**⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Unforgettable and Urgent**

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of *Blood in the Water* by Tiffany D. Jackson. This book is everything I’ve come to expect from her—bold, emotionally raw, and fiercely relevant.

From the first page, Jackson pulls readers into a gripping, slow-burning mystery rooted in systemic injustice. The story is tense, layered, and deeply human. Her characters are flawed, resilient, and real, making the emotional stakes hit hard. I found myself completely immersed—angry at the injustice, heartbroken by the silence, and deeply moved by the courage at the story’s core.

What makes Jackson’s writing so powerful is her ability to blend truth and fiction seamlessly. *Blood in the Water* holds up a mirror to society, asking tough questions about who gets believed, who gets erased, and what it costs to speak up. The narrative doesn’t flinch, and yet it never feels heavy-handed. It trusts its readers to think, feel, and wrestle with the hard stuff.

This is a must-read for teens and adults alike. It belongs in classrooms, book clubs, and conversations about justice and youth activism. Tiffany D. Jackson once again proves she’s one of the most important voices in YA literature.

An absolutely unforgettable read.

pretty fun and well-written read that never really startled me but still felt like it was able to pull some level of suspense. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

Tiffany D. Jackson never misses and Blood in the Water is proof. Dark, haunting, and deeply layered, this one had me flipping pages like my life depended on it. Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! This thriller drops July 1st so make sure you add it to your TBR ASAP.

Well written, entertaining middle grade. Tiffany D. Jackson has did it yet again. Relatable characters. The plot was intriguing. The storytelling was fantastic. I enjoyed the pace of the book. That twist... I seen it coming but yet I didn't see it coming. This is by far one of my fave mysteries thus far. A summertime must read that grabs and holds readers till the very end.

Thank you Netgalley for theARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Damn debut middle grade and hitting it with a five star?! The suspense was just the right amount. I loved the history of Martha’s Vineyard woven into the story. The classism? Yes please. The shark analogy?! My own toy two qualms are, the ending felt too quick and perfect,y tied up. I loved all the connections but i wish we had another chapter between London and Lani, to really solidify the friendship.

Middle grade is not so much my cup of tea but I love me some Tiffany D. Jackson and this did not disappoint!! Still all (or neeeeearly all) of the elements you would expect from her work, just done for a younger audience. I loved the setting and it was really satisfying to see the mystery unfold and get all of the answers in the end.

e-arc provided by Netgalley

Overall this was a solid mystery. I do think the main villain was a little cartoonishly evil at the end part but I think that comes with the territory of a middle grade mystery.

This is Tiffany D. Jackson's first middle grade novel and it was amazing! I've read several other of her books and loved them. Blood in the Water is a great book for young readers who are interested in mysteries/thrillers as well as YA and adult fiction readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic Press for the digital arc!

Holy smokes this book was amazing! Tiffany D. Jackson is one of my favorite authors, and her first middle grade book did not disappoint. If you want a book that keeps you on your toes, and makes it so you stay up late to finish it, than I highly recommend reading "Blood in the Water." I cannot wait to add this book to my classroom library--I know my students are going to love it.

Tiffany D Jackson is sure to have another hit on her hands. I believe this middle school novel will hook all students who like suspense and mysteries. I even feel comfortable using it as a class read novel. The characters are exciting and real in this fast-paced and energized story. A+

Tiffany D Jackson’s first venture into middle grade is just as suspenseful and amazing as her YA titles. This book, centered around a summer spent on Martha’s Vineyard following Kaylani’s father’s incarceration, puts her in the middle of a murder investigation. Young readers will immediately get sucked right into this page-turner of a novel!

As her debut for middle grade but still focused on her signature thrillers and mysteries, this is the story where the setting is just as important as the drama. Kaylani, a girl from Brooklyn is spending the summer in Martha's Vineyard. She won't be able to talk to her father who is in prison but her mom is hoping that she'll be able to take a break from relentlessly pursuing the case to free her dad that she believes is innocent of his crime.

Cue a summer that starts fairly quickly with the murder of a boy she just meets and the piecing together of clues that the person is closer than she thinks. Uncovering this mystery will pull the thread on the sweater of a larger puzzle. It's a more serious version of a summer slasher but still filled with the summer vibes that spending one eating ice cream and swimming in the ocean would give.

