I have read Tiffany Jacksons young adult/new adult books and loved them. I don’t often read middle grade novels, however, because it was Ms. Jackson, i wanted to give it a try. I can definitely see the appeal of this book to younger readers. It has enough drama and intrigue to hold their attention. I would definitely recommend this for younger readers.

Jackson is an auto read author for me so I went in to this not knowing anything about it.
It is middle grade which I love! Of course Jackson can write in any genre and slay.

I could not put this down.

Sweet sweet Kaylani has been struggling in school with her father recently in prison for embezzlement, to give her a break she is sent with an old family friend to Martha’s Vineyard for the summer. Nothing is quite as it seems when she gets there and soon finds herself in the middle of an investigation.

Seriously. Couldn’t put it down.
I think kids will love it.

Thanks to netgalley and scholastic for an eARC.

I'll read anything by Tiffany D. Jackson. This book did not disappoint. Loved the setting and mystery of it.

First, my students want more from Tiffany D. Jackson. Thank you for writing a book for them.
Middle school kids have it rough. Their parents are not letting them control what they read.
They want scary books, They want to be in charge. They really like sharks. This book has it all.
I might be wrong, but I see nothing to challenge here.

Tiffany D. Jackson is one of my fave YA authors, but I wasn't sure if I would enjoy a middle grade novel as much as her previous work. But I enjoyed Blood in the Water! The plot was fleshed out, and I appreciated that she explored themes such as class and wealth in a way that remained accessible to the book's target audience. And the twists were good too! Read this book if you enjoy:

-Middle grade stories
-Books set in Martha's Vineyard
- Mystery/sleuthing books!

Special thanks to the author & @scholastic for my gifted copy‼️

Debuting her latest book Blood in the Water targeting middle-grade readers Tiffany D. Jackson crafts a thrilling murder mystery that may just capture the attention of all readers.

The novel follows twelve-year-old Kaylani McKinnon as she leaves her beloved city of Brooklyn to head to Martha’s Vineyard for the summer with some family friends. You’d think this would be an exciting time for Kaylani but no she had much bigger things on her plate like her father and waiting by the phone for him to call. Not to mention it’s been years since she’s been around the Watson’s and their snooty granddaughters Cassie and London. Nonetheless she planned to make the best of the trip but what should’ve been a fun experience will soon turn deadly.

Jackson always does a great job creating memorable characters and crafting a setting that always feels realistic. I’ve never seen or been to Martha’s Vineyard yet I could easily picture everything. I enjoyed seeing Kaylani deal with the challenges of her situation and how she wasn’t pressed to fit into her new environment. She was a very attentive and confident character and I loved the fact she wasn’t afraid to speak up for herself.

I was definitely rooting for her friendship with Miles. Their connection and determination to uncover the truth was perfectly portrayed. And having both lost someone in different situations the burden of responsibility they were carrying was so heavy yet they understood each other. Cassie and London on the other hand were such mean girls but I felt their personalities and behavior added to the story.

Overall, I enjoyed the book it was adventurous and had an even blend of mystery, suspense and drama. It’s a short read yet it’s thoroughly engaging and the pacing was well-balanced. As the story develops it gets a little twisty on who or what’s behind the murder. But if you pay attention to a few things mentioned you can predict the ending. If you’re thinking about reading this book I recommend it‼️

Rating: 4.5/5⭐️

Okay! This was so good! Even as an adult reader, I was very invested in figuring out the murder mystery. I loved the diversity and learning more about the history of Martha's Vineyard, too. All of the characters are well written here, and the writer sets up several different potential suspects, which keeps things interesting all the way to the final reveal. I really liked the main character. I connected with her story and her love for her father bleeds through the pages. I think a lot of children struggling with being separated from a parent, for any reason, will resonate with her feelings and connect with her plight as a character. In addition, the all black cast was refreshing. I haven't read any of Tiffany D. Jackson's adult works, but now I am very interested in reading more. This cozy murder mystery is going to be perfect for that middle grade audience, but honestly, will keep the attention of any reader who picks it up.

