School Spirits

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hawkins, R. (2013). School spirits. New York: Hyperion.

SUMMARY

Izzy Brannick has never done the school/friends/boys thing. She’s just helped her mom fight off supernatural beings. In School Spirits, Izzy must fend off an angry ghost while trying to assume the role of a “normal” teenager.

PLOT ANALYSIS

Author Rachel Hawkins creates relatable characters in Izzy Brannick, her mom, and new school friends. Izzy faces typical teenager challenges. Hawkins nicely weaves in the supernatural elements without creating a terribly horrifying experience.

Setting the story in a small town and a contemporary high school gives the reader a feel of normalcy. Descriptions of the school aid the reader in visualizing the challenge Izzy faces as she is ghost-hunting.

Hawkins uses several twists to keep the plot moving, especially toward the end when life or death decisions must be made. The characters’ quick and creative thinking allows the conflict to resolve logically.

Hawkins writes in first person, from Izzy’s point of view. This allows the reader to get into the head of Izzy as she experiences many teenage firsts—school days, friendships, crushes.

Hawkins hits on themes of strong relationships and good trumps evil as Izzy and her friends work together to destroy the vindictive ghost of Mary Evans. Izzy grows through this first solo hunt, what was supposed to be an “easy” job. She learns what motivates her to keep fighting while holding on to these newly formed friendships.

While not horribly frightening, School Spirits engages readers with relatable characters mixed with the excitement of a ghost story.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Lone Star Reading List, 2014

Publishers Weekly Starred Review, 2013

CONNECTIONS

Related Books

Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins

Wait til Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn

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