Language: R (65 swears, 35 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (alludes to sex); Violence: R (belt beating, bloody mentioned, suicide by gun, pieces of bodies metioned)
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
In 2014, there was a devastating accident and a survivor covered in blood limping home – a tragedy that ruptured the town. Researchers are discussing the events before the accident to try to understand what happened. The non-linear timeline moves back and forth between events before the accident and the research discussion and Maddy is the focus of everything that happened. She’s been forced by her father to hide her African American roots because he’s white and their community is extremely racist. One day she’s running in gym class when rain starts to fall. Her perfectly and intentionally straightened hair goes into its natural Afro state. Gossip starts, bullies taunt and her dad whips her for revealing her secret. After a “bullying Maddy” video goes viral, some students want to prove that the town isn’t racist by holding one prom, all inclusive. After a horrible joke and an even worse prank, Maddy’s true powers come out, practically decimating the town.
Kenny fell in love with Maddy too conveniently and easily. Maddy’s so powerful, but she stands by doing nothing, holding Kenny’s hand the entire time, while Officer Ross beats Kenny with his baton. Also, the comment made that lumps all American citizens into people that don’t understand or are dumb is rude, but partially true: “Comprehension is key, and that hasn’t exactly been mastered by the citizens of this country”. Overgeneralization, but that does show the high extent of racism in the book's community. An excellent "Carrie" remix. The build up of suspense was what I liked the most.
LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian
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