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So obviously I’ve become a big middle grade horror fan. It’s really turned into a go-to comfort genre for me, and I have a HUGE backlog of books I’m excited to get to! 

But I’ll admit right up front that I was slightly skeptical about reading a middle grade thriller, and I have a few ideas why. 

I spend a lot of time thinking about middle grade horror (like…a lot), and it seems to me that every single one of them that I’ve read so far has a supernatural element. Which makes all the sense in the world, right? Because you can’t exactly have a middle grade slasher novel (at least I don’t think you can, but I’m happy to be proven wrong) where the killer is human. I think that might just be a step over the line for the age range, but again, I’m not 100% sure.

And so I think that’s where my hesitation came with reading Tiffany D. Jackson’s BLOOD IN THE WATER, because there’s nothing supernatural about it at all. With MG horror, usually the supernatural things are happening unbeknownst to the grownups in the story. Or maybe the grownups sort of “buy in” to the supernatural element at the end. 

But all I could think of heading into this middle grade thriller (my first, I believe) was WHERE ARE THE GROWNUPS? HOW IS THERE A MURDER BEING INVESTIGATED BY A TWELVE-YEAR-OLD GIRL?

But of course I’m ridiculous & Tiffany D. Jackson knows precisely what is and isn’t age-appropriate, and BLOOD IN THE WATER is a remarkable book. I believe this is her middle grade debut & it just won the Edgar Award for “Best Juvenile”, so that’s pretty neat! I’ve read two of Jackson’s YA novels, WHITE SMOKE and THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD and they were both outstanding (WHITE SMOKE has probably the scariest scene in a YA horror novel that I’ve read).

Kaylani McKinnon is a twelve-year-old girl from Brooklyn, and her plans for summer are unconventional. Unfortunately, Kaylani’s father has recently been incarcerated for some financial crimes that Kaylani knows he didn’t commit. Kaylani has been taking mock trial workshops at her library & plans on going to a pre-law camp in August. She’s determined to learn everything she can about the law in an attempt to help clear her father’s name.

But her parents decide that Kaylani could use a vacation, and arrange for her to travel to Martha’s Vineyard for a couple weeks, to stay with some family friends (the Watsons) in their enormous island home. Kaylani is reluctant, but off she goes in spite of her misgivings. 

Right away, the vibe is off. London is Kaylani’s age, and while the two had spent time together when they were younger, London is all attitude at first & wants nothing to do with Kaylani. London’s older sister, Cassie, is a bit softer with Kaylani but is wrapped up in teenage drama. 

Slowly but steadily, though, Kaylani and London forge a fragile friendship, and London shows Kaylani all that Martha’s Vineyard has to offer; the beaches, the ice cream, and most interestingly to Kaylani, the Black history. 

But everything changes when a local teenage boy is killed. Was it a shark? Or was it foul play? And who can Kaylani really trust on this island, when everyone seems to have lots of secrets and appearances to keep up?

I lived most of my life on Cape Cod and have spent a fair amount of time on Martha’s Vineyard, and Jackson captured the vibe of the place with sheer perfection (I read an interview where she talks about visiting MV a lot). Local landmarks, real places/businesses you can look up…it makes it feel so real and immersive! The book also features a bit of history about Inkwell Beach, which I knew a little about. Here’s a great article I found about the history of the beach, and the complexities around the name and its usage. 

Kaylani is a great protagonist & a really good sleuth. Her love and dedication to her Dad is what drives her the most, and the book doesn’t shy away from the showing the impact that the prison system can have on families, particularly Black families. Kaylani is such a fighter, and I think this book and her story will mean a lot to kids who read it!

Jackson has another middle grade thriller lined up for August, GHOST IN THE NIGHT! The synopsis for that one sounds amazing & it’s now one of my most anticipated books of the summer! 

I had a blast reading BLOOD IN THE WATER! It’s perfect for summer if you like to read with the seasons! Just a really compelling, emotionally charged mystery, a book with some shocking moments & plenty of local lore. Such a great book!