“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.”
“The Weight of Blood” is a haunting and atmospheric thriller that seamlessly weaves together elements of mystery and family secrets. In this master work, a teen girl who has been tormented by a racist society since birth finally gets her revenge.
Set in 2014 “The Weight of Blood” tells the story of Maddy Washington, a biracial teenager who has been able to pass as white in her southern town of Springville, Georgia, thanks to her white, fanatical father whose zealotry is equal parts Christian evangelism and devotion to America’s shrine of whiteness.
Maddy’s covert life comes to an end when a rainy day during gym class reveals her hair’s natural texture and her Black origin, resulting in her being outed against her will. Her white classmates, who are already tormenting her due to her social awkwardness, escalate their bullying in increasingly violent ways, all while claiming to simply be “having fun.”
Supporting character Wendy, a bystander in the bullying, is more concerned with impressing potential universities and ends up lobbying for Springville’s first-ever integrated prom. Motivated by her guilt, she persuades her Black boyfriend, Kendrick Scott, to ask Maddy to the prom as a gesture of good will (Drama fans recognize that this will not end well for anyone).
The plot is told in the third person by a few different characters, as well as through podcast transcripts, official police reports, periodicals, and book extracts. They all come together in various ways to eventually explain not only what happened the night of Prom, but also Springville’s racist history, and how the events of the book have generated racial hostility towards equity. I liked learning about the town and its people in this way because it reinforces the broader point that the terrible facts about race and racism have corroded the town from the inside out, and by the time we get to the matter at hand, it all comes to the final moments of Prom night.
This novel is a retelling of Steven King’s novel “Carrie,” and I believe anyone who enjoys horror and the supernatural with a splash of romance would enjoy this book. It’s a quick read with a plot that leaves you guessing while keeping you on the edge of your seat. “The Weight of Blood” is by far her best work, with multi-dimensional characters and a great writing style.
Rating: 10. A FANTASTIC novel that takes on social issues of racism and bigotry that are, unfortunately, still all too relevant. “The Weight of Blood” is another page-turner from Tiffany D. Jackson that I would recommend to anyone willing to listen
