The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson

 The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson-416 pages

This is a modern twist on Carrie by Stephen King. Maddy Washington lives in a small town in Georgia where the black kids and the white kids have separate proms. Maddy's papa is a religious zealot who doesn't want anyone to know his secret, which is that Maddy is mixed race. Her mother was black. Her mother is no longer around, however, so she's raised with an "iron fist" by her papa. One day the kids at her school find out that she's part black and make fun of her hair that has poofed out due to rain. Maddy has another secret, though. One that even her papa seemingly doesn't know about. She is telekinetic. She can move things with her mind. Jules, a senior cheerleader and a racist bully, comes to a rally in blackface to make fun of Maddy. Jules is then suspended for her last week of high school and no longer admitted to her dream college, Texas A&M. Jules blames Maddy and wants to get revenge. She plans a horrific prank for the integrated prom. Kenny, the black football star quarterback, invites Maddy to Prom at the prodding of his white girlfriend, Wendy. Kenny slowly fall in love with Maddy and her with him. Everything goes horribly wrong at the first ever Springville integrated prom after Jules's prank on Maddy succeeds. Death and other horrors abound and few escape alive. Is Maddy Washington one of them who escapes alive? Did she really kill all of those people with her mind? I really liked this modern retelling of Carrie with echoes of current events, especially involving ongoing racism/race relations.

How (Not) to Ask a Boy to Prom by S.J. Goslee

How (Not) to Ask a Boy to Prom by S.J. Goslee - 236 pages

Nolan's sister Daphne has given him an ultimatum.  Ask someone to prom or she will do it for him.  During her attempt to get him a prom date, he ends up "dating" Bern.  It's a great deal for both of them as it will Daphne off his back and will hopefully get Bern back with his girlfriend Gia.  But nothing in Nolan's life ever goes as expected . . .

I enjoyed this book of mistakes and misunderstandings.  While the romance story was good, what I really enjoyed was the relationship between Nolan and his sister Daphne.  Their family is one that I think anyone would want to be part of.

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli - 343 pages

Leah feels as if she doesn't fit in.  Her family is just her mom who is obsessed with Leah and her friends high school experience.  Her friends are paired off into couples making her always feel like a third wheel.  And she can't seem to let anyone know that she is bisexual . . . especially Abby the girl she's had a crush on for a couple years.

This is the sequel to Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda.  It focuses on Leah and Abby, two of Simon's best friends.  While I did enjoy this story, I didn't like it as much as the first story.  This is probably because Leah just isn't as likable a character.  She's very awkward and uncomfortable in her skin.

Carrie by Stephen King

Carrie by Stephen King-305 pages

I read this since it's horror month for the blog and I hadn't read anything by Stephen King before and I figured I would start with his first novel. It is an interesting read, albeit sad and a bit creepy. So many people and events led Carrie to snapping and killing hundreds. It is scary to think about a person having telekinetic abilities and what he or she could possibly do with these powers. I feel sorry for Carrie and for some of her classmates, but what some of her classmates do to her is awful and appalling. Her mom is awful and fanatical/insane.  

Denton Little's Deathdate by Lance Rubin

Denton Little's Deathdate by Lance Rubin - 346 pages

Denton Little knows he is going to die.  Everybody knows when they are going to die.  It's just his unfortunate luck that he's going to die early before graduating high school.  Now he just has get through his funeral and his final day of life.

This was promoted as the funniest book about death you'll ever read.  I never actually found the humor in the book.  This is probably because the book is very much geared towards males.  I'm not really into bathroom humor and dirty jokes.  However, I could see where teen boys would really enjoy this book.

Carrie by Stephen King

Carrie by Stephen King- 253 pgs

Carrie White is "that girl" in school.  Friendless and bullied at school, things don't get much better at home.  Her mother is a religious zealot who punishes Carrie by forcing to pray in a closet for hours at a time.  There is a secret about Carrie that only her mother knows:  Carrie is telekinetic.  When she is humiliated at the prom, everyone feels her wrath and her telekinetic powers come to come into their full power.  No one is safe.  

Carrie, by Stephen King

Carrie, by Stephen King, 253 pages

The story takes place in the late 1970s, but the tale is timeless.  Carrie is a girl bullied in high school and terrorized by her zealous and religious mother at home.  Life looks bleak, and then Carrie discovers she can move things with her mind.  The most popular guy in school asks her to the prom, and while you may think you know the story from there, I highly recommend reading the book.  Carrie is given more depth and emotion than clips of the prom scene from the movie could ever reveal, and the other characters are slightly more sympathetic. The story is tragic and inevitable.

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber - 190 pages

Perry is being forced to take the foreign exchange student Gobi to the prom by his parents.  Bad enough that he has to miss his band's first professional gig and that Gobi is the laughingstock of the school, but now Gobi has hijacked their car and is forcing him to drive her through New York City while she assassinates various people.  Turns out Gobi isn't an awkward teen from Lithuania, but instead a professional assassin bent on a night of terror and using Perry as transportation.
This was pure escapist fun.  No deep thinking or contemplation needed to enjoy this book.  It was a great, quick read.

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst - 386 pgs

Pearl's family has just been honored with the opportunity to host the Vampire King for a celebration introducing the younger vampires.  This is a chance for the Family to increase their social and political status.  There is just one problem - Pearl.  She has recently been stabbed by a unicorn and now she is feeling sorry for her human victims.  It's up to her to save the entire junior class of the high school from the vampires.