Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for this E-ARC.

DID I JUST INHALE THIS IN LESS THAN 3 HOURS?!?!?! Yes I did!!!! This was an insane ride. I sat down and said I’ll set a timer and only read for one hours cause I have stuff to do. 2 hours and 46 minutes later I am finished. I ATE this book up!!! It’s such an easy read! And I was not moving until I had finished it. It’s YA so if you’re not into that then maybe skip this one. But I enjoyed it! I’ve been in a little slumpy time and not in a way where I don’t want to read, just in a way of where I think everything I’m reading is blah. Not this one! This was fun!

Kaylani is struggling a little in life right now. Her dad’s in jail for embezzlement and she had a hard time in school because of it. She gets to go to Martha’s Vineyard for the summer and enjoy the riches of a family friend. It’s a rocky start and when one of the islands popular teen boys ends up dead, it gets even worse.
Kaylani’s dad has always told her to keep her eyes open, and that is something she plans to do while she tries to solve this boys murder. She ends up opening more jars than she wanted to though.
If you want a good, quick read, make sure to grab this book.
This is my first Tiffany Jackson book (I know!) and I will be picking up the rest of her books now!

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for allowing me to read *Blood in the Water* by Tiffany D. Jackson in exchange for my honest review. #BloodintheWater #NetGalley

For Tiffany D. Jackson's first middle-grade novel, it is impressive! Kaylani is not your average middle schooler. She lives in Brooklyn with her mom, and ever since her father's arrest, people have treated her differently. So, when she learns that a family friend has invited her to Martha's Vineyard, she is filled with questions.

On her way to the island, Kaylani notices several unsettling things. As she steps into the home of the wealthy Watson family, she immediately feels out of place. Her feelings are confirmed on the first night when she attends a party with the two Watson granddaughters. The very next day, they discover that a boy named Nick, whom they spoke to at the party, is dead. His death raises suspicions, and Kaylani, along with Nick's brother, firmly believes that it was not an accident.

Overall, this book will keep readers on their toes as Kaylani works to solve the mystery of Nick's death. It is a must-buy for all middle school and high school libraries.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC copy of Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson.

I got the approval email at 10:43 a.m., started reading a little after 12:30 p.m., and finished right before 3 p.m. Invested is an understatement!! Like anything Tiffany D. Jackson writes, I will devour it in hours!

That said, I wanted to give this a solid 5/5 stars—but full transparency, it took exactly 96 pages before I was truly hooked. Granted, this is her first middle grade novel, but I expected to be drawn in from page one—or at least the first chapter—like I was with Monday’s Not Coming or The Weight of Blood. Instead, the beginning focused heavily on background building, and I’m used to the mystery hitting right away. She does so well with this with her other novels! I was a bit bummed this MG novel didn’t pack that same energy. I also didn’t notice as many breadcrumbs as I usually do in her writing.

But once the mystery kicked in, I was all in. Every character, every subtle moment added up, and the ending was amazing. I especially loved the growth of the main character—watching her come into her own was powerful.

All in all, I truly enjoyed this book (clearly, because I finished it in about 2.5 hours). I’m definitely preordering copies for my classroom to add to our Tiffany D. Jackson section. I can’t wait for my students to dive into this one.

Jackson’s middle grade debut was a fun change of pace from her young adult/new adult novels which are often very dark and heart wrenching.

Jackson’s voice and ability to grab the reader was prevalent, though the tone was lighter and pacing a bit slower to match the younger age group. The weaving in of Black history, setting, and undertones of colorism and classism made it a distinct and strong entry in her catalog.

On an unwanted vacation to Martha’s Vineyard to stay with family friends, our main character finds herself in the middle of a mysterious death of a young man. She has to make choices about the bonds of friendship and what is morally or ethically right. As she investigates, she begins to see unexpected ties to her own immediate family as well.

I don’t want to spoil anything but would encourage reader 12 and up to read this one, especially in the summer due to the location and involvement of water in the death (as the cover and title suggest).

(Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.)

Author: Tifanny D. Jackson

Genres: Fiction/AA Fiction/Middle Grade/Mystery/Suspense

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary: Kaylani McKinnon is sent to spend the summer with some family friends at Martha's Vineyard. While there, she experiences loss of connection with her childhood friend, manipulation and blaming. Kaylani doesn't feel like she belongs and wants to return home. When someone is killed in this town full of secrets, Kaylani puts her investigative skills to use. Was it really a shark or murder?

