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by Karyn Parsons
Perfect for fans of Promise Boys, this gripping historical mystery follows a teenager who finds a murdered girl on her family's California beach—a discovery that will reveal the racism 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.
"Parsons' latest is a page-turning narrative bolstered by a strong sense of time and place. A riveting story of secrets, betrayal, racial struggle, and loyal bonds." ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"An engaging period piece with an easy-to-follow mystery and highly compelling characters, this is especially relevant for its realistic depictions of race and class in American society." ―School Library Journal
"Actor Parsons (Clouds over California) makes her YA debut with an evocative, socially conscious murder mystery set against the racially charged backdrop of 1929 Santa Monica." ―Publishers Weekly
"An engrossing novel about the lies people believe and the terrible things done to keep the truth buried." —Booklist
"Blue Beach is an unflinching and beautifully crafted page-turner. Parsons's vivid prose builds palpable tension throughout this love story that explores the dangers of keeping secrets and the cost of telling the truth. An indelible tale." ―Renée Watson, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"Karyn Parsons does something special here—really in everything she writes. History is at the forefront: the beautiful and the ugly, the urgency to confront and correct it. Blue Beach is a mystery that pulses with immediacy. I found myself rooting for Blue, for Ben, and for justice for us all." ―Tami Charles, New York Times bestselling author of Muted and Like Vanessa
This information about Blue Beach was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Karyn Parsons is best known for her role as Will Smith's cousin Hilary Banks on NBC's The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. After leaving acting behind, Karyn has gone on to found and produce Sweet Blackberry, an award-winning series of children's animated films, to share stories about unsung Black heroes in history, featuring narration from stars such as Alfre Woodard, Queen Latifah, and Chris Rock. The videos have been screened on HBO and Netflix, and enjoyed by schools and libraries across the country. She is the author of Clouds over California and How High the Moon. Karyn lives in Providence, Rhode Island, with her family.
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