Review: School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins
Release Date: May 14th, 2013 by Disney Hyperion
Genre: Young Adult > Paranormal
Source: Bought for Kindle
Find It: Amazon || GoodReads || B&N
Summary:

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s 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. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt? 

Rachel Hawkins' delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as the New York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance!

Just like everyone else who holds Hex Hall in a special place in their hearts --- I was heartbroken turning that last page of Spell Bound last year. I never posted a review because well, at first I didn't know what to say... then I just didn't want to because I wanted to hold that last book on a personal level with me. Anyone else ever do that? 

When I first heard word of Hawkins doing a spin off series, I was totally excited. I spent nights awake guessing who the spin off character would be. I was hoping it would be a prequel or something for like, I don't know, Cal maybe? Wishful thinking lol. Was also hoping for a cameo of Sophie and Archer but yeah, that didn't happen either lol.

School  Spirits is about Izzy, Izzy is a Brannick and if you don't know what or who that is I suggest reading Hex Hall to get a better understanding because they are serious people. Or were. Or something. Anyway, Izzy's sister has gone missing and her mom is starting to freak out... but in a very calm and confusing sort of way. She gives Izzy a mission --- banish a ghost at a high school. Now the good students of this high school don't actually know their school is literally being haunted but there's a hopeful group that has formed a ghost hunting team to which Izzy wedges herself into.

I liked Izzy, she had the eff that I'll do what I want at any cost attitude that Sophie had but you could tell she was much younger. I liked Romy, who turns into Izzy's first actual friend. She wasn't pushy but she was persistent in all the right ways that a girl best friend would be. I also liked Dex with his big words and quirky sarcasm. Torin is still annoying and he kinda gets all creepy on Izzy in her dreams. 

While this plot was enough to keep me turning the pages, some of it was a bit creepy. But it also lacked the extreme sarcasm that I was hoping for and I didn't laugh nearly half as much as I did during Hex Hall. I know, I know, it's totally wrong to compare the two but I'm just sayin! Also, I didn't really like the ending to this... I found it kinda awkward. But that's just me! 

I'd love to see more of Izzy and Dex but from what I've heard so far this title is a stand alone :(

"I was just... playing the game," I replied, and this time there was a little waver in my voice.

"He was out," the coach said, and when I just stared at him, he shook his head. "You caught his throw. So he was already out. There was no need to throw the ball at him and certainly no need to ---" he broke off to look at Ben, and his eyes went wide. "Dear God, did you dislocate his shoulder?"