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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
OK, this was REALLY fun. I never know how to rate this sort of thing. I mean, it was probably better than the Vampire Diary books (which I also assigned 3 stars), and definitely better written. But, you know, no vampires ;)
It might even be 4 stars.
YA (about high school students), but reads as older.
Natalie tells me it is in the RP system. Maybe I can use it to make my 4th grade reading goal ;)
It might even be 4 stars.
YA (about high school students), but reads as older.
Natalie tells me it is in the RP system. Maybe I can use it to make my 4th grade reading goal ;)
Meet Suze, the annoyingly vapid teenage cliche who just happens to be able to punch ghosts in the face. Not that she wants to or anything. She's just pissed at having to move across the country to live with her new step-dad and three twerpy step-brothers in their haunted ol' house by the sea. Haunted by a young, hot, and uninteresting ghost called Jesse. He's important to the series but you wouldn't know it; he's hardly in this book. There's also a ghost problem at her new Catholic school, and a fellow ghost-wrangler who doesn't know that he needs her special brand of fist-based "mediating" to help deal with it. And then there's some like toootally teenage stuff like friends and popularity and stuff.
First things first: marketing. I picked up the omnibus edition:
[bc:Love You to Death / High Stakes|7704979|Love You to Death / High Stakes (The Mediator, #1-2)|Meg Cabot|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1273085289s/7704979.jpg|10409875]
See this cover? All YA paranormal urban fantasy with a bit of darkness? Does it accurately represent the book inside? I'm thinking not. If I'd seen the cartoony girl cover first, I might not even have bothered.
You see, my problem was this: Suze is a confused mess of Clueless popularity-n-labels-obsessed cliche and the tough-girl rebel outcast who couldn't care less. It just didn't work for me that she was both. Her inner monologue is so fluffy and runs off on tangents so easily it's like the narrative doesn't even happen. She's too busy swooning over guys' abs and quirking an eyebrow at how she's going to have to sort out the "freaks" at her school while simultaneously insulting the popular kids... Yet is also being pleased about getting in with the popular kids. Could happen, I hear you say. Teenager just wants to be accepted. But she has no self-doubt, no social weakness, nothing. How realistic is that? Her character flaw is her overconfidence, but it's not much explored.
The story's pretty slow considering it's only a short book. A horrid main character eventually meets a horrid antagonist. I also thought the conclusion pretty nasty really. There are loads of side characters, but they're cardboard cutouts (the odd girl, the cheeky boy, the popular girl, the mean head teacher, the dork, the jock... eh).
I honestly don't think I could read any more of this vapid teenage mess of narration. I was mildly curious about Jesse, but he's so two dimensional it's untrue. All we really know is he's hawt and worries about the girl who could theoretically punch him (though why I will never know). It's such a long series, I think I'll just call it quits now.
Also tbh, if I want snarky (not)Catholic schoolkids and exorcisms, I'll stick with this:
[bc:Exorcising Aaron Nguyen|18371729|Exorcising Aaron Nguyen (The Millroad Academy Exorcists, #1)|Lauren Harris|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1377368470s/18371729.jpg|25981947]
The teenagers are so much more relatable. Character flaws ftw.
First things first: marketing. I picked up the omnibus edition:
[bc:Love You to Death / High Stakes|7704979|Love You to Death / High Stakes (The Mediator, #1-2)|Meg Cabot|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1273085289s/7704979.jpg|10409875]
See this cover? All YA paranormal urban fantasy with a bit of darkness? Does it accurately represent the book inside? I'm thinking not. If I'd seen the cartoony girl cover first, I might not even have bothered.
You see, my problem was this: Suze is a confused mess of Clueless popularity-n-labels-obsessed cliche and the tough-girl rebel outcast who couldn't care less. It just didn't work for me that she was both. Her inner monologue is so fluffy and runs off on tangents so easily it's like the narrative doesn't even happen. She's too busy swooning over guys' abs and quirking an eyebrow at how she's going to have to sort out the "freaks" at her school while simultaneously insulting the popular kids... Yet is also being pleased about getting in with the popular kids. Could happen, I hear you say. Teenager just wants to be accepted. But she has no self-doubt, no social weakness, nothing. How realistic is that? Her character flaw is her overconfidence, but it's not much explored.
The story's pretty slow considering it's only a short book. A horrid main character eventually meets a horrid antagonist. I also thought the conclusion pretty nasty really
Spoiler
(a good little Catholic girl kills herself because of being obsessed over a guy, so you send her to hell? Great. Nice. Yes, Heather is a nasty obsessive, but really. It felt more like something vindictive on Suze's part, especially considering Bryce...)I honestly don't think I could read any more of this vapid teenage mess of narration. I was mildly curious about Jesse, but he's so two dimensional it's untrue. All we really know is he's hawt and worries about the girl who could theoretically punch him (though why I will never know). It's such a long series, I think I'll just call it quits now.
Also tbh, if I want snarky (not)Catholic schoolkids and exorcisms, I'll stick with this:
[bc:Exorcising Aaron Nguyen|18371729|Exorcising Aaron Nguyen (The Millroad Academy Exorcists, #1)|Lauren Harris|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1377368470s/18371729.jpg|25981947]
The teenagers are so much more relatable. Character flaws ftw.
Re-reading the series as I've got Proposal on the way while Remembrance is sitting on my shelf. First read these back in 2008 I think and I remember these being fun and the characters so enjoyable. I fangirled hard. I fully expect my Jesse feelings to be toyed with once more.
Returning to a formative YA series to see what I think of it now. I loved Suze’s voice as a narrator - she’s bold, temperamental, and sharp (though not when it comes to actually effectively solving any of the mysteries), relishes kicking ghost butt, and thrives in the early-2000s fashion climate. Overall a fun revisit but I was surprised at how insubstantial the plot felt and how limited some of the character development was this time around. Also was upset to find that in addition to early-2000s brand fashion, early-2000s brand homophobia was also present.
Love the concept and vibes! Ghosts mixed with teen girl angst, moving to a new town in a new state with a new family is just asking for fun drama, and friendships and romance to too it all off? I mean obviously this was just made for me lmao.
this wuz a amazing adventure book, and a quick read!!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
Vapid and predictable, but decent enough for a quick, mindless read. Doubt I'll remember this a week from now.