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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Since we're all apparently comparing it to the Hex Hall trilogy, I'll confess that I seem to be in the minority in that I found Sophie 's sarcasm frequently ill-timed, incessant, and detracting, so I really appreciated Hawkins backing off of that here. I found Archer obnoxious and snide and Calvin likeable but vanilla, so I'm excited to get to explore more of this universe with the more faceted and quirky Dex and Torin in their stead.
Note: Editing needs work if that's the sort of thing that bothers you. It's nothing terribly significant, but I found it distracting.
Note: Editing needs work if that's the sort of thing that bothers you. It's nothing terribly significant, but I found it distracting.
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I really enjoyed School Spirits. This was the first book I’ve read by Rachel Hawkins, as I have yet to read the Hex Hall series. I was sucked right into School Spirits and thought the author did a wonderful job of character building. For a sort of “teeny bopper” synopsis and overall impression, Hawkin’s ability to create incredibly complex and entertaining characters kept me completely interested at a time when YA was starting to wear thin for me. I cannot gush enough about how much I loved this book.
Being part of a magical crime fighting family had more drawbacks than perks for Izzy, but she was able to get her own chance to shine by investigating a possible haunting at a school. Under the guise of being a new student, Izzy was able to go to school everyday, which was something she never got to do in her entire childhood. By inserting herself into the paranormal club at school, Izzy got the chance to make friends while also unraveling the mysterious haunting.
I liked Izzy and understood the strange dynamic between her and her mother. Izzy’s sister went missing on a mission and Izzy always felt like she wasn’t being given a chance to show her skills, so their relationship with strained, even though it was obvious they loved each other. As always, I appreciated the existence of a mom in the story since so many YA novels are strangely parentless.
The rest of the characters were wonderful and each of them had a distinct personality. None of them were particularly dull, being that they made up the weird and oddly freakish paranormal club in their school. Dex was probably my favorite character because he was so quirky and yet distinguished at the same time. He was one of those characters you can’t help but love. I wish I had more words to describe him, but just imagine a distinguished, old-timey persona in a gangly and awkward teenage boy with asthma. I mean, isn’t that the recipe for entertaining?!
I also enjoyed Torin, the imprisoned man in the mirror in the Brannick household. I loved how he was quirky (in a different way than Dex) and also took an interest in Izzy’s life. Izzy had never gone to school, so she tried to learn about social dynamics by watching a teen soap opera and Torin watched it with her. Their exchanges were hilarious. Seriously, I can’t decide who I loved more: Torin or Dex!
The plot of school spirits was interesting, what with Izzy attempting to fit in and also not get too close to temporary friends and it’s easy to see how that strategy might come with complications. Lots of different dynamics were going on and the haunting added the element of danger. The paranormal aspects of the story were there, despite the fact that I don’t seem to be talking much about the plot. But above all else, I loved School Spirits for the characters. They sucked me in and I was completely engrossed in the writing, hoping to figure out what would happen next. Also, I think this is a great book for actual teens to read because it has great lessons about friendship, family, duty, and identity, which are all wonderful themes for that age group.
There was a bit of romance and crushes and all that, which I loved. But it wasn’t a romantically focused book like many of the YA series out there and I found it refreshing. I don’t always want dramatic, in my face angst, drama, steam, and focus, but I also want the possibility of a relationship to exist. I loved the way the romance was done in School Spirits. I find it wonderfully refreshing and entertaining without being all.. you know… too much.
I will definitely continue the series and I highly recommend it. Hex Hall has been on my to-read list for awhile, but this book has made me more excited to read the Hex Hall series.
Review originally published at Love, Literature, Art, and Reason Book Review Blog: http://meganm922.blogspot.com/2013/05/reviewschool-spirits-school-spirits-1.html
Being part of a magical crime fighting family had more drawbacks than perks for Izzy, but she was able to get her own chance to shine by investigating a possible haunting at a school. Under the guise of being a new student, Izzy was able to go to school everyday, which was something she never got to do in her entire childhood. By inserting herself into the paranormal club at school, Izzy got the chance to make friends while also unraveling the mysterious haunting.
I liked Izzy and understood the strange dynamic between her and her mother. Izzy’s sister went missing on a mission and Izzy always felt like she wasn’t being given a chance to show her skills, so their relationship with strained, even though it was obvious they loved each other. As always, I appreciated the existence of a mom in the story since so many YA novels are strangely parentless.
