Poltergeeks (Poltergeeks, #1)

Apr 16, 2013 Mai marked it as avail-lib-no · review of another edition

Shelves: high-interest

I was going to write a snarky comment about the lack of a love triangle - or any HINT of a romantic subplot for that matter - in the book description, but I'm too busy squealing over the fact that the book description makes it clear the mother-daughter relationship is going to be an IMPORTANT part of the female protaganist's character development. That, and the cover features a girl in a DYNAMIC, powerful pose. ~~That, and I have hair envy.~~

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Oct 15, 2012 Ryan Lawler rated it 4 of 5 stars

The YA binge continues with Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings, my third book from the guys at Strange Chemistry. This is another very solid entry that does a lot of things right and sets up things very effectively for future novels in the series.

Poltergeeks tells the story of Julie Richardson, a strong willed teenage witch who has a habit of picking fights well beyond her capabilities. When a rogue poltergeist put's Julie's mother in a coma and continues targeting Julie and her best friend Marcus, it...more The YA binge continues with Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings, my third book from the guys at Strange Chemistry. This is another very solid entry that does a lot of things right and sets up things very effectively for future novels in the series.

Poltergeeks tells the story of Julie Richardson, a strong willed teenage witch who has a habit of picking fights well beyond her capabilities. When a rogue poltergeist put's Julie's mother in a coma and continues targeting Julie and her best friend Marcus, it's up to Julie to track the source of the poltergeist to stop the attacks and save her mom.

As with most YA books I've been reading recently, the story here is pretty straight forward - young girl with special powers runs into trouble, the one person who can get her out of trouble is removed from the equation, and she has to grow up fast if she is going to save the people she loves. Oh and also throw in an awkward teenage love triangle, some secret family drama and a predictable ending. That said, Poltergeeks rarely strays into stereotypical territory, and Cummings keeps from indulging in some of the popular YA tropes like the inept authority figure. Things are always kept fun, light hearted, and there are plenty of geek culture easter eggs to watch out for on the way through.

The characters have been well crafted here, and they aren't over the top geeks like I have seen recently in a lot of YA stories. Being a geek is just one element of their overall character, and they all have plenty of little nuances and ticks that get revealed over the course of the story. I really liked Julie, she plays the role of a strong female protagonist with a lot poise, modesty, and some random ingenuity. She is impulsive, she gets the crap beaten out of her by ghosts, she beats the crap out of other ghosts, and she is smiling the whole time while her brain is working overtime trying to figure out and exploit a weakness. Cummings doesn't make a big deal out of her being a strong teenage girl, he just lets her be who she is and lets the plot mould around her. Marcus provides a great foil for Julie, he is calm, measured, not quite strong enough to fight his own battles but more than assured in his knowledge of how the world should work. These two feed off each other and make for a very proficient team.

Poltergeeks is a fun coming of age story, one that feels like a cross between Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Charmed, and Ghostbusters. It is one of the more fun stories I have read this year, something that I have needed given all the serious fantasy stories I seem to have been reading of late. This is a book that should have no trouble making you smile at least once.
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Aug 31, 2012 Sam Fresh Fantasy Fiction rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Originally posted at www.freshfantasyfiction.blogspot.co.uk

Poltergeeks is awesome with sauce on! It has ghosts plus witches - what could be cooler?

First off I am going to gush over the cover. How cool is it? It is so completely different from your average YA Fantasy book. The girl on the cover is actually relevant to the the character she is portraying and the cover as a whole actually captures a scene room the book. I love the bold colours and the energy the cover creates. Beautiful.

Right, now...more Originally posted at www.freshfantasyfiction.blogspot.co.uk

Poltergeeks is awesome with sauce on! It has ghosts plus witches - what could be cooler?

First off I am going to gush over the cover. How cool is it? It is so completely different from your average YA Fantasy book. The girl on the cover is actually relevant to the the character she is portraying and the cover as a whole actually captures a scene room the book. I love the bold colours and the energy the cover creates. Beautiful.

Right, now for the actual book. I liked the fast pace of this book. It is action packed and even when there isn't any action scenes there is something happening. It never gets dull and there is never a paragraph that you skim. You want to drink in every word. I like the language in this book. There is the occasional "Shit", It not used every other word but it is used naturally. Most people swear, even more teenagers do it so I think the inclusion of that word makes it seem more real. I also liked how the author created a new word that the Julie used - Jillionth/Jillion. It means a lot, like millions but more. Everyone creates their own words and I liked Julies creation so much that I now actually say it.

