I've read most of Tiffanny D. Jackson's YA books so I wasn't sure what to expect from this one, but I was excited to reae it. This book definitely feels like a middle grade in the way that it's written and the dialogue. I really liked the mystery and the characters felt like reql people. It was fast paced and easy to read. I'd definitely recommend it to a younger audience as well as people who've already read and loved her YA books.

Tiffany can tell a story. I appreciate the attention to the area and how she gave us real events and locations that we could look up. Some portions of the story seemed rushed or unexplained. I assume it is because this is a middle grade book. I will come back after I compose my thought in a more cohesive manner

I'm a huge fan of Tiffany D. Jackson's work and this one did not dissapoint.

It went quickly but it held my attention the entire time. I enjoyed this twists in this story and didn't expect a couple of them. It was written for YA and I think the younger crowd will appreciate this so much.

A bonus of this book for me was the main character and my daughter have the same first name. hahahaha Thank you for the ARC netgalley!!

This book was a most anticipated read for me and it was completely justified. I loved the characters and the twists although I did catch it midway in I still loved every minute of reading this. Tbh I’m sad it’s over.

As a fifth grade teacher, I thought this would make an awesome recommendation for my students who are into suspense. It would also make for a fun read aloud opportunity. It’s a mystery, but appropriate for relatively younger ages. I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher & the author for the arc!

Honestly, you can’t go wrong with Tiffany Jackson books. This book made me emotional as hell. I was definitely crying.

I love that while Kaylani was young, she was perceptive, strong, and determined.

I did predict the twist pretty early on, but it didn’t take away my enjoyment! I’d definitely recommend this one :))

This was a Ya and Tiffany D Jackson never disappoints. Kaylani will do anything to prove that her father is innocent and he shouldn’t be in jail for something he didn’t do. She spent so much time worrying about her father they agreed to send her to vineyard with the Watson. When she gets there a boy was unalived and she spent her time trying to figure out the mystery. I figured out the plot pretty early in the story but I still enjoyed the book. The story was very suspenseful, and realistic.

Tiffany D. Jackson delivers a fast-paced, layered mystery with Blood in the Water, written intentionally for younger YA and middle school readers — and she nails it. The story is quick to hook you, blending summer luxury, hidden secrets, and real-world commentary without feeling heavy-handed.

Kaylani was such a strong lead — smart, stubborn, and carrying way more than she shows. I loved watching her Brooklyn instincts clash with the polished world of Martha’s Vineyard. Even though I caught the twist early, it didn’t take away from the ride at all — I was fully locked in until the end.

The themes around privilege, loyalty, and identity are handled with a light but steady touch, perfect for the audience it’s meant for.
A sharp, thoughtful, and accessible mystery that middle grade/early YA readers (and Tiffany fans of any age) will absolutely devour.

Thank you to Scholastic and NetGalley for the eARC!

Tiffany D. Jackson once again proves her mastery of suspense and emotional depth in Blood in the Water. The story follows Kaylani, a determined teen grappling with the wrongful imprisonment of her father. Eager to find evidence to prove his innocence, Kaylani’s plans are derailed when her mother and grandmother send her away to stay with the Watson family on a remote island.

What starts as a forced getaway quickly turns into a chilling mystery when a teenage boy is found dead in the water — and everyone thought it was a shark but…... As Kaylani pushes to uncover the truth, she faces suspicion and prejudice herself, getting accused of theft — echoing the same false accusations that destroyed her father’s life.

Jackson does an incredible job weaving themes of injustice, loyalty, and identity throughout the novel. Kaylani’s journey is both a search for truth and a fight to reclaim her family’s dignity. The tension builds masterfully as secrets unravel, leading to the shocking reveal.

Blood in the Water is a heart-pounding, thought-provoking read that keeps you guessing until the very end. It’s a powerful story about how deeply lies can run — and the strength it takes to stand up for the truth, even when the odds are stacked against you.

Jackson writes horror so well it's kind of scary. She can make a modern story feel so nostalgic without even trying. You will always feel yourself get sucked into the world. Highly recommend readers 11 and up to pick this up. If you are a lover of Goosebumps, KR Alexander, grew up enjoying Christopher Pike you will love this.

I'm a huge fan of Tiffany Jackson, so i had to try her breakout middle grade book Blood in the water. Kaylani is a Brooklyn girl who's dad is in prison for embezzlement and she's convinced he's innocent. This summer she's invited to Martha's Vineyard to stay with the Watsons and their two granddaughters. She's excited but a little frightened as she's never met these people and knows how a tight-knit community doesn't always accept strangers easily And when she gets there, a shocking murder--or was it a drowning? A shark attack?--rocks the community to its core. Kaylani races to solve the case and discover some long-hidden truths in this community.