The rest of the characters were wonderful and each of them had a distinct personality. None of them were particularly dull, being that they made up the weird and oddly freakish paranormal club in their school. Dex was probably my favorite character because he was so quirky and yet distinguished at the same time. He was one of those characters you can’t help but love. I wish I had more words to describe him, but just imagine a distinguished, old-timey persona in a gangly and awkward teenage boy with asthma. I mean, isn’t that the recipe for entertaining?!
I also enjoyed Torin, the imprisoned man in the mirror in the Brannick household. I loved how he was quirky (in a different way than Dex) and also took an interest in Izzy’s life. Izzy had never gone to school, so she tried to learn about social dynamics by watching a teen soap opera and Torin watched it with her. Their exchanges were hilarious. Seriously, I can’t decide who I loved more: Torin or Dex!
The plot of school spirits was interesting, what with Izzy attempting to fit in and also not get too close to temporary friends and it’s easy to see how that strategy might come with complications. Lots of different dynamics were going on and the haunting added the element of danger. The paranormal aspects of the story were there, despite the fact that I don’t seem to be talking much about the plot. But above all else, I loved School Spirits for the characters. They sucked me in and I was completely engrossed in the writing, hoping to figure out what would happen next. Also, I think this is a great book for actual teens to read because it has great lessons about friendship, family, duty, and identity, which are all wonderful themes for that age group.
There was a bit of romance and crushes and all that, which I loved. But it wasn’t a romantically focused book like many of the YA series out there and I found it refreshing. I don’t always want dramatic, in my face angst, drama, steam, and focus, but I also want the possibility of a relationship to exist. I loved the way the romance was done in School Spirits. I find it wonderfully refreshing and entertaining without being all.. you know… too much.
I will definitely continue the series and I highly recommend it. Hex Hall has been on my to-read list for awhile, but this book has made me more excited to read the Hex Hall series.
Review originally published at Love, Literature, Art, and Reason Book Review Blog: http://meganm922.blogspot.com/2013/05/reviewschool-spirits-school-spirits-1.html
This book was not as good as her previous books. The story was seriously lacking in depth but Rachel Hawkins writing was good enough to keep me interested in the book.
medium-paced
It's a different sort of protagonist and love interest isn't it?
I liked Izzy. She was curious and awkward and completely loveable. I liked how she let the others do their ghost hunting thing, and then took charge. She is herself, does her own thing without impeding on anyone else. Like she doesn't plague others with her troubles, not even Dex. And I liked how she is unsure about some things, but is confident enough in her abilities to get the job done. Like she's worried about her ability to have friends, but she does her ghost thing with ease. Her personality seems real and unique, and she has a strong moral compass. So that was mainly why this book is five stars.
Dex, Dex, Dex. (I feel like I'm summoning him.) He is not the type of love interest that you see in YA literature these days, and not like Archer. It's more of the subtle kind of relationship that develops over time he has with Izzy, and that's what appeals to me. While other boys in YA scream "HOT AND ATTRACTIVE!!!!", Dex gently whispers "sweet and cute." I like how he trusts Izzy, and how he's confident that she's trying to do the right thing, and how he doesn't jump in to try to protect her; instead, he waits and see if she needs help. Mostly, I like how he's utterly uncaring about what others think of his clothing, speech and mannerisms. He's what sealed the five stars for me.
That was a good book.
I liked Izzy. She was curious and awkward and completely loveable. I liked how she let the others do their ghost hunting thing, and then took charge. She is herself, does her own thing without impeding on anyone else. Like she doesn't plague others with her troubles, not even Dex. And I liked how she is unsure about some things, but is confident enough in her abilities to get the job done. Like she's worried about her ability to have friends, but she does her ghost thing with ease. Her personality seems real and unique, and she has a strong moral compass. So that was mainly why this book is five stars.
Dex, Dex, Dex. (I feel like I'm summoning him.) He is not the type of love interest that you see in YA literature these days, and not like Archer. It's more of the subtle kind of relationship that develops over time he has with Izzy, and that's what appeals to me. While other boys in YA scream "HOT AND ATTRACTIVE!!!!", Dex gently whispers "sweet and cute." I like how he trusts Izzy, and how he's confident that she's trying to do the right thing, and how he doesn't jump in to try to protect her; instead, he waits and see if she needs help. Mostly, I like how he's utterly uncaring about what others think of his clothing, speech and mannerisms. He's what sealed the five stars for me.
That was a good book.
I demand a sequel!!!! it left me begging for more, I like Izzy' s story better than Sophie of the hexhall series I'm a little bias here coz im more of a "ghost" person, I would really love to hear about Finley and Torin' s story.. Oh I love the Brannick's and I would really love to join the PMS if I could...hehehe