Julie is our main character. She is 15 years old and an apprentice witch. She is quite head strong and eager to prove to her mother that she can be a help. This though leads to her getting herself and her best friend Marcus into more trouble. She is a likable character and a very believable one also, I see her as a 15 old.

An aspect I definitely liked was her relationship with Marcus. They are best friends yet Marcus clearly has feelings for Julie and she doesn't know quite how to deal with this. She isn't sure if she likes him yet when another girl shows interest she gets quite jealous (Oh I have been there sister!).

My only niggle with this book is that I have it as an Ebook and the layout could be organised a bit better. It is however an ARC so I'm sure this will be sorted when Poltergeeks is released.

What I love so much is that this story is so believable. Sean Cummings has written it in a way that actually makes you think "Wait a sec, this could happen" Heck I want to go out now and buy a copper amulet! I love the plot, I love the characters and I love this book. It was a joy to read.

Definitely a recommended read.(less)

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Aug 29, 2012 Hayley Arens rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was described to me as "The Witch-Buffy of ghosts," which both intrigued and established a high bar for me.

Nothing will ever be as good as the Buffster, and the only comparison really comes in a good but snarky heroine, something that is wholly absent from YA. Heroines are either good and weak or strong and immoral. I'm a strong, moral girl so I like to see her in YA. That's what Julie is, the strong good girl.

The pacing was great, everything happens fast and just over the course of...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Abhinav rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: strange-chemistry, young-adult, magic, witch

You can find the full review over at The Founding Fields:

http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/09/...

Shadowhawk reviews another Strange Chemistry title, the first YA novel by author Sean Cummings.

“This book can be summed up in three words: Fun, great, fan-frikkin-tastic. When’s the sequel out again?” ~The Founding Fields

My initial experience with Strange Chemistry was a really promising one, even though I wasn’t that taken with the book (The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Clarke). Still, I’m on a sor...more You can find the full review over at The Founding Fields:

http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/09/...

Shadowhawk reviews another Strange Chemistry title, the first YA novel by author Sean Cummings.

“This book can be summed up in three words: Fun, great, fan-frikkin-tastic. When’s the sequel out again?” ~The Founding Fields

My initial experience with Strange Chemistry was a really promising one, even though I wasn’t that taken with the book (The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Clarke). Still, I’m on a sort of YA-kick as I’m motivated to broaden my reading horizons and my next pick after the above was Poltergeeks, the story of a teenage witch as she tangles with magical powers she has no idea how to deal with. When I first read the back-blurb for the book earlier this year, I admit I wasn’t that taken with it. I’ve seen a lot of “witch” shows in my time, like Bewitched, I love Jeannie, and a bit of Sabrina the Teenage Witch (also a fan of the Archie comics until about a decade back). And while I’ve enjoyed them, I’ve never been taken with reading about that stuff all that much. Still, after interacting with Sean a bit on Twitter, I found myself much more interested in the book and so I went ahead with it and picked it up for review.

Sean’s “voice” captured me straight off from the first chapter as our teenage protagonist Julie encounters a reluctant poltergeist and finds herself severely unprepared. For me, that was one of the best opening points of any novel this year. Julie’s stubbornness and obstinacy are good character flaws where Poltergeeks is concerned. Yes, they are kind of a trope for such a young character (Malian from Helen Lowe’s Heir of Night and Rachel from K. A. Applegate’s Animorphs novels and Lyra from Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy come to mind), but the fact that they are a trope doesn’t matter one bit because they are inherently relevant to the story which in itself is very character-driven rather than plot-driven. The characters, every single one of them, matter.

Once I got past Julie’s unfortunate tussle with the poltergeist, I was still hooked in to the whole experience. This is one of those books where the stakes for the good guys keep on increasing in severity and you still have a lot of fun, even though there are some dark moments ahead. At first the novel seemed to evoke the Sabrina style of story-telling quite a bit, at least from what I remember, all the teenage hi-jinks and what not, but the writing quickly moves beyond that and morphs into Buffy/Angel, except for a purely teenager cast and there are some elements of the early seasons of Charmed thrown in as well. At least, those are the associations that my brain made while I was reading the book and after a bit of thinking. You know, I’d actually say that if this novel had been about the Halliwell sisters, it would have made for a fantastic multi-episode arc for Charmed. It has that self-same spunky, everything-is-on-the-line, OMG-real-life feel to it that I remember from the show.

