Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson

81 reviews

bexgil's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Murder, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, Racism, and Bullying

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Abandonment, Toxic friendship, Religious bigotry, Police brutality, Gore, and Emotional abuse

pagesofplatypus's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

The Weight of Blood is an incredible paranormal Black horror entry. Much like Carrie, The Weight of Blood centers around teenage Maddy, who has always been quiet and ostracized by her peers, until one very bloody prom. Told in alternating perspectives from leading up to fateful prom to seven years after, The Weight of Blood will have readers engrossed in what really happened that night as they piece together everything from podcast interview transcripts and the unfolding narrative itself.

Themes of anti-Black racism, the systemic anti-Black sentiment still heavily prevalent in many small towns, and complicity are all deftly explored as students and Maddy's town react to Maddy's previously kept secret and the increasingly glaring spotlight cast onto their town as news platforms catch wind of the numerous and very public incidents of racism against Maddy.

Particularly chilling is Maddy's long endured suffering at the hands of her zealous and very much stuck in the 50s father who sets up a prayer closet filled with photos of white 50s and 60s actresses and does everything he can to hide Maddy's Blackness.

Another one of my favorite aspects of The Weight of Blood is the dynamoc between sibling Kendrick "Kenny," the token star Black football player who has also had to live up to everyone else's expectations and his sister Kali who serves him some much needed truths.

Lastly, the last 20% of The Weight of Blood goes deliciously, full throttle horror with plenty of tension and gore. I also kind of like the ambiguous ending for this, despite not typically being a fan of open endings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Violence, Physical abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Hate crime, and Racism

Moderate: Death of parent, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

priscillarobock's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide, Police brutality, Child death, Suicide, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, and Death of parent

tamika_j's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book is a reminder of the movie Carrie but this is truly real life segregation, bullying and racism. A small town that hides its secrets from the wide larger population of the world and the rest of America. A small town that still wants to believe there world is based on whiteness and oppression. Being black in this town means you have to be good at sports or corporate white supremacy. 

Maddie was a girl who had a heart but was never accepted because of her race and home life, her father history of abuse caused him to raise Maddie and keep her hiding as he seen fit as a black country man. 

Be prepared for pain and revenge you want on so many people in this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Self harm, Mental illness, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Colonisation, Racism, Violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Stalking, Murder, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, and Death

snowiceblackfruit77's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Misogyny, Child abuse, Blood, Abandonment, Cursing, Murder, Bullying, Death of parent, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Racism, Animal death, Body horror, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, and Vomit

triggs4780's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Death, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Gaslighting

Minor: Abandonment and Alcohol

moo_lloyd's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Racism, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, Hate crime, Death, Violence, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Emotional abuse

imanin10's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Child abuse, Police brutality, Cancer, Death of parent, Bullying, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Grief, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Toxic friendship

ilaxaria's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, Gore, Bullying, Murder, Violence, Gun violence, Death of parent, Police brutality, Blood, Death, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Abandonment

sahramahtab's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"The Weight of Blood" by Tiffany D. Jackson is an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish, leaving me in awe of its depth and impact. While labeled as young adult, the themes tackled are undeniably important and resonate far beyond age demographics. The narrative skillfully underscores how microaggressions can build up, leading to explosive consequences—a poignant reflection of real-life dynamics.

The finale, with its devastating consequences, felt like the culmination of actions and the refusal to acknowledge their repercussions. I found myself unsympathetic to the majority of those who met their demise, feeling that it was a direct result of their own actions.

This book served as a powerful teacher, shedding light on issues I might never have encountered otherwise. Learning about the existence of segregated proms in certain parts of the US as recently as 2014 was eye-opening and deeply unsettling.

The dichotomy between Maddy's and Kenny's characters, their differing yet intertwined paths, added layers of complexity to the narrative. Despite the trauma they endure, the ending felt hopeful to me, envisioning Madison and Kendrick finding solace and healing together in a peaceful place.

I struggle to find any criticisms of this book—it's a wild ride that I would recommend to anyone. Tiffany D. Jackson has crafted a masterpiece that challenges, educates, and ultimately leaves a lasting impact on its readers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Police brutality, Grief, Racism, Bullying, Hate crime, Blood, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Death of parent