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Book Review: School Spirits – Rachel Hawkins


schoolSchool Spirits
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Series: School Spirits #1
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Goodreads | Amazon | TBD

Summary:

Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters.
For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures – and fifteen-year-old Izzy is the last of her line. But when her older sister vanishes without a trace, Izzy’s mom decides they need to take a break from the Brannicks’ age-old calling.
As Izzy and her mom move on to Ideal, Mississippi, however, they discover the town is not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. First, her clothes are all wrong. Second, what are these things called “friends”? Third, there’s a boy named Dex making her heart skip – but not in a bad way…so, that’s weird. For a tough girl who’s always been on her own, it feels strange to suddenly be the center of attention.
Izzy’s training taught her to never get attached, but she doesn’t know if she can solve the case alone. Can she trust her new friends to find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt?

 
First Sentence: Killing a vampire is actually a lot easier than you’d think.

My Review:

When I heard that Rachel Hawkins was writing a spin-off to the Hex Hall series, I was very excited. I loved Sophie’s humor and Archer’s antics in her Hex Hall series and was hoping that they would both make a special appearance in School Spirits. I also wanted to learn more about Izzy and her family, especially since I enjoyed reading about Izzy’s attitude in Spellbound. I was expecting so much from School Spirits.

The first thing I noticed about School Spirits was that it was lacking the overall sense of humor the Hex Hall series has. I understand that cracking jokes and making people laugh is not a part of Izzy’s straightforward and fierce personality, but I wanted some humor to keep me invested and entertained in the book. Instead, what I got was Izzy’s fierce determination to prove her worth to her mother, trying to finish her assigned job without any help.

“I’m sorry, Iz. I know you did the best you could.”
But your best wasn’t good enough.
Mom didn’t have to say the words. I felt them hanging between us in the kitchen. (12)

Dex was sadly not as magnetic and hilarious as Archer was. Sure, Dex was unique in his own way with his quirky sense of humor and his own unique clothing style, but he is no Archer. Dex didn’t have that subtle chemistry Archer has that just pulled you in. I also sadly didn’t anticipate and eagerly waited for Dex and Izzy to get together unlike how I eagerly waited for Sophie and Archer to finally get together. I was just reading about Dex and Izzy’s growing attraction and that’s it.

Squinting at me, he leaned in and said, “Seriously, I might actually be in love with you now. Would it be awkward if we made out?”
Head spinning, I stepped back. (65)

I’ve always wondered about Torin, aka the guy lurking/stuck in the mirror, ever since he first appeared in Spellbound. I personally have a theory that he’s evil, ever since we first met him. Don’t ask me why I think that way, it’s just a feeling that I have. We learned new things about Torin, but so far, we don’t have any solid answers about Torin in School Spirits, but hopefully we will have at least some answers in the sequel. I have a feeling that he would play a big role in the School Spirits series.

“I can’t,” I said, and Torin watched me with an unreadable expression.
Finally he said, “This is being a Brannick, Izzy. No one said it would be easy.”
And with that, he was gone. (242)

School Spirits left me with an ending that strongly hints that there would be a sequel in the future. However, since Rachel Hawkins is hard at work on her other series, she’s not writing any sequels to School Spirits anytime soon and is instead focusing on her new series. I don’t mind not getting the sequel to School Spirits anytime soon, unless there would be scenes where we get to see Sophie and Archer together. If that is the case, I want the sequel now.

“So where to next?”
…”I have at least three file folders for you to look through. Couple of interesting cases just came in over the last few weeks.” (296)

Okay, I kind of think it’s unfair that I’m comparing School Spirits to the Hex Hall series so much, but I just can’t help it because the Hex Hall series was what made me read School Spirits the first place. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of Sophie and Archer together in School Spirits, but that didn’t happen. Sophie, Archer, Cal, and Elodie never made an appearance in School Spirits, which is sad.

Do I recommend School Spirits? Sure, it was a good read, but here’s a warning to you Hex Hall fans, a warning that I wished I got beforehand: Sophie, Archer, Cal, Elodie, etc. do not make an appearance in School Spirits. Not one. Only Izzy, her mother, and Torin does.

three

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-Kelly

Posted by Kelly on 6-14-13 · 22 Comments
Categories: 2013 book, book review Tagged: 3 star

« Let’s Speculate: Do You Always Get Your Signed Book Personalized?
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Speak Your Mind

  1. Jackie says

    6-14-13 at 12:22 PM

    Nice review…and one you read a series like Hex Hall…..everything. Life. I would totally compare it to that too. I mean come onnn! Archer :D
    Jackie
    Jackie recently posted…GIVEAWAY + Expert ALL IN by Marta BrownMy Profile

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      6-14-13 at 2:39 PM

      Agreed Jackie! :D
      And oh my god, I need an Archer in my life!
      Kelly recently posted…Book Review: School Spirits – Rachel HawkinsMy Profile

      Reply
  2. Kimberly says

    6-14-13 at 1:12 PM

    Yah, I think School Spirits sabotage itself, because most of the target audience was people who read Hex Hall. And so we would compare it to Hex Hall and if School Spirits doesn’t have what we loved in Hex Hall than we will be disappointed. Which is sad.
    What! you mean we don’t get to see Sophie or Archer or anybody! At all?
    Wait, you mean Rachel Hawkins is publishing a new series! How did I not know about this!?!?!
    Great review :D
    Kimberly recently posted…Review: Anna & The French Kiss by Stephanie PerkinsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      6-14-13 at 2:41 PM

      Definitely agree with you Kimberly. Every time I read a book from the School Spirits series, I’ll always compare it to Hex Hall.
      Yeah, we don’t see Sophie or Archer or Cal or anybody. So sad right? I was bummed, I was hoping we’ll be able to see Sophie or Archer at least.
      Yeah, she’s publishing a new series, something called Rebel Belles? It’s on goodreads.
      Thanks! :D
      Kelly recently posted…Book Review: School Spirits – Rachel HawkinsMy Profile

      Reply
  3. Rachel says

    6-14-13 at 11:36 PM

    I think I am probably going to read this next! I actually just finished the Hex Hall series a few weeks ago and LOVED it.