This was a easy fast paced book, perfect for a it's target audience . Kaylani is such a good character to follow , she's smart and observant. I liked her friendship between her and her friends as well. I did guess the twist, but I still enjoyed reading it. I liked the writing style, and the story was was engaging.

I am a huge fan of Tiffany D Jackson’s work. She is an auto buy author for me and anything she writes I will read! This was one of my most anticipated reads this year and when I received notification that I was approved for the ARC I was super excited and immediately started reading.

Kaylani is a Brooklyn girl at heart so she’s a little hesitant about going to visit the island.

Upon arriving at the Island and being introduced to the family she’ll be staying with Kaylani starts to notice that these people are nothing like her. They live a flashy lifestyle something she isn’t used to. As the days pass she quickly starts to feel out of place.

One day a boy from the Island ends up missing. Everyone thinks they know what happened— but what really happened? Kaylani knows something seems off about the whole situation and she is determined to find out the truth!

I must say Kaylani was such a lovable character. She was smart & dedicated. One thing I love about Jackson, she definitely knows how to add lovable characters into her books.

I never guessed that twist at the end.
I will say this book was a little more YA than her other books however, I still highly enjoyed it.

3.5 ⭐️ I'm a BIG Tiffany fan but this one isn't my favorite outta her books. It was a nice and quick read but I did half way figure out the twist early on. It would probably be perfect for a teen though.

Hm, this was kind of a bizarre one.

I've enjoyed some of Tiffany D Jackson's YA novels in the past, so I was thrilled to receive an ARC for her middle grade debut. Unfortunately, Blood in the Water just isn't a great book. I was expecting an interesting, complicated dynamic between Kaylani and London but that wasn't really there.
Also, something about the setup of the murder, and the overall tone of the story, just felt off in a way I can't really put my finger on.

Thank you to Netgalley and Scholastic Press for this ARC!

I'm way passed the age range for this book lol but if it's Tiffany D. Jackson I'm reading it. I jumped right in when I saw that I was approved. I think this is the perfect YA introductory book for younger readers wanting to get into thrillers. Tiffany you did it again!

Thank you to Netgalley and Scholastic Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was pumped to get my hands on a Tiffany D. Jackson book in advance. She has easily become an automatic read even though her audience is mostly YA and I am past my YA prime LOL! Blood in the Water is a middle- grade debut for this author and I think she nailed it! This book had a likeable and relatable main character, a murder mystery, some Black history moments and much more! She is a fabulous story teller and this book had me hooked me immediately! It'll be a best seller, no doubt!

Blood in the Water is a fast-paced, middle-grade mystery with beachy summer vibes and a twisty core. Tiffany D. Jackson delivers a compelling whodunit through the eyes of 12-year-old Kaylani, who’s determined to uncover the truth behind a local teen’s suspicious death. While the tone suits younger readers (10–15), Jackson’s signature storytelling still shines—a solid read for fans of smart young sleuths and layered mysteries.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: I love Tiffany D. Jackson and I don't typically read middle grade books. However, because I love this author so much I wanted to give it a try. I am going to rate it on NetGalley because I am required to but I'm not going to on goodreads or anywhere else because this isn't the age group for me. That being said, it sadly did not work out for me and I am not sure if it's the age problem or the book itself. There is a wealth of powerful knowledge in this story that should be read by the age group, it really hit home there. Where I kind of struggled was, Tiffany D. Jackson actually spoke some to this in the intro, it felt like the kids were acting a bit older (though not always). Something about that just felt disjointed to me. I really hope that she writes an adult book because I would love to read that!

If you have a middle grade reader at home this is is a wonderful book for them and will aid in important conversations.

Jackson is one of my favorite authors and I was so excited to see her try out middle grade. This book is super good, I actually didn’t figure out the mystery so I was genuinely surprised by how it all played out. thought Kaylani was a strong character who believed in her dad and being honest about who she was. She has strong morals and ethics, which I think is super important. This book did feel like it was a little middle grade and YA which I think creates a good balance for the audience. The only disappointing part was that I felt like some parts could have been more fleshed out, but it was still a very well done read.

I really like this author and her books, however this one was way too YA for me. Had I been a teen reading this I would have rated it higher for sure. The story was prettt good, I just wish it was a bit longer and gave some more answers at the end. I feel the ending was still a bit unfinished. Overall tho a pretty good read for teens I’d say!