Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Clever retelling of Stephen King's "Carrie."
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
When THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD begins, Maddy Washington, a high school student, lives with her White father and passes for White, though her mother was Black. In addition to requiring her to keeping her racial heritage a secret, her father is extremely religious and imposes strict control over all aspects of her life. He homeschools her and makes her dress oddly. When the town forces him to send her to regular school, she's bullied for her strange appearance and behavior. One day, she's caught in an unexpected rainstorm and her hot-combed hair blooms into an Afro, leading to more severe bullying. As the pressure on her grows, Maddy discovers she has the power of telekinesis.
Is It Any Good?
This is a clever, though occasionally clumsy, retelling of a classic. Many of the scenes in The Weight of Blood are immediately recognizable from Stephen King's classic 1972 novel Carrie. This is both a weakness and a strength. For readers who have read Carrie or seen the movie, there's little suspense and some events feel like in-jokes that don't always land. For readers new to this story, the horror is well executed and the social commentary is deftly incorporated in the energetic, intriguing voice that's made this author so popular.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the theme of secrets in The Weight of Blood. What makes it necessary to keep a secret? What makes keeping a secret become harmful?
The Weight of Blood centers on a group of schoolmates who spend time together, but they often lie to each other or use each other for selfish ends. What do you think makes a true friend?
The author frames the main plot by creating a podcast and a book about the events of the story. Why do you think she made that choice in writing? How did that influence the way you understood the story?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Activism , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Book Characters , Friendship , School ( High School ) , History
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Katherine Tegen Books
- Publication date : September 6, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 416
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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