The story does a great job of exploring racism and racist microaggressions in school and how some traditions like prom are still segregated.
➽ Through it all Maddy grapples with new emerging powers and Kendrick, the school's black quarterback who's supposed to go to prom with her. I loved the supernatural twist, as Maddy felt something inside her welling up ... a strange power that had been there all along. She was such a compelling character and I loved her taking back some agency, as she's been continuously abused by her father for years. Maddy is meek and shy because her father restricted her life with his religious bigotry. She doesn't have any friends, but Kendrick is kind of pushed to get closer to her. His popular white girlfriend thinks herself a savior, so she rents him out to Maddy for the prom, so their school's scandal is brushed under the rug. Kendrick is in a difficult position, as he's used as the token popular black guy and begins to realize how much casual racism he has to ignore from his own friends. The situation with Maddy brings a lot of issues to a boiling point and I loved how intense the story got!
Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Racism, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Death, Gore, Murder, Police brutality, and Violence
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Abandonment, Animal death, and Slavery
pandact's review against another edition
- 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
The plot is almost like
The universe sings to meeee!
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Police brutality, Racism, Violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Hate crime, and Child death
Moderate: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Animal death, Death of parent, Classism, Outing, Mass/school shootings, Grief, Car accident, and Body shaming
Minor: Ableism
minimicropup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
- Set in small town Georgia in the 2010s
Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags 🐺🐕:
- The character depth and development was stunning. The characters aren't built on stereotypes and the thoughts, feelings, and expressions of each POV is morally grey and often relatable.
- The commentary about bullying, allies, problematic motivations, rejecting culture and race, ableism, parental motivation, and racism is not heavy handed or judgemental. It is nuanced, relatable, challenging, and symbolic.
- This does not read as a young adult novel. Although I'd recommend it for young adults, it is mature and deep enough to resonate with adults too. The characters and writing style aren't immature or overly explained (none of the "I did this, then I did this, then I thought this, then I saw this." typical of YA novels).
- This will probably be a challenging story, but in an introspective, gentle way. I cringed after seeing myself in some of these characters.
Cred Rating 👌🩸: Magical realism with realistic horrors
- The events, how they unfold, and how people interpret them are fully developed and realistic, interwoven with magical and science fiction realism
Mood Reading Match Up:
- IRL horrors with magical realisms/subtle sci-fi on telekinesis
- Literary fiction vibes with symbolic commentary on race, bullying, and problematic motivation
- Podcast / true crime media mixed with multiple POV narratives
- Introspective, nostalgic coming-of-age stories
- "Good for them" bullied/abused revenge trope
Content Heads-Up: Racism. Bullying. Confinement. Religious abuse. Physical and emotional abuse from a parent.
Format: Hardcover
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Blood, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, and Ableism
natnat_7's review against another edition
- 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
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
emzhay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was in tears. Tiffany D Jackson put her whole foot in this book. She seamlessly weaved so many aspects and experiences with racism together and presented it with dynamic and engaging storytelling. I devoured this book in two days.
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Child abuse, Blood, Hate crime, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Bullying, Child death, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Sexual content and Ableism
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
- 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
Also: Tiffany D. Jackson I LOVE you.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Racism, Hate crime, Police brutality, Murder, Ableism, Violence, Child death, Mass/school shootings, Toxic friendship, Gun violence, Blood, Infidelity, Mental illness, Bullying, and Animal death
Minor: Slavery and Self harm
there is no mass shooting in this book BUT there is a mass murder and i felt like i had to note it somehow.imstephtacular's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.25
Graphic: Racism, Bullying, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Murder, Violence, Blood, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Police brutality
Moderate: Confinement, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Torture, Classism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Suicide, Vomit, Misogyny, Sexism, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cursing, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Ableism, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Cancer, and Fatphobia
_fallinglight_'s review against another edition
- 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
4.75
But I guess this is kinda a spoiler or something but I have a crazy theory that
Graphic: Police brutality, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Murder, Racism, Violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Animal death and Racial slurs
Minor: Ableism