Tropes and Themes: grief, reconnecting with old friends, fate and destiny, revenge, fraud, dysfunctional community, money is the root of all evil.

Character: I loved Kaylani's character. She was a well-developed 14-year-old youth that demonstrated honesty, was very strong-willed. intellectual and resilient. No matter the situation, she exhibited much integrity. She was identified as family oriented and had a love for her father like no other.

Thoughts: This was my second Tiffany Jackson novel. For this to be middle grade, I really enjoyed this book. The book was medium to fast paced, had great character development and I love how the author restored her lost friendship with Londyn in the end. One of the themes that resonated with me the most was that money is the root of all evil. This was demonstrated throughout the entire book because money often changes one perception on reality. This often results in a superiority complex in which others are essentially looked down on or before inferior. The way Londyn initially treated Kaylani was very distasteful due to her lack of material things. Kaylani often found things that made her empowered more useful to her happiness than having money and phones. Overall, this was an amazing read. Again, I am really impressed that a book of this grade level really had my attention. I have recommended this book to be read in our YA book club next month. Well done!

This is an intense and engaging mystery for older middle grade readers -- I read it pretty much in one day, I couldn't put it down! I definitely can think of kids in the library who will be excited for an actual murder mystery for kids.

Kaylani is definitely feeling like the outsider when she gets to Martha's Vineyard, where nothing is like her neighborhood in Brooklyn and she's not actually quite sure how welcome she is in a family friends' home. The two girls she's staying with are rude and dismissive, Cassie seeming much older and busy with bigger things, and London is endlessly annoyed to have to play host to someone she looks down on. Kaylani is perceptive, though, and her close observations come in handy when the body of a teenage boy is found after a fight at a beach party, and she knows Cassie was one of the last people to see him alive.

Jackson digs into the history of the island and its Black community to tell this story, weaving it in in ways that will keep young readers engaged and looking for clues. Kaylani's father is incarcerated, which helps drive her motivation to always pay attention, and to cast a critical eye on the things she hears and sees. She's driven to find a way to prove her father's innocence, despite everyone's ideas of him.

All in all a thrilling mystery for readers looking for danger, sharks, and rich history in their summer reading.

Following the adventures of Kaylani was a fun and interesting read! I’m much older than the intended audience but I loved the mystery of it all. This is definitely a fun and thrilling summer read! Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for allowing me to read this cool summer read.

Tiffany D Jackson is an excellent writer of mysteries that grab hold of you (and won’t let go) and this doesn’t disappoint. The main character and her family find themselves in what seems like a losing situation and so a trip to the vineyard is a welcome distraction. But Kaylani doesn’t want to go and yet it’s on this trip she learns some important lessons about history and friendship.

I enjoyed this middle grades novel and would recommend to anyone looking for a fun and heartwarming story about family, friendship and adventure. Paired with a non-fiction book on Martha’s Vineyard and some scenes from the movie the Inkwell, BITW would be perfect for a text set. .

Thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic for this e-arc.

Kaylani is a Brooklyn girl spending the summer in Martha’s Vineyard, where she quickly finds herself caught in a mystery after a suspicious death happens... Although this is a middle grade book, it absolutely kept me on my toes and I was genuinely shocked at the ending.

thank you netgalley for my ebook arc!

This is my third book from Tiffany D. Jackson, and I've come to the conclusion that she can do no wrong. She is such a fantastic author, who always creates a book wholly different from her last one. This has a beautiful book cover, with quality story within. I will definitely suggest this book to my high school students!

Blood in the Water is a compelling addition to middle-grade literature, offering suspense, cultural insight, and a protagonist whose determination and authenticity will inspire readers. It's a thought-provoking read that encourages young audiences to engage with complex issues while enjoying a captivating mystery.

Blood in the Water is a thrilling middle grade debut from Tiffany D. Jackson. Kaylani is trying to navigate life as her father has just been sent to prison and her mom sends her to Martha's Vineyard with some family friends for the summer. While she's there, a boy dies and no one is sure if it was an accident or murder. As Kaylani tries to figure out what happened to him, she starts to uncover more than she bargained for, in both information and friends. This is a great book, whether as an introduction for thrillers or an experienced Tiffany D. Jackson fan!

Whether it's adult, YA, or middle grade, Tiffany D. Jackson knows how to get your emotions going and you yelling at some characters lol. What a wonderful middle grade debut. The story kept me interested and I didn't want to put it down. It had me feeling the nostalgia of reading multiple Goosebumps and mystery books as a kid. I think middle grade readers will really enjoy putting the pieces together. I also appreciated the facts surrounding Black history throughout the book.