My first time reading a Tiffany Jackson book, and I enjoyed this one. For this to be a mid-grade book, I was intrigued the whole time. The plot was amazing and suspenseful. Kaylani was so intelligent and was able to figure things out that most adults missed. The way she was able to figure out the murder mystery was amazing. I loved the friend group she built while in Martha's Vineyard. Now London was a little girl I couldn't stand but I liked her better towards the end. She just wanted to be like her older sister and alienated everyone in the end. Overall, this is a good read that can be enjoyed by teens and adults.

4.5 rounded up to 5

I've enjoyed everything I've read by Tiffany D Jackson and this is no exception. I could not put this down. I kept wanting to know more. It's thrilling, exciting, and mysterious. A very good read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for the ARC of Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson—her middle grade thriller debut! This one follows Kaylani, a smart, observant middle schooler from Brooklyn who gets invited to spend the summer in Martha’s Vineyard. She’s dealing with a lot: her dad’s in prison, and she doesn’t quite fit in at school because of it. She’s staying with the Watson family for the summer, but things quickly take a dark turn when a death occurs. Was it a shark attack… or was it murder?

I thought this was so good. Yes, it’s for a younger audience, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. Tiffany D. Jackson just knows how to craft a compelling story with real-world issues layered underneath, and this is no different.

One of my favorite parts was the setting. Martha’s Vineyard is the perfect backdrop for a summer thriller. I didn’t even know it had a historically large population of wealthy Black families, and I loved seeing that reflected. That said, the bougie Black folks are definitely here—and Kaylani feels that, especially with the Watsons. It adds so much to the tension, especially as she navigates this world that’s so different from her own.

As for the characters—Kaylani is a standout. She’s bright, determined, and wants justice—for her dad, and for the victim. I appreciated that she still felt like a real 12-year-old, not one of those overly adult-like kids that pull you out of the story. And listen... London Watson? Whew. I hated that girl. Entitled, mean, snobby—she was nasty just to be nasty. Honestly, I’ve never wanted to fight a fictional child more, except maybe her sister. They were both awful to Kaylani just because she wasn’t rich and her dad’s incarcerated. I felt for her so deeply—I just wanted her to get out of that environment and find peace.

I also really appreciated the way social issues were woven in—especially class. You can feel the difference between Kaylani’s life and the Watsons’. It’s not in-your-face, but it’s there in how they carry themselves, how they treat her, how they move through the world.

And the mystery? Loved it. The twist at the end hit, but if you're paying attention, the clues are there. It’s layered, smart, and just fast-paced enough to keep you flipping pages. I gave this a 4.5—super strong, and I’m already looking forward to her next book coming out in October.

I recommend this if you love Tiffany D. Jackson’s writing, love a good island summer setting, and want a quick, engaging thriller with heart.

This whole thing just felt a bit strange. An easy enough read but nothing groundbreaking that will stick with me. Maybe I’ll finally watch Jaws, though!

I will buy anything Tiffany D. Jackson writes.

blood in the water is her first middle grade and it was good, did the twist surprise me not at all i figured it out who did it like 60% through the book.

As far as middle grades goes this was a blast o read.

This was an easy, engaging and quick read! I loved what Tiffany did a wonderful job with flushing out the characters in this story. I will say that I wish that we could’ve gotten more back story on a few of the characters (ie Kaylani’s father and Mrs. Watson) simply because I found these characters interesting and I found myself wanting to get more information on them. There were a few times while reading that I felt the story was a little rushed and disjointed, but overall had me on edge because the tension was intense! Ms. Jackson is quickly becoming an instant buy for me. Bravo, great YA thriller.

This was a quick read I didn’t see the ending coming and how it related to other parts of the story , definitely not who I thought it was. Like always I enjoyed Tiffany’s writing

Tiffany D. Jackson continues to prove that she is the true queen of YA….and now Middle Grade too. This book has some mystery, history, and summer fun with twists. You could read it all at once, as it is hard to put down. I think the protagonist, Kaylani, is admirable and has qualities I would want a middle school student to look up to. Entertaining, well-written, and easy to read.