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      6-15-13 at 6:24 PM

      I loved the Hex Hall series too! :D<3
      I can't wait to hear your opinion on School Spirits!
      Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [37]My Profile

      Reply
  4. Amber (Books of Amber) says

    6-15-13 at 6:46 AM

    Aw, it’s such a shame that this is just an average read. I’m still excited to read it, because I feel like I HAVE to, but without the humour and the chemistry… I don’t know.

    And WHAT, we don’t see Sophie and Archer?!?! NOPE NOPE NOPE
    Amber (Books of Amber) recently posted…#WWReadathon: Wrap UpMy Profile

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      6-15-13 at 6:26 PM

      Who knows Amber, maybe you’ll like Izzy and Dex better than I did. I was always comparing them both to Sophie and Archer and Sophie and Archer IS pretty hard to top.
      I KNOW! That was the main reason why I read School Spirits the first place, just to see some more Sophie and Archer! D:
      Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [37]My Profile

      Reply
  5. Jules says

    6-15-13 at 12:42 PM

    That is sad, the main reason why I wanted to read this was to see Archer again XD, at least I’m not gonna be disappointed anymore.

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      6-15-13 at 6:37 PM

      Yeah, that was the main reason why I read School Spirits too. ):
      And at least you can expect not to see Archer now!
      Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [37]My Profile

      Reply
  6. Kassi says

    6-15-13 at 1:24 PM

    Hi! Thanks for the review.

    I haven’t read School Spirits yet, especially because I haven’t read the third book of Hex Hall trilogy; I know, I need to read Spell Bound ASAP. One of the reasons for not having read it yet is because I want to re-read the two first Hex Hall books. There some things that I don’t remember, so… Anyway, just like you, I was very excited when I heard about this spin-off . It’s sad that Sophie and Archer do not appear in School Spirits, but I hope to read this book soon.

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      6-15-13 at 6:40 PM

      Hi Kassi! (:
      I wish I have time to re-read books I love like Hex Hall. You definitely have to read Spell Bound asap to see how it ends! ;D
      It’s very disappointing that Sophie and Archer doesn’t appear in School Spirits. ):
      Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [37]My Profile

      Reply
  7. Meredith says

    6-15-13 at 5:23 PM

    I like your book reviews! This is on my TBR list. Thanks for sharing!

    Meredith
    Meredith’s Musings
    Meredith recently posted…Celebrate the Small ThingsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      6-15-13 at 6:41 PM

      Thank you Meredith! (:
      I can’t wait to see what you think about School Spirits! :D
      Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [37]My Profile

      Reply
  8. Jenni @ Booksandbabes says

    6-16-13 at 8:41 AM

    I have this book waiting on my Kindle, but I haven’t picked it up yet.

    I feel like one of the only people who didn’t LOVE the Hex Hall series. I liked it. But I didn’t love it.I think that’s why I keep putting off this book. :-/
    Jenni @ Booksandbabes recently posted…Stacking the Shelves (#2)My Profile

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      6-16-13 at 11:26 AM

      Don’t worry about it Jenni, you won’t always like what everyone else likes. Hell, I dislike the popular Lux series! There will always be the black sheep.
      If it makes you feel any better, Sophie, Archer, Cal, etc. will not appear in School Spirits. Just Izzy and her mother will be in the book.
      Kelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: Wasteland – Susan Kim & Laurence KlavanMy Profile

      Reply
  9. Cali W. says

    6-30-13 at 2:38 PM

    Great review! I felt that this book was lacking in humor. The last book just felt better. :)

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      6-30-13 at 2:44 PM

      Thanks! (:
      Yeah, School Spirits was definitely lacking in humor. I prefer the Hex Hall series to this new one. :l
      Kelly recently posted…Monthly Wrap Up: June 2013My Profile

      Reply
  10. Tina says

    8-07-13 at 11:33 PM

    I really want to read this book and I would also love to read Hex Hall since I have never read this yet either. Thank you for your honest review. This book is being added to my TBR list for sure.

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      8-08-13 at 6:12 PM

      You should definitely read the Hex Hall series Tina! It’s full of humor. laughs, and awesomeness. You’ll love it. ;D
      I’m so glad you’re adding this book to your TBR list! (:
      Kelly recently posted…Book Review: The Distance Between Us – Kasie WestMy Profile

      Reply
  11. Susan T. says

    10-27-13 at 6:51 PM

    I haven’t read Hex Hall yet and didn’t know that this was a spin off. Should I read Hex Hall first?

    Reply
  12. Jaime Lester says

    12-26-13 at 10:09 PM

    Hex Hall is one of my favorite series ever. I adored every book in the series. The characters are some of my favorites ever. So I was definitely excited to hear about School Spirits. And like you, I was a little let down by it. I did enjoy it, don’t get me wrong. But it was missing that “something special” that I found in Hex. I would absolutely read the sequel though, but I don’t think we will be getting it anytime soon!

    Reply

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