Tiffany D. Jackson delivers a sharp and engaging murder mystery perfect for middle grade readers in Blood in the Water. Kaylani is grappling with her father’s recent prison sentence, and an unexpected opportunity to spend the summer in Martha’s Vineyard unearths more scandal than she ever expected.

Jackson brilliantly weaves in the metaphor of sharks, both literal and figurative, as Kaylani navigates new waters, surrounded by immense wealth, whispered secrets, and people eager to exploit her family’s troubles. As a true outsider, Kaylani must learn the unspoken rules of this elite world while pushing back against damaging rumors and the weight of unfair assumptions.

Tough times don’t last, but tough people do, and this book’s ending is completely satisfying!

This is a great YA thriller! This book is intended for middle schoolers but at my big age I really enjoyed it. Although I seen it coming, Tiffany knows how to keep you engaged wanting to keep turning the pages. I definitely would be getting the physical book for myself as well as my daughter, she is always asking to read my books well now I have one appropriate that will challenge her reading level as well as comprehension.
Thank you Scholastic via NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC!

Kaylani is trying to adjust to her father being in prison and is invited to spend the summer on Martha’s Vineyard by a family friend. What was supposed to be a summer of fun turns deadly quickly and Lani decides she wants to help her new friend solve the mystery. Dealing with her former best friend London and Londons sister Cassie isn’t always easy, but there’s definitely some growth there. I thought I knew what happened and I definitely didn’t. This was great without being overly graphic, great for middle schoolers getting into the horror genre. Great job Tiffany D Jackson and thank you Netgalley for the arc!

Twelve-year-old Kaylani has spent most of her life in Brooklyn, where she lives with only her mother now that her father is in prison. She has been offered the chance to vacation with a family friend in Martha’s Vineyard for a few weeks over the summer, and even though the excursion promises to be memorable, Kaylani has other things on her mind. Determined to help her father clear his name, Kaylani is doing what she can to attend a pre-law camp, spending her time studying rather than getting to know the other youth on the island. But despite its outward appearance, Martha’s Vineyard has deeply rooted secrets that will change everything Kaylani thought she knew, and when a resident turns up dead, Kaylani has the rare opportunity to put her lawerly skills to the test.

This medium-paced middle grade novel is well designed, especially for readers who appreciate a blend of mystery, suspense, and intrigue within the setting of a summer vacation. As a youth growing up in Brooklyn, Kaylani’s upbringing differs greatly from the wealth and affluence surrounding the people she encounters while in Martha’s Vineyard, which sets up an interesting dichotomy between the two primary characters. Written utilizing ample dialogue, the narrative is conversational in tone, incorporating pop culture references and slang on occasion, as well. This, coupled with the double spacing of the text, help to make the novel both accessible and engaging for young readers. However, the plot is filled with danger, lies, and suspense, generating an intensity that is best for mature youth. The landscape of Martha’s Vineyard is clearly depicted in the text, and whether or not readers have ever visited themselves, they will experience a strong understanding of Kaylani’s surroundings as the narrative unfolds. Suspenseful, contemplative, and engaging, this is a unique and memorable addition to library collections for confident middle grade readers.

Tiffany never misses. I loved everything about this book and I’m not even its intended audience. I think it has important lessons for middle grade kids intertwined into a thrilling mystery. Kaylani is a strong character I can see young girls really liking. The plot twist was twisting in true Tiffany D Jackson fashion.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

OH, I was excited to get approved for this one! I have read all of Tiffany D. Jackson's books and have thoroughly enjoyed them all. I was highly anticipating this Middle Grade novel, and I was not disappointed.

The teenage characters, Kaylani, London, and Cassie, felt authentic and intriguing. The mysteries surrounding the death and activities on the island had me guessing until the very end. This book will be interesting to younger and older readers alike.

I will read ANTHING by Tiffany D. Jackson.

This was a quick, easy, and nice summer read. It is a middle grade book, bordering YA.
We have the main character, leaving NYC and ending up staying at a rich/posh summer home with former childhood friend and their family.
I will say one of the main side characters really annoyed me at times, as she was intended to do. I think this will be a good summer mystery read but also do a little bit of history lesson and learning to deal with people who think they're above you in life.

