Anexis Matos

This book was recommended to me on a specific premise. I didn’t read a synopsis. I just borrowed it from the library and read it in one day.

Since I enjoyed Sadie, I was told I would enjoy this book. The person who recommended this book to me knows my reading habits, so I didn’t think about it when I put it on hold and waited for it to be available for me to borrow.

Any time I read anything by Tiffany D. Jackson, I never know what to say. I hope I give this book justice with this review.

Synopsis

What happened during prom night? What did Maddy really do?

During a surprise rainstorm, Maddy’s biggest secret is revealed. At the behest of her father, she’s been passing as white. After a bullying video goes viral, the school’s racist roots are exposed. To clean up their image and show unity, student leaders decide to host their first integrated prom, but what happens that night? What did Maddy do?

Book Information

Genre: Horror
Category: Young adult
Explicit violence: Yes. It’s slightly graphic
Explicit sex: No
Content warnings I noticed: Racism, segregation, and physical and verbal abuse

This is a standalone.

Review

The prose is great. It’s accessible and easy to read.

The story is told in a mixed media format. If you’ve read Sadie by Courtney Summers, it’s written in a similarly. We follow a podcast following the events in the past and the characters living said events. We also see other people’s statements to the police. All of it is handled well and tell a complete story.

The pacing is good. It’s medium, picking up when necessary. For the most part, the story develops slowly.

The themes are very well explored. The one explored the most is racism. We follow different characters and get their perspectives on the subject and what’s happening.

The characters are great. We follow likable and unlikable characters. Even the unlikable ones are interesting to follow since their point of views inform the choices they make.

There’s a romantic plotline in this story. It’s okay. Without it, the story wouldn’t have changed much.

Conclusion

Overall, this is a great story. It tackles difficult topics from US history and today. It’s a great read. I rated it five stars. If you’re in a good place, I recommend reading it.