A young girl from Brooklyn is thrust into a high society murder mystery in this taut middle-grade novel. Kaylani McKinney’s father has recently been incarcerated for a serious financial crime, an act that’s plunged her family into a series of struggles. When the Watsons, old friends of Kaylani’s grandparents, invite her to spend the summer with them on Martha’s Vineyard, Kaylani’s mother encourages her to go for a change of environment. The Watsons’ wealthy granddaughters make her feel out of place, but she gradually starts to enjoy herself while waiting for news of her father. Then a popular young vacationer is found dead, and Kaylani starts to question everything around her as she realizes the idyll is not all that it seems.

Author Tiffany Jackson has created an empathetic and extremely grounded character in Kaylani, one who has a clear sense of self that doesn’t fade despite what’s happening around her. One roots for her throughout the book and I wanted to reach through the pages and give her the hugs and comfort that she clearly needs. She’s lonely and carrying a lot of weight that she shouldn’t have to at her age, spending almost all of her free time trying to find evidence that would clear her father’s name. At one point, she openly says that she doesn’t trust anyone since her father’s arrest, which was clearly a traumatic event for her. The way that she subconsciously braces herself for any potential negative emotional impact is also a trauma response. Witnessing her gradual development as she continues to assert herself, show some of her vulnerabilities and get back in touch with her pre-arrest self is satisfying, and it correlates well with the book’s equally satisfying resolution.

At her core, Kaylani is a history lover as shown by her interest in her family’s background as well as the lore of Martha’s Vineyard. The author’s research on the history of Martha’s Vineyard, how it came to be a haven for Black Americans, and the way that it’s a continued source of community help enhance the story. I liked reading about the island’s topography and landmarks, including the shops, some of which I was familiar with and others that I learned about. The book shows how connected the vacationers are by the way in which they can instantly recognize newcomers to the island, yet Jackson adds a twist in showing how this insularity can also be a hindrance. I like the details that she puts in about Kaylani’s home in Bed-Stuy, down to the Marcy Library branch, which is also one of my favorites.

Jackson also does an excellent job of showing the class conflicts within the Black community and laying them out for young readers, showing how deeply they run from generation to generation. Both Kaylani and the Watsons’ granddaughter London are Great Migration grandchildren, and at one point used to play together when they were very young. But due to a series of circumstances and these class divisions (the seeds of which were subtly established in their grandparents’ era) their lives have taken two completely different trajectories. There’s a subtle theme here of how some upper-class members of society view others as expendable due to the latter’s poverty and/or lower social status; they further use that division as a means of compelling those folks to do things that they don’t want to do. Kaylani recognizes this early on and resists it, refusing to change who she is for anyone or compromise her core beliefs. At the same time, Kaylani’s situation also makes her understand others who can’t because of dear or even more dire circumstances.

The events surrounding the murder mystery and the climax are well-rendered and don’t veer into the overdramatic. Jackson keeps the mystery engrossing with just enough clues for young readers to suspect certain people, while also maintaining a sense of surprise during the details of the ultimate reveal. Kaylani’s account of what’s happening around her, including her suspicions of other characters and their motivations are similarly done well, and this is due to the construction of Kaylani’s internal voice. Her reactions are on par with a bright and perceptive tween who’s been put into a very tense and increasingly dangerous situation.

The only truly unrealistic element in the story is Kaylani's lack of a phone throughout her stay on Martha's Vineyard. While this is a key plot point as it affects her ability to communicate (as well as an indicator of her family’s financial struggles) it's the one thing that I had difficulty in suspending my belief enough to accept. External issues or not, it’s dangerous to send a child, a Black girl at that, off to another state with no means of contact, forcing them to be dependent on other people.

There are a number of backstories embedded in the novel that I’d love to know more about. I would definitely read a book about the McKinneys’ and the Watsons’ backgrounds, how they first met in Brooklyn and their parallel lives. I would also have liked to read about the people who stay on the island full time as groundskeepers, their perceptions of the vacationers and observations of class divisions, and so on. Ms. Marguerite, the Watsons’ housekeeper, is one such person and contains multitudes. I also see potential here for follow-up novels about the aftermath of the events and Kaylani’s relationships with her family and others. Nonetheless this book was an engrossing and gratifying read, with some emotional heft that will resonate with young readers. I really enjoyed this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Scholastic, for this DRC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Tiffany D Jackson has been one of my favorites since I read Monday's Not Coming, and I read everything that I can by her. You experience every emotion when reading something by Jackson, and this one was definitely up to speed with her other works. I cannot wait for the next release!