Like I said, the characters are what drive the story. I had no problem at all in connecting with Julie or the people around her, such as her mother, or her magical guardian, or her best friend. They were all rich characters, perfectly defined within their roles where the plot is concerned, and where the setting itself is concerned. The novel is told in the first person so we are always in Julie’s head and look at all the events happening around her through her eyes, but attention is given to those around her as well, and we see them through her eyes in a way that makes you connect with them as much as with her. They inform Julie’s character and in turn she informs them.

One of the things that I really liked about the book was the texting. Being a novel about teenagers in today’s world, that added a bit of realism to things for me personally as I haven’t read any modern YA fiction set in current times. When I was in high school, everyone had a cellphone with them, whether it was to chat and text all day or just for emergencies or whatever. Seeing all the text-speak and the scenes themselves offered new insights to the teenage characters. A good touch I think.(less)

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Oct 24, 2012 Erleen (Books For YA!) rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review can also be found at Books For YA!

Poltergeeks is a querky, action-packed, ass-kicking novel that is hard to put down.

From the very beginning, I was immediately captured by the story. The level of excitement that I feel in the first 20 pages was off the roof. There's nothing more awesome than a fight scene between a witch and a poltergeist in the start of a novel.

And as I continue reading the book, I had a lot of expectations due to the fact that this started with a BANG! and I'm hopi...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Jen*The Geeky Book Gal* rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy-paranormal

I would like to thank Netgalley for allowing me an advanced reading copy of this book for review.

Goodreads summary:
15-year-old Julie Richardson is about to learn that being the daughter of a witch isn't all it's cracked up to be. When she and her best friend, Marcus, witness an elderly lady jettisoned out the front door of her home, it's pretty obvious to Julie there's a supernatural connection.
In fact, there's a whisper of menace behind increasing levels of poltergeist activity all over town. A...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Leah (The Pretty Good Gatsby) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, for-review-netgalley, ghosts, paranormal, ya, america

http://theprettygoodgatsby.wordpress....

Somebody killed my father. I don't know who did it or why, but I'm going to find them.

I'm a girl.

I'm a witch.

I'm a Shadowcull.

Someone is going to pay.

I went into this book fairly blind - I had never read any book by Sean Cummings prior to Poltergeeks nor was I a big paranormal reader. The plot intrigued me and having a strong mother-daughter relationship was a definite plus. Now that I've read it, I'm glad I took that chance.

Julie Richardson is your averag...more http://theprettygoodgatsby.wordpress....

Somebody killed my father. I don't know who did it or why, but I'm going to find them.

I'm a girl.

I'm a witch.

I'm a Shadowcull.

Someone is going to pay.

I went into this book fairly blind - I had never read any book by Sean Cummings prior to Poltergeeks nor was I a big paranormal reader. The plot intrigued me and having a strong mother-daughter relationship was a definite plus. Now that I've read it, I'm glad I took that chance.

Julie Richardson is your average 15-year old. Except for the fact that she's a witch. And can see spirits. Her best friend Marcus is her constant companion and one of the few people who knows what Julie truly is.

What initially seems like a typical poltergeist turns out to be far more menacing. An attack on her school has left Julie shaken and her mother in the hospital comatose and under a powerful (and fatal) spell. In an attempt to save her mother's life, Julie makes a deal with an immortal and with the help of her guardian and some friendly advice from the spirit of her father, Julie prepares to face down her demons. Literally.

Poltergeeks is a fairly short book that can easily be read in an afternoon. It was a pretty average read - nothing horrible, but nothing remarkable - and there was a cute romance (and no love triangle!). Unfortunately, I felt the Big Reveal was a bit of a letdown and more than once I was confused and not quite sure what was going on or why the villain did what they did.

It doesn't seem like Poltergeeks will be a series, but the ending is written in such a way that it's certainly possible.

