{"product_id":"blue-beach","title":"Blue Beach","description":"\n\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"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. \n\u003ci\u003eBlue Beach\u003c\/i\u003e is a mystery that pulses with immediacy. I found myself rooting for Blue, for Ben, and for justice for us all.\"-- \n\u003cb\u003eTami Charles, New York Times bestselling author of Muted and Like Vanessa\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"An engrossing novel about the lies people believe and the terrible things done to keep the truth buried.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eBooklist\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eBlue Beach\u003c\/i\u003e is a brilliant and gripping whodunit set during a time that reminds us society's dangers exist without an expiration date. The historical setting is lovingly rendered, the crime heartbreakingly depicted. Karyn Parsons has done some fine work. Anyone who steps on the sand here is going to want to stay a while!\"\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003cb\u003eLamar Giles, three-time Edgar Awards finalist and author of The Getaway\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eKaryn Parsons\u003c\/b\u003e is best known for her role as Will Smith's cousin Hilary Banks on NBC's \n\u003ci\u003eThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air\u003c\/i\u003e. 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 \n\u003ci\u003eClouds over California \u003c\/i\u003eand \n\u003ci\u003eHow High the Moon\u003c\/i\u003e. Karyn \n\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003elives in Providence, Rhode Island, with her family.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Parsons's YA debut is a gripping, emotionally resonant mystery distinguished by a morally complex plot and an unforgettable young heroine. Balancing suspense with historical truth, it is a powerful story of courage, loyalty, and resilience.\"\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eHorn Book\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"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.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"I loved \n\u003ci\u003eBlue Beach\u003c\/i\u003e--a thrilling, immersive historical mystery that illuminates California's segregated past from the vantage of the only Black beach in Santa Monica. You'll cheer for Blue as she navigates her world with honor and courage, and ache for characters facing down a nation's prejudice while trying to keep the joys of childhood alive. With prose bright and clear, this story rings with difficult truths about racism, colorism, and a past that still haunts us today. The mystery will keep you turning pages, but ultimately, it's love--for people, place, and home--that gives this novel such tremendous force. Everyone should pay a visit to Parsons's lovingly rendered \n\u003ci\u003e Blue Beach\u003c\/i\u003e.\"-- \n\u003cb\u003eKelly McWilliams, author of Mirror Girls\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\" \n\u003ci\u003eBlue Beach\u003c\/i\u003e 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.\"-- \n\u003cb\u003eRenée Watson, #1 New York Times bestselling author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Actor Parsons ( \n\u003ci\u003eClouds over California\u003c\/i\u003e) makes her YA debut with an evocative, socially conscious murder mystery set against the racially charged backdrop of 1929 Santa Monica.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t* \"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.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eKirkus Reviews, starred review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Kobo Best of the Month pick\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003ePerfect for fans of \u003ci\u003ePromise Boys\u003c\/i\u003e, this \u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cb\u003egripping 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.\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 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. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 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. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/span\u003e 04\/15\/2026 (EAN 9780316575751, Hardcover) - *Starred Review\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/span\u003e 03\/01\/2026 pg. 79 (EAN 9780316575751, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/span\u003e 03\/23\/2026 (EAN 9780316575751, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eBooklist\u003c\/span\u003e 05\/01\/2026 (EAN 9780316575751, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eHorn Book Magazine\u003c\/span\u003e 07\/01\/2026 pg. 96 (EAN 9780316575751, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n","brand":"Little, Brown Books for Young Readers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51496201683222,"sku":"9780316575751","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0857\/9910\/8886\/files\/9780316575751.jpg?v=1783057430","url":"https:\/\/lusper.myshopify.com\/products\/blue-beach","provider":"Lusperbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}