80/100 or 4.0 stars

This is a great middle-grade debut! This was a fast paced thriller with good twists. I am not the target audience, but I still had a good time. The characters felt realistic for the most part too, which isn't easy. I would read another YA/Teen/Middle-Grade by Jackson if they want to write them!

Blood in the Water by Tiffany Jackson is such a strong middle grade mystery/thriller! Once I started, I could not put it down. Middle grade readers looking for a scary book, will eat this one up.

A great summer read -- set on Martha's Vineyard and full of both summer whimsy and suspense. Tiffany Jackson has crafted a masterpiece!

This middle grade novel is the perfect starter for future Tiffany D. Jackson fans! It was suspenseful and scary and an excellent representation of a middle grade girl. I felt like it was a current day Jaws remake with a twist where the monster isn’t in the water! Young readers who love thrillers will devour this one!

I’m a huge TDJ fan and have loved everything she has written thus far. That being said, this one unfortunately fell short for me. Perhaps this is just because it is YA/middle grade, but her other books are as well and make a huge punch. I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book and the showcasing of a Black community and family that isn’t centered around solely systemic racial trauma. This book, overall, just felt shallow and lacked any sense of tension or urgency for me. Not bad but not my favorite.

Story was decent. I definitely suspected the person that did it was on some bs the whole time..

Good quick read though.

I read this book with my middle school students in mind, and I think they would love it. The story is crafted in such a way that it adds mystery to what is typical pre-teen angst. The main character, Kaylani, is spending the summer with family friends, and she doesn't exactly fit in. When one of the kids dies (is it murder, a shark attack, or something else?) Kaylani digs to find an answer and finds out some things she doesn't expect. The twist at the end is fantastic! I will be talking this book up to my students this year.

Tiffany D. Jackson is just so good at what she does! It doesn't matter what age group she's writing for, her books are always so well thought out and the characters always feel like real people! This book hooked me from the beginning and kept my interest through the whole thing, the setting was so well flushed out, and the characters motives and behaviors felt so realistic. I absolutely loved the main character too! She is so intelligent and ambitious which is great to see in a middle grade novel. The only reason that this didn't get 5 stars is because the ended felt too rushed for me. I would've loved a bit more detail about the wrapping up of the case, but that is absolutely personal preference. I'll read whatever Tiffany D. Jackson publishes, and I'm certain I will always love it!

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows a 12-year-old who goes to vacation in Martha's Vineyard with some family friends. She is also dealing with a lot because her father is in prison and she thinks he is innocent. While on vacation, someone ends up dead and she has to figure out if it was a shark or a murder or who knows.

I thought this book was just ok. This author is hit or miss for me so this one was in the middle. The setting and the mystery were really well laid out and kept my interest. I liked learning a bit more about Martha's Vineyard as I was reading. I also liked how the mystery unfolded.

The overall writing was easy to read and it had a good flow. The story unfolded nicely.

My major complaint for this one was the characters. Everyone felt a bit annoying to me. The main character was constantly repeating herself and she was just hard for me to relate to. I also felt like the side characters were lacking depth as well.

This is a middle grade book so I bet kids will enjoy it more than I did. I would still recommend this one to people looking for a middle grade mystery but it was not my favorite.

Blood in the Water is Tiffany D. Jackson's middle-grade debut, and it's a good one. The story centers on a Black city girl named Kaylani as she prepares to spend the summer on Martha's Vineyard with family friends. She knows she won't fit in, but she's still excited about all the things that summer brings - warm weather, time near the water, and ice cream. Shortly after she arrives, a boy goes missing and is later found dead. Did he fall into the water and drown? Was he attacked by sharks? Or was he murdered? Kaylani is determined to find out, even though it means endangering her own safety. This was a fun summer read full of twists and turns that is sure to get middle-grade readers hooked.