Over the course of the novel, the writing style seemed much more suited to a Middle Grade novel, yet there's quite a bit of profanity thrown about. Originally I would have definitely said Poltergeeks would be right at home with 10-ish year olds (mainly due to the writing style), but once multiple f-bombs were dropped, I reconsidered.

Fans of paranormal YA will most likely enjoy Poltergeeks. There's nothing mind-blowing about this novel, but it's a quick, enjoyable ride nonetheless.(less)

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Dec 22, 2012 Nina at Death Books and Tea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review: We start off meeting Julie, a teenage witch, and her friend Marcus as they investigate a house that’s been messed around with by a poltergeist. This isn’t the normal kind though-it’s a bit malevolent and tries to attack Marcus. After trapping it in a teddy bear, Julie goes home and shows her mother, who also doesn’t like it. Things build from there as a spirit gets loose again, and takes Julie’s mother with it. Julie is put on a mission to get her mother back, discovers her heritage and...more Review: We start off meeting Julie, a teenage witch, and her friend Marcus as they investigate a house that’s been messed around with by a poltergeist. This isn’t the normal kind though-it’s a bit malevolent and tries to attack Marcus. After trapping it in a teddy bear, Julie goes home and shows her mother, who also doesn’t like it. Things build from there as a spirit gets loose again, and takes Julie’s mother with it. Julie is put on a mission to get her mother back, discovers her heritage and gets caught up in a hunt for a Witchfinder...
Of all the Strange Chemistry titles to start with, this was the one that I really wanted to read. Ghosts, witches and a badass heroine? My thing exactly.
From the start, it was slyly funny, with Julie calling out the poltergeist with unconventional words. She also explains her situation with humour and a voice that I knew I’d love throughout. From the writing, Julie is smart and sassy. From her actions, Julie is this and more. She takes initiative all the time, and she produces amazing comebacks. She’s a really likeable character, and you do find yourself rooting for her.
Marcus too. He’s not your average hero, “not suitable material for the cover of a romantic novel”, a bit awkward when it comes to social etiquette, taking Julie’s magic in his stride, but he’s really funny and sweet. Oh, and his text alert tone is the Doctor Who theme tune. Win! His feelings for Julie are so cute, and I really wanted them to get together. As a couple, both magically paired and otherwise paired, Julie and Marcus work excellently. Both of them are fresh, unpreoccupied with love, and the kind of characters that I really want to be real because they’d make awesome friends.
Other characters are good. Marla, school goth, is nice, and I liked seeing her try for Marcus’ attention while knowing that he was in love with Julie. Having Julie’s father be a ghost was excellent. Matthew Hopkins brings the right amount of evil to this, while still keeping it light hearted. And having magic tutor/guardian Betty changed into a talking dog...
Plot develops well, at just the right pace. Some things seem to work out a bit too well, but it’s easy to over look these as it doesn’t happen too often and you’re just so caught up in the fun. the action at the end was well written, with magic and intensity well fitting the drama.
Overall: Strength 5 tea to a story that’s full of phantoms, fantasy and fun. I really really want a sequel soon, or just more from Sean! (although I think in the author’s notes, there was something about a sequel.)(less)

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Sep 06, 2012 Vivienne Serendipity Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wishlist

As soon as I heard about this book I was desperate to read it. From the first sentence I felt like I was on a thrilling ride which continued at a fast pace all the way through the book.
I adored the humour in the book. Sean Cummings has one sarcastic mind and I personally love it!
The characters really stand out, they all have a quirkiness about them. Julie, the main protagonist, is just full of sassiness and sarcasm. Straight away, you are cheering her on, desperate for her to solve the disasters...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Adam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: youth

I can't lie: if I wasn't a junior high school teacher, I wouldn't have read this. It was the most likely book, in terms of genre, for me in the pile when I was grabbing something to read for a long bus ride. I can't say "Poltergeeks" ranks amongst my favourite books, but it IS very high on the list of things I would recommend to a student who wanted to know what kind of things I read: the urban fantasy detective novel is a tag that I would pick up automatically.

Our protagonist Julie is the liter...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Ole Imsen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: magic, supernatural, young-adult

(If Goodreads allowed it I would have given this 3.5 stars. I almost gave it four.)

