Blood in the Water

Kaylani McKinnon, a young girl from Brooklyn, spends her summer in an elite Martha's Vineyard enclave. When a local teen celebrity dies under mysterious circumstances (initially blamed on a shark attack), Kaylani suspects foul play. Her investigation uncovers buried local secrets and historical connections to the island's heritage. SENSITIVE TOPICS: The book deals directly with the death of a peer, which is the catalyst for the plot. The approach is secular and realistic, though the 'shark attack' framing adds a layer of creature-feature peril. The resolution is justice-oriented and hopeful, emphasizing that the truth is worth the risk. EMOTIONAL ARC: The story begins with social anxiety and the discomfort of class/cultural differences. It builds into high-stakes tension and fear as the mystery deepens, but concludes with a sense of empowerment and belonging for Kaylani. IDEAL READER: A 10-year-old who loves 'true crime' podcasts or Nancy Drew and the specific social hierarchies of summer vacation spots. PARENT TRIGGER: A parent might notice their child feeling 'less than' compared to peers or expressing frustration about unwritten social rules in wealthy or 'snooty' spaces. PARENT PREP: Parents should be aware of the 'murder' element; while middle-grade appropriate, the discovery of a body and the surrounding investigation might be intense for sensitive readers. AGE EXPERIENCE: Younger readers will focus on the 'whodunit' and the shark-related scares. Older readers (11-12) will better grasp the nuances of code-switching, historical erasure, and the class tensions between 'summer people' and locals. DIFFERENTIATOR: Tiffany D. Jackson brings her signature 'thriller' expertise to middle grade, successfully blending a commercial murder mystery with a rich, authentic exploration of the history of the Inkwell/Oak Bluffs community on Martha's Vineyard.