Thanks to Scholastic Press and NetGalley for a review copy of Blood in the Water.

Wow, that was great. I had the best time. Even though its a middle grade thriller, Tiffany D Jackson's writing just never disappoints. It was intriguing from start to finish. This author continues to be one of my favorite young adult/middle grade authors!

Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this eARC in exchange for honest review!

Thank you to Scholastic Press for the didgital ARC.

I've read a couple of other Tiffany D Jackson books, and just like those, this didn't disappoint. The cover is gorgeous and the story held my interest throughout the novel. Who knew a middle-grade murder mystery was what I needed? I loved meeting Kaylani and seeing her vulnerability surrounding her communication with her dad. I appreciated the dynamic between Kaylani and the Watsons as it highlighted how sometimes even the people who behave like friends/supporters can still hold internal biases that seep out at unexpected times. I loved the little twists in the story as we tried to solve the mystery. The ending definitely had me on edge wondering if our girl was gonna make it.

The writing was beautiful and painted such a vivid imagery of the town that it was so easy to picture in my mind's eye. I felt like I was in the town riding around on my bicycle, getting ice cream, and visiting the historic sites. This was my second book by the author for this year and they have both made a lasting impression. It's safe to say that she is now one of my top authors and absolutely an auto buy moving forward.

Blood in the Water keeps you guessing from the beginning. Set in Oak Bluffs, this book gives you culture as well as suspense. When Kaylani gets invited to spend a few weeks on the island with family friends, she is hesitant to go. Reluctantly, she ventures to Martha's Vineyard and reconnect with old "friends" and meets some new one. Little does she know, there will soon be blood in the water and it will become a summer that will totally change her life.

Tiffany Jackson does a great job in her first middle grade novel. She still gives the suspense that you are used to seeing in her novels and she creates characters you really care about and root for throughout the book. And of course there are twists and turns. She also makes you feel that you are right there in Martha's Vineyard, eating Lobster ice cream. I would recommend this book for young and older readers. Enjoy!

🦈 Did I know Tiffany D Jackson’s new book was middle grade before I requested it? No, no I didn’t. Did I love it anyway?! Of course I did. Thank you to @scholastic for the sneak peek. This is out now!

🦈 This would be a great introduction to the thriller genre for a young kiddo. It also dips the readers toes into some social justice issues and a look at the Black experience.

🦈 I thought Jackson did a fantastic job of giving the young MC a realistic, and interesting voice. I would highly recommend this for a middle grade reader!

This was such a fun and quick read! I was able to finish within a couple hours and enjoyed it so much.

For a middle grade thriller, this story balances between the fear factor and the main character’s life well. I enjoyed learning about Martha’s Vineyard from a young kids POV and was genuinely enthralled by the mystery of the house and what happened with the “shark attack”

Would definitely recommend this for young readers

Tiffany Jackson never disappoints for me (so far)! While the target audience is middle grade I still really enjoyed the story. I loved the setting, the mystery and learning more about the history of Martha’s Vineyard. Our protagonist is a smart, observant girl who sticks up for herself.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book.

This book was very good. I would definitely recommend it for quiet reading in my classroom and other students that enjoy reading as a past time.

It wasn't until I started reading Blood in the Water did I realize that it's YA, which is usually not my cup of tea whatsoever. Having read most all of her other books, I decided to press on and I'm so glad I did. While I did see most of the big twist coming, it didn't stop me from enjoying this one very much! It was the perfect summer thriller being set in Martha's Vineyard and did give me summer vacation vibes (and it's been a long time since I was on school vacation). I enjoyed Kaylani's character and found her very likeable (Cassie and London however? Not so much). I liked how it all came together at the end and that none of it seemed too far fetched, maybe only that it seemed the community kind of just quickly moved past the tragic death of a teenager, especially one who appeared to be a golden child of sorts. Outside of that, I found this to be very entertaining and read it in two sittings. I recommend for fans of fun summer vibes thrillers, especially if you enjoy YA thrillers. Even though it's not my usual genre, I enjoyed this one very much, definitely keeps Tiffany D. Jackson on my auto buy author list! I also loved her author's note mentioning her daughter in her tummy as she was writing - very sweet!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest review!