I was planning to review this book on release, but then I went into my unplanned blogging hiatus. And when it comes to reviewing this book, I'm glad that happened. It gave me time to get a better perspective on the book. You see, I didn't really connect with it. And when I first planned to review it I blamed that solely on the book. Now that I can look at it from a distance of a few months, I've realized that it...more (If Goodreads allowed it I would have given this 3.5 stars. I almost gave it four.)

I was planning to review this book on release, but then I went into my unplanned blogging hiatus. And when it comes to reviewing this book, I'm glad that happened. It gave me time to get a better perspective on the book. You see, I didn't really connect with it. And when I first planned to review it I blamed that solely on the book. Now that I can look at it from a distance of a few months, I've realized that it was actually mostly down to me, and I am capable of giving a much more objective review.

Lets begin with what I didn't like, or more correctly what made me not connect with the book. There's a romantic angle to the story that is given quite a lot of space. I'm not generally a fan of romance in SFF, and the way it was done here was not to my taste at all. Not because it was badly done, it isn't. Cummings has captured pretty much dead on the awkwardness of teenage/first love. And that was why I had such a problem with it. You see, I'm rapidly approaching forty and am done with that a long time ago. In fact I've turned into quite the cynical bastard when it comes to awkward love, and teenage style drama. (I could go into details here, but this is a book review, not my autobiography.) That it is captured pretty much exactly as it actually is, when seen in retrospect, made it uninteresting to me.
This problem was magnified for me by the feeling I got that the "love angle" took away from the main story. The "drama" did slow down the other parts of the story, and that was annoying for me considering how I felt about it in the first place.
But as I said above, this was my personal feeling about something I didn't connect with. Something I perhaps, as someone about twenty years older than the main target audience for the book, wasn't really the right person to connect with anyway. So I'll say again, that this part of the story was both well done, and realistic. So if it is something you like, it will definitively be something that should make you pick up the book.

The book literally gets off to a flying start. The reader is thrown right into the middle of things without any form of setup at all. This can be a bit jolting, but it works very well in pulling you in and hooking you into the novel. There's an instant "need" to see where this is heading.
Cummings writes very good action sequences, and the book is at its best when there's paranormal events going on. As you can gather from the title, this events are poltergeistly (, surely that is a word,) in nature for the most part. But we do get to see the main character, Julie Richardson, engage in a more direct confrontation in the later stages of the novel. This is also very well handled, and Cummings manages to convey a lot of tension when he writes the action.

Being a book with a witch as the main character there's of course some magic in the novel. This is well handled, and has a solid foundation in real magic. But having said that, and having read quite a bit about magic myself, I did feel that it could have been a bit more focus on the hows and whys of magic in this story. There's a slight tendency to it being taken as granted. Or perhaps a better way of saying it, is that I felt like Cummings did take for granted that the reader was familiar with the basics of magic. To me this made the magic in the book a bit bland, it doesn't really have something that sets it apart from other books that contain Wicca style magic.
That being said, there are some really interesting ideas about magic, especially when it comes directly to Julie, in this book. I expect that to be explored in a follow up volume.

All in all, this very much has the feeling of a first volume. An introduction, or a set up, for a character. And it does that job very well, you come away with the feeling that this is a setting, and a set of characters, that you would want to return to at a later date.
I've mentioned the romantic angle of the book extensively. But despite my problems with that, I think this is a good book. It is worthy of a read, and there's enough in there to keep even the non-romantic interested.
For those that are interested in witches working in modern times, I would say that this is an essential read. And the above mentioned romance should be perfect for those that like that.
I know I will be returning to a follow up to this book, and I'm looking forward to see what happens next with Julie. (Hopefully she gets laid before the next book so there's not so much frustrating romance.)

NOTE: And ARC of this book was given to me by the publisher.

Review originally published on my blog: http://weirdmage.blogspot.com (less)

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Feb 23, 2013 Rrain rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, paranormal

I wish I was the sensible sort of person who could easily give up on a book, because I knew from very early on that this one wasn't really working for me, but once I start something I have this compulsion to finish it. And I wanted to like this one, because it sounded interesting and I love finding things unapologetically set in Canada. (But then, when don't I want to like a book that I pick up to read?)

