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The rating of this book is only at a three because it was a book that my daughter and I read together. Being a YA novel, the insight into the characters is elementary but still effective. This was a fun story that had a dramatic end which kept us guessing. For that, it deserves 4 stars. The only thing that irked us was the fact that we cannot find out where this book lies in the series. There is the Hex Hall Series, and Wiki adds this as the fourth in the series but we cannot see how it relates (not having read the other series yet). On Amazon it shows it as a single novel. Then on Goodreads, it is labeled as the first in a series. I do hope the truth is closer to Goodreads since we would like to know what happens with Finley and Dex & Izzy. Overall, a fun read and time well spent with my daughter.
After listening to Hawkins' Hex Hall series, I knew I had to read School Spirits, the Hex Hall spin-off focusing on Sophie's prodigium-hunting cousins.
I liked School Spirits and I liked seeing Izzy work on a case, but at the same time, there was part of me that wished I had listened to Hex Hall again, just to get back into this world. Still, it's not necessary to read that series in order to read this book (but I will say that it may help).
I did like that Izzy got to be a normal girl, who went to school and had friends and a crush on a boy. I was amused that her mom got her some t.v. shows and movies set in schools so that Izzy could learn what school was like. That really seem liked something Hawkins would do, because I felt like she writes some great paranormal books while also poking at them a bit.
There is the mystery of the ghost, and I was kind of kicking myself for not figuring it out before, but it is one of those things that wasn't too surprising.
I'm not too sure about how I feel about Dex and Izzy. I mean, I guess I get it, but I also don't really have strong feelings either way, and it does seem like things for them are pretty resolved at the end of the book.
Speaking of the end of the book...I'm still trying to figure out if it's a series or not. If it is a series, it looks like there's no 2nd book in sight (understandable, since Hawkins likely has other books she's working on) but at the same time, it does stand on its own pretty well. And the ending, while resolved, does leave things open for the possibility of a sequel. I'm hoping it happens, because I want resolution with what happens to her sister.
I think my favorite moment of the entire book was when Maya insisted on helping Izzy because Izzy didn't have to do things alone. It reminded me of that moment in Spell Bound when Sophie had a moment of being just a 17-year-old girl, and wondering how she was going to save the world. I can see how easy it is for Izzy to feel like she needs to do everything herself, and prove that she is worthy of being a Brannick, but I also like that she had help from people who insisted on helping her.
And Cris Dukehart, narrator of the Hex Hall series, is back narrating this book! I really like her as a narrator, but I have mixed feelings about her as narrating this book. Mostly because she's ingrained as Sophie, and it was hard to get used to her as Izzy. But...ot was nice having her narrate a world that she's familiar with.
Let's Rate It: I liked School Spirits, but not as much as Hex Hall. Still, it was fun to listen to, and I think Hex Hall fans would like School Spirits. School Spirits gets 3 stars.
I liked School Spirits and I liked seeing Izzy work on a case, but at the same time, there was part of me that wished I had listened to Hex Hall again, just to get back into this world. Still, it's not necessary to read that series in order to read this book (but I will say that it may help).
I did like that Izzy got to be a normal girl, who went to school and had friends and a crush on a boy. I was amused that her mom got her some t.v. shows and movies set in schools so that Izzy could learn what school was like. That really seem liked something Hawkins would do, because I felt like she writes some great paranormal books while also poking at them a bit.
There is the mystery of the ghost, and I was kind of kicking myself for not figuring it out before, but it is one of those things that wasn't too surprising.
I'm not too sure about how I feel about Dex and Izzy. I mean, I guess I get it, but I also don't really have strong feelings either way, and it does seem like things for them are pretty resolved at the end of the book.
Speaking of the end of the book...I'm still trying to figure out if it's a series or not. If it is a series, it looks like there's no 2nd book in sight (understandable, since Hawkins likely has other books she's working on) but at the same time, it does stand on its own pretty well. And the ending, while resolved, does leave things open for the possibility of a sequel. I'm hoping it happens, because I want resolution with what happens to her sister.
I think my favorite moment of the entire book was when Maya insisted on helping Izzy because Izzy didn't have to do things alone. It reminded me of that moment in Spell Bound when Sophie had a moment of being just a 17-year-old girl, and wondering how she was going to save the world. I can see how easy it is for Izzy to feel like she needs to do everything herself, and prove that she is worthy of being a Brannick, but I also like that she had help from people who insisted on helping her.
And Cris Dukehart, narrator of the Hex Hall series, is back narrating this book! I really like her as a narrator, but I have mixed feelings about her as narrating this book. Mostly because she's ingrained as Sophie, and it was hard to get used to her as Izzy. But...ot was nice having her narrate a world that she's familiar with.
Let's Rate It: I liked School Spirits, but not as much as Hex Hall. Still, it was fun to listen to, and I think Hex Hall fans would like School Spirits. School Spirits gets 3 stars.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Cute book, fast read. I would’ve liked to see Sophie & Co. from the original trilogy make an appearance, and I wish there were more books in the series!
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
3 I enjoyed it, similar to Hawkins Hex Hall series. I liked it but the ending wasn't enough for me. I do like the characters a lot, especially Dex but his role was more minor in terms of his abilities than I thought they would be but I still liked him the most. I like Izzy but for some reason I like Sophie more. Still it's nice to see it through the Branwicks perspective.
Rachel Hawkins writes stories which are entertaining and fun to read. Her characters are typical teenagers, but with unique abilities. The plots involve a mystery or two to solve, teenage drama, and a sprinkle of romance. School Spirits fits this description perfectly. The setting is within a high school with the protagonist, Izzy, within this environment for the first time. The author doesn't spend a lots of time on the reality she is facing, but make the situation a bit humorous as Izzy experiences her first pep rally, teenage TV series, and first kiss. I especially enjoyed Izzy's relationships with Toran, the man in the mirror, and Dex, her potential first love. Toran adds a bit of mystery to the family dynamics between Izzy and her mother as well as her missing sister, Finn.
Although this is not a literary work of art, I believe both my students and I will enjoy many other adventures of the Brannick family as they fight monsters and search for Finn. Rachel Hawkins has found her style to entertain teenagers and I think she should continue sharing her stories with us.
Thanks NetGally,
Kim
Although this is not a literary work of art, I believe both my students and I will enjoy many other adventures of the Brannick family as they fight monsters and search for Finn. Rachel Hawkins has found her style to entertain teenagers and I think she should continue sharing her stories with us.
Thanks NetGally,
Kim
Didn’t realize it was a continuation of the previous series, and that the story was abandoned.