I was definitely rooting for Kaylani to come out on top. This is also informative in the sense that you learn more about Martha's Vineyard (where the book takes place), and more or less about the differences between the upper class and the lower working class, among other things.

Thank you to Tiffany D. Jackson, publishers, and Netgallet for this ARC! I loved it.

Yes. Yes. YES!!! Omg! We won’t talk about the fact that I’m 40 & I’m still obsessed with YA books. But also, TDJ has outdone herself with this one!!!

I dove head first into this one & had to remember to come up for air. THAT TWIST?!? Whaatttt

Kaylani is such a fierce, independent, unrelenting force. I need more characters like this!! I loved her from beginning to end.

Thank you Scholastic Press for this E-ARC! Tiffany D. Jackson is an auto-buy author for me so I requested this ARC even though I'm not in the targeted audience. All views here are my own.

I really enjoyed this read! Tiffany D. Jackson's pen game is strong!

Kaylani is the main character in this story and she lives in Brooklyn with her mom. Her dad is currently in prison and they talk on the phone daily. That is until the summer. Her parent's send her off to Martha's Vineyard for the summer. Shortly after her arrival and young teenage boy is murdered. No spoilers. Read the book!

Side characters stood out in this story for me. This is a page turner and the twists!! Author's take note!! Thank you Tiffany D. Jackson, I can't wait to read more of your work!! Educators please add this to your curriculum or gift it to a student. I'd also recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good thriller!!!!!

I did not realize this book was middle grade. And as I am not the intended audience, I am not totally there for it. However, it was very well written and a little suspenseful so I think it will hit the target audience well.

This book is such a page turner— I ended up reading it in one sitting because I could not put it down. I love Tiffany D. Jackson’s writing, and so do many of my students. I teach middle school, and that can limit how many people I recommend the book to. I’ve been so excited since she announced a middle grades novel. I was worried I was going in with too high expectations, but. This. Book. Did. Not. Disappoint.

Kaylani is a character with such an authentic voice. She has a deeply rooted sense of integrity and an incredible capacity for empathy. She is brilliant, and she’s also a middle schooler, so she can be a little whiny and a little naive at times. I adore her.

The rest of the characters are well written and intriguing, though I’m wary of spoilers, so I won’t say as much here. The setting itself is such a permeating element as well, and you can’t forget you’re on an island/Martha’s Vineyard. As an ELA teacher, I dig it when the setting has such a prominent significance alongside the characters and plot.

This is a great book for middle schoolers who are drawn to books/shows like A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder or One of Us is Lying. Unlike those books, though, this one is actually written for them. There are some scary elements and some slightly gory injury that might be a little much for a lot of upper elementary students, but overall it’s a perfect “thriller” level.

I think this would also be a great text to use during a mystery unit. There are a lot of great clues that let the reader engage with the solving. I loved the inclusion of Dorothy West (for older/more advanced readers, this book would pair wonderfully with The Wedding!). Jaws and its negative/inaccurate portrayal of sharks is referenced multiple time and adds nicely to the shark symbolism through the text (though it’s not a book I recommend unless it’s for a specific purpose- for a book that everyone remembers as being all about a shark, there’s a disturbingly high frequency of racism, homophobia, and sexism).

If I wasn’t afraid of spoiling something, I think I could wax poetic about this book for many more pages. I’m obsessed. I can’t wait to own a physical copy, and I can’t wait to get that copy into as many kids’ hands as possible.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. And thank you to Tiffany D. Jackson for venturing into middle grades fiction and bringing this perfect book into existence.

This is a very fun, mysterious read. The amount of history, horror, and investigation is perfect for middle grade readers. I really enjoyed the main character's voice, and her thoughts on the island. Mixed in with the murder-mystery is a fabulous examination of the incarceral system, again told at the level middle grade readers will understand. 5 stars!

Tiffany D. Jackson is an auto-read author for me, and Blood in the Water was another fast, fun YA thriller that delivered. It’s twisty, atmospheric, and the kind of book you can fly through in a sitting or two.

The Martha’s Vineyard setting added so much to the vibe — I seriously want to visit now. While it didn’t hit quite as hard emotionally as some of her other work, it still kept me guessing and entertained the whole way through.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! A solid summer mystery with just the right amount of edge.