Dark Waters

The blend of horror and fantasy is intense for a middle-grade book. I wonder what influenced the decision to include such suspenseful and spooky scenes at that level.

The descriptions of the waters and shadows felt so vivid and immersive. I'm curious if the author based the setting on a real place or created it entirely from imagination.

The book seems to handle heavy topics with sensitivity, but I wondered if that balance was something the author carefully planned or evolved during writing.