Tiffany D. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Blood in the Water, as well as several YA novels and two picture books. The recipient of the 2025 Margaret A. Edwards Award, Tiffany is also a Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe New Talent Award winner and an NAACP Image Award nominee. She received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University. The Brooklyn native is currently splitting her time between the borough she loves and the South, most likely multitasking. Learn more at writeinbk.com.

Praise for Ghost in the Night:

"Harmony is a fully realized character, whose grief is paired with a wistfulness that makes her sympathetic. This roller-coaster of a story centering on a cast of Black characters highlights courageous young people who dive deep into danger. An atmospheric, well-paced adventure exploring supernatural mysteries." -- Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Blood in the Water:

* "Exhilarating... The protagonist's whip-smart first-person narration expertly complements the suspenseful murder-mystery plot, while chilling prose, atmospheric storytelling, and rich explorations of the island's Black history culminate in an accessible and satisfying thriller." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "Jackson brings her trademark thrills and twists to a younger audience with riveting adeptness... the African American history and cultural significance of Martha's Vineyard are sprinkled throughout, adding further depth to the setting. This is a must-purchase mystery." -- Booklist, starred review

"Employing tight, steady writing, Jackson builds tension around the complexities of class and respectability politics... A perfect beach read for lovers of suspense." -- Kirkus Reviews

"What could spoil a glamorous, fun-filled summer in Martha's Vineyard? Uh... maybe a murder? Waves of suspense more chilling than the threatening ocean. Don't miss this one!" -- R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps and Fear Street

"There is so much to love about this book. A heart-wrenching and thrilling mystery, filled with wonderfully crafted characters and dynamic relationships. This riveting and suspenseful story kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end!" -- Daka Hermon, author of Hide and Seeker

"Jackson never disappoints; Blood in the Water showcases the signature plotting, pacing, and character work we've come to love from this author. Make room on your bookshelves if you haven't already. You're going to want this one for your collection!" -- Lamar Giles, author of Ruin Road

"At once a breezy vacation story (complete with beachside bonfires, arcades, and lobster ice cream) and a tightly plotted, high-stakes murder mystery. Jackson's Martha's Vineyard location is lovingly and immersively drawn, complete with local history, community tensions, and the weight of social expectation that tempers the delights of being able to hop on a bike and meet new friends at the arcade or the ice cream shop. Kaylani is a sharp and observant detective--even if getting to the bottom of a suspicious death isn't how she wanted to spend her summer--and I loved sharing this adventure with her." -- Kate Milford, New York Times bestselling author of Greenglass House

Praise for The Weight of Blood:

* "Jackson's expert reshaping of this tale highlights the genuine horrors of both internalized and externalized anti-Blackness. Horror done right." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Jackson skillfully explores internalized and externalized anti-Blackness in this striking horror novel. Bone-chilling. Expertly utiliz[es] current true-crime fanaticism to form a powerfully socially conscious narrative that showcases the intense structural racism still inherent in society." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "Jackson's nod to Stephen King's Carrie incorporates racially charged social justice themes into a narrative featuring her signature twisty suspense. Supernatural portions of the book are explosive and riveting, with the racist realistic parts even more horrifying. Readers will be hooked from page one of Maddy's intense journey that detonates on prom night." -- School Library Journal, starred review

* "A brilliant deconstruction of Stephen King's Carrie." -- BookPage, starred review

"Smart and unsettling retelling of Carrie." -- Booklist

Praise for White Smoke:

* "Jackson conjures horrors both supernatural and otherwise in a masterful juxtaposition of searing social commentary and genuinely creepy haunts, as well as providing an authentic portrayal of tensions within a blended family. Begs to be finished in one sitting, though maybe with the lights kept on." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Jackson is one of the most innovative YA suspense writers in recent years, and her latest is no exception." -- School Library Journal, starred review

"Thrilling, chilling, and utterly riveting. Tiffany D. Jackson crafts high-stakes tension, a deliciously creepy atmosphere, and characters you really, really hope make it to the end." -- Karen McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Of Us Is Lying

"Jackson delivers multilayered frights in a true horror tradition, peppered with instantly recognizable references to urban legends and internet horror culture." -- Publishers Weekly

"A transcendent, genre-defining masterpiece. Jordan Peele would be proud." -- Shondaland

"The creeps come on slowly, then start to build. When the cold shivers ran down my back, I wanted to scream--but I was too busy turning pages. I had to know: Just how frightening will it get?" -- R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps and Fear Street

"The queen of YA returns." -- Entertainment Weekly

Praise for Grown:

* "Gripping in both its content and format... Jackson's writing some of the best thrillers for teens these days." -- Booklist, starred review

* "Expertly juxtaposing the glamour of Enchanted's potential fame against the harshness of her private moments with Korey, Jackson builds the story gradually and painfully to an astonishing, chilling climax." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Compelling; Jackson excels in writing books steeped in social commentary." -- Kirkus Reviews

"In another ripped-from-the-headlines novel, Jackson takes readers through a heart-pounding thriller exploring physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, misogynoir, and rape culture... this novel is sure to initiate important conversations while delivering an engrossing story." -- The Horn Book Magazine

"Tiffany D. Jackson has penned a riveting, powerful love story to Black girlhood and a haunting reminder of the ways in which their innocence is often stolen. Remarkable, suspenseful, and gut-wrenching, Grown is a masterfully told story that stays with you long after you put it down." -- Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give and On the Come Up

"Never have I read a story that so flawlessly hits the highest high and lowest low notes of Black girlhood in pursuit of the American Dream. Tiffany D. Jackson has done it again." -- Nic Stone, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin and Jackpot

"Grown is equal parts riveting and alarming. It asks hard questions about power, innocence, and who we, as a society, see as worth saving. A captivating and cautionary page-turner." -- Ashley Woodfolk, author of When You Were Everything

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Pub date: 2026-08-04

Length: 288 pages