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Salt Water Blood
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Table of Contents
About The Book
An Indigenous teen fights to clear her brother of a murder charge by embracing her gift of hearing the sea’s prophetic thoughts in this debut young adult speculative thriller that’s Firekeeper’s Daughter meets Moana.
Eighteen-year-old Moe hears the sea’s prophetic thoughts. Not just hear them—she feels them. That’s how she experienced her father’s death before he did and how she felt her mother’s relief when she abandoned Moe and her younger brother, Tao, months later.
So when the sea warns Moe that Tao will drown, she’s determined to get in fate’s way and soon secures them a way off their island home. But those plans are ruined when Tao’s girlfriend goes missing and Tao is found where she was last seen…with blood on his hands—and no memory of what happened.
Moe will do anything she can to clear her brother’s name, even if it means swallowing her pride and teaming up with her annoyingly clever school rival, Temanea. Even if it means relying on the sea’s prophecies.
Because her dreaded gift may be the only way to save her brother—and uncover a sickness lurking in their community before it poisons them all.
Eighteen-year-old Moe hears the sea’s prophetic thoughts. Not just hear them—she feels them. That’s how she experienced her father’s death before he did and how she felt her mother’s relief when she abandoned Moe and her younger brother, Tao, months later.
So when the sea warns Moe that Tao will drown, she’s determined to get in fate’s way and soon secures them a way off their island home. But those plans are ruined when Tao’s girlfriend goes missing and Tao is found where she was last seen…with blood on his hands—and no memory of what happened.
Moe will do anything she can to clear her brother’s name, even if it means swallowing her pride and teaming up with her annoyingly clever school rival, Temanea. Even if it means relying on the sea’s prophecies.
Because her dreaded gift may be the only way to save her brother—and uncover a sickness lurking in their community before it poisons them all.
About The Author
Damien Heinrich
Manuia Heinrich is a Tahitian Chinese writer based in Aotearoa, New Zealand. She holds a PhD in Pacific studies from Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington; she also cofounded Pacific Islanders in Publishing and was a We Need Diverse Books mentee. Salt Water Blood is Manuia’s debut novel.
Product Details
- Publisher: Sarah Barley Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (November 17, 2026)
- Length: 368 pages
- ISBN13: 9781665986076
- Grades: 7 and up
- Ages: 12 - 99
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Raves and Reviews
“Salt Water Blood is a triumphant tidal wave of a book; a compelling mystery wrapped in a searing tale about family, siblings, culture and community. Listen to me and the sea, and let this incredible book sweep you away.”
—Dhonielle Clayton, author of The Marvellers
“Salt Water Blood is a page turner, detective story and mystery . . . a marvel . . . Bravo Manuia Heinrich. Mauruuru ia ‘oe.”
—Célestine Hitiura Vaite, author of Frangipani
“Packed with Indigenous lore, murder, and suspense, Salt Water Blood is a must-read. Heinrich’s haunting YA debut drags you into a dangerous undertow of secrets and swells toward a breathless conclusion.”
—Keala Kendall, author of That Which Feeds Us
“With mystery that runs as deep and ancient as the sea, a vibrant island setting, and an ending you won’t see coming, Salt Water Blood draws you into the murky waters of family loyalty, duty, and secrets that, even in paradise, lurk just below the surface. This story will sweep you away with all the power of a tsunami. Prepare to stay up way too late reading!”
—Ginny Myers Sain, author of Dark and Shallow Lies
“Salt Water Blood will pull you under. A sister’s determination to save her brother anchors this mystery rich in island lore, activism, and tender first love. Like the story’s magical grocery store, Manuia Heinrich’s debut gives you exactly what you need.”
—Katie Bernet, author of Beth Is Dead
“Rich in atmosphere and island lore, one can almost taste the grilled fish and soursop juice and hear the Vespa motoring up and down the inland roads. I was rooting for the smart, independent Moe . . . I still am. A compelling mystery and a deeply moving story about family, duty, and the ties that bind one, for better or worse, to one’s home.”
—Makiia Lucier, author of Dragonfruit
“Equal parts salt-soaked mystery and poignant meditation on the ways colonialism echoes into the present at the cost of Indigenous communities, Salt Water Blood will sweep you away. Manuia Heinrich is a radiant new voice in YA fiction.”
—Clare Edge, author of Natural Selection
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