The ending did feel a bit rushed, I wish we got to expand on the reasonings why everything happened just a bit more. However, it is a book I would recommend to young readers and also feel that older readers can enjoy.

Bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson is back with a new beach read for young readers. Kaylani is a born-and-bred Brooklyn girl at heart. She's also a Daddy's girl, perfectly content with spending her days on the phone with her imprisoned father. But her mother insists that Kaylani spend this summer in Martha's Vineyard with family friends, the Watsons.

The Watsons live in Oak Bluffs, a town in Martha's Vineyard with a rich Black history. Although their daughter is snobby, Kaylani connects with other kids who show her around the beach town. A time is had until a shocking murder rocks the community. Of course, the main character Kaylani is determined to solve the mystery.

Not only does Tiffany D. Jackson perfectly execute a story for a younger audience, but she managed to hold my grown attention span! I was drawn into the mystery and felt the suspense through the pages. Do not let the title fool you; it is not a gory read. While it may be predictable for adults, the story has good pace and explores themes like racism, imprisonment, justice and murder at a level appropriate for Scholastic readers.

School is out; fiction is in! I recommend Blood in the Water for middle-school readers. Parents/guardians, add this to your kids' summer reading list. Teachers, consider Blood in the Water for your curriculum in the new school season. Encourage the pre-teens to research Martha's Vineyard, Oak Bluffs and Black history.

Happy Early Pub Day, Tiffany D. Jackson! Blood in the Water will be available Tuesday, July 1.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Anything TDJ writes you better believe im going to read. She can do no wrong in my eyes! I was definitely shock by the twist that was in this! It def takes you on a wild ride!

I dont like this authors writing at all, this is obviously YA, but it felt even more immature than that to me. The characters were not very developed.

All 12-year-old Kaylani McKinnon of Brooklyn can think about is getting her father out of prison. Her dad allegedly embezzled funds from his job, but he didn't commit the crime. Kaylani and her mother met with his lawyer with little hope of securing his release. Kaylani is a mock trial student and she wants to become a lawyer. With all of this legal talk, Kaylani's mother just wants her to focus on being a kid. So she sends Kaylani to Martha's Vineyard to spend her summer with their family’s friends in their huge mansion.

Before she stepped on the island, Kaylani already knows something is up with the family. There's London, a stuck up tween who treats Kaylani as a charity case. She wants nothing to do with Kaylani. Then there's Cassie, London's sister, a teen who keeps more secrets than she lets on. The three of them attend a party where they meet up with Chadwick, a popular teen among the town, and Cassie's ex. After a fight between Chadwick and another teen at the party, Chadwick leaves with Cassie. The next day, Chadwick is found dead, and Kaylani has to find out how and why.

Tiffany’s debut Middle Grade murder-mystery novel unpacks secrets, history, incarcerated parents, and class in this powerful novel. The characters are well developed, the descriptions of the island are vivid, and the pacing is terrific. This is a great novel to hand to tweens who want a mystery to read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Scholastic for the e-ARC. This didn’t quite hit like Tiffany Jackson’s other books, and I’ve read quite a few of her books – being a fan of her writing. Kaylani was a fun character. However, about the time I got invested in her and the other characters, the book was unfortunately over. I will attribute the disconnect to this being targeted at middle schoolers, since the twists were predictable and the mystery easily solvable before the end.

Still, this was still a solid read, and I would recommend it, specifically for middle schoolers.

I'm a huge fan of Jackson having devoured her YA titles and enjoyed her children's titles with my son. I'm so excited that she wrote a middle grade title. I wondered how she would handle dialing back the horror when she scares you so good in her YA novels. Jackson made it work in this mystery. No scares but I can see middle grade students enjoying this book and wanting more from her. This was a great taste of summer with an engaging whodunit - a perfect primer to get middle school students looking for her YA titles. I loved the main character - she was savvy but stayed true to her values. There was enough foreshadowing that I believed that the killer did it even though it was an unexpected reveal.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I always enjoy Tiffany D Jackson's work. She is one of my favorite YA authors. I really enjoyed this read. Its a story of class, murder and with deep rooted history. I was rooting for the main character so hard, she had been through enough and just wanted her to catch a win. I will say I was wrong about the ending! I just knew I was right.

I loved that pacing of the story as well as the plot twist. The only thing I do wish is that it was a little bit longer or that it gave an epilogue.

All in all another great read by TDJ