e-ALC, 07:47:36
Narrated by: Imani Parks
Release Date: June 9, 2026
Published by: Hachette Audio
Read from: June 10-11, 2026
Stand-alone
Source: Netgalley (I received this ALC from the publisher and Netgalley. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment
For Readers of: Audio, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Most Anticipated, Own, Own Voices, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Realistic Fiction, ThrillersPerfect for fans of Promise Boys , this gripping mystery follows a teenager who finds a murdered girl on her family’s California beach—a discovery that will reveal the racism, segregation, and colorism rampant in her world.
Fifteen-year-old Blue Collins’s parents own the only Black beach in Santa Monica in 1929. She loves spending time there with her handsome friend Ben Clark. It’s a quiet spot where they can be alone and where Ben’s darker skin won’t be judged by onlookers—or Blue’s own family.
During a sunset rendezvous after a summer parade, the pair discovers the body of Dottie Whitehouse, a white debutante. Blue Beach is already threatened by local white property owners. Now their whole community could be at risk. In their panic, Blue and Ben move Dottie’s body into the waters of a nearby white beach.
Dottie’s body washes ashore, and it isn’t long before all eyes are on Ben. Everyone saw how Dottie teased him and how they shared smiles. And their history goes deeper than Blue ever realized. But to save Ben from the outraged white townspeople, she’ll need to do whatever she can to dig up the truth and prove his innocence. Ben isn’t the only one whose life depends on it.
*MY THOUGHTS*
This was so good. I had a few qualms, but they weren’t actually that deep. It had to do with the historical aspect and I’m assuming the age group, so it was fine. I think I just wanted more because I was so interested in it. Hopefully others are as well and decide to go and learn more about it like I did.
OK so the thing that I had reservations about was the historical aspect. For it to be a historical fiction book, the history isn’t really explained. As someone who is also from a Beach town and the stretch of beach closest to my house was considered the “Black Beach,” I was excited to see this depicted in a story. But while the setting was there and the set up was there, there wasn’t hardly any of the historical aspects there? I’m assuming it was glossed over in small ways for the age group, like the reason they wanted to move her in the first place, the reason why they had the beach house built in the first place, etc. I think I just wanted more. I know readers and context clues, but I think I’m worried about the times now where if they went to go look up things, they wouldn’t find much because people have taken those resources down. I guess I just wanted to have something they can’t deny. So yeah, I just wish there were more in your face historical facts? But I guess in a middle grade we don’t want to bog them down and make the story boring?
The mystery itself was stressful. I couldn’t imagine myself as a grown adult finding that on a beach, let alone being their age. I don’t think I would have thought to do what they did. They were so brave. And these were KIDS. Yeah with me there wouldn’t have been a story. But these kids got themselves into so many unsafe situations just to show that their friend was nothing like what people were saying. You will but you won’t be surprised at the whodunit though. I was caught off guard (I didn’t guess because I was too into the story) but once it happens, it will actually make sense. If you know, you know.
The friendship between the two of them tho was so wholesome. The way they interacted and helped each other even when people were saying Ben was guilty without really knowing anything. And I wanted to point out that sometimes friendship bonds are stronger than family. You’ll understand it when you read it. Just know I wanted to lock that one person in the house and make them stay inside all the time. Because why are you out here acting like your family don’t mean anything? I was so mad I was punishing them from outside the book lol
This book was so good. I really hope it opens the doors and makes kids question why these beaches were made and why they existed in the first place. I hope they see what it meant to the Black people who enjoyed it and the reasoning why having this place to display their joy was so important. If you haven’t picked this one up, do so now!
Overall, I give this