Fundamentally, the problem for me was with voice, which struck me as uneven throughout. It of...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Britta rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: up-for-trade

I was really excited for this one. The premise sounded fun and I had heard mostly good things from other readers, however, it fell short for me. What I found to be most off putting was the main character; I did not like her at all. She does not seem to have a clear identity. She can be very masculine one page and then sort-of feminine on the next (I would have believed it, as it is right now, if she was a boy). In addition, she is supposed to be fifteen but there are times when she seems much o...more I was really excited for this one. The premise sounded fun and I had heard mostly good things from other readers, however, it fell short for me. What I found to be most off putting was the main character; I did not like her at all. She does not seem to have a clear identity. She can be very masculine one page and then sort-of feminine on the next (I would have believed it, as it is right now, if she was a boy). In addition, she is supposed to be fifteen but there are times when she seems much older or much younger. But what bothered me most about her character is that she is constantly putting herself down. She calls herself an A**hole and other names to that effect multiple times. It may just be me, but I don't want to spend time with a main character who is so intent on putting herself down. On that same note, she has quite the potty mouth. I swear, my siblings swear, my friends swear - I don't find swearing to be a big deal. However, I was not throwing out profanities every other time I speak at fifteen (nor do I now). Her swearing makes her seem dumb and not relatable (not to mention older).

The aspect of the actual storytelling that I had an issue with is that everything is talked about as if it was SO obvious. Once each plot twist is figured out, the main character acts as if she should have seen it coming because all the clues were there. The writing does not allow the reader to go back and find those clues as Julie lays them all out immediately after the big discovery. It allowed me to read without really paying attention or feeling involved. Which, I guess could be a good thing if you're feeling lazy, but it was not something I particularly enjoyed.

I don't like to tear books a part, so I am going to stop here. This book just was not for me. If you liked it, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. This books has potential, but there were just too many little things that bothered me. Keep in mind, I am particular, if the things mentioned above don't bother you - go for it.(less)

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Nov 26, 2012 Marybeth (Manhattan Reader) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, for-review

This was a much, much needed break from all the intense adult books that I have read. Honestly, I was starting to feel a little dirty because I was reading so much of it, so when I got to this book it was like taking a huge step back and breathing.

This review is long overdue. Like many other works, I've been sitting on this, contemplating what to write. This was cute and funny and I really wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did.

Poltergeist have entered Julie's life; a young witch, the girl...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Felicia Chien rated it 4 of 5 stars

Book: Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings
Pages: 282
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Source: Sent from Strange Chemistry Publishing

Short Synopsis: Julie Richardson is not your average fifteen year old girl. She's a witch with special powers. After dealing with a poltergeist, Julie must face an ultimate evil that is trying to end her life.

My Thoughts: An action packed adventure, filled with paranormal ghostly elements, mixed with a hint of witchy powers.

Julie Richardson is a fifteen year old with magical po...more Book: Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings
Pages: 282
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Source: Sent from Strange Chemistry Publishing

Short Synopsis: Julie Richardson is not your average fifteen year old girl. She's a witch with special powers. After dealing with a poltergeist, Julie must face an ultimate evil that is trying to end her life.

My Thoughts: An action packed adventure, filled with paranormal ghostly elements, mixed with a hint of witchy powers.

Julie Richardson is a fifteen year old with magical powers. She and her best friend Marcus do everything together. That also includes hunting down poltergeists in a neighbor's home. Julie and Marcus try to help their neighbor one day, when elements of a paranormal ghost seem to erupt from the house.
Julie manages to capture the ghost and contain it, and bring it back to her mother, who is also a witch, to help deal with the issue. As Julie questions the entity, it explains that it was ripped from its place of rest and not because it wanted to.
Things get out of hand quickly, as Marcus and Julie discover that there is a larger and more powerful entity coming after Julie. As Julie and Marcus are at school one day, they experience something majorly paranormal. Julie's mother becomes ill, due to a spell, and the clock is ticking for Julie to make things right. Julie and Marcus must try to find out who is after her, how to defeat this entity, and how to get Julie's mother back, all before it's too late.

A very interesting read. I enjoyed reading how the ghost world is mixed in with witches, and their powers. It's definitely not your average ghost story, and I fell in love reading about Julie and her adventures with Marcus.
This is not your average paranormal read. Julie is a strong, independent, and caring main character, who will do just about anything for those she cares for. Marcus is an interesting, unique supportive character, that is completely loyal to Julie. With the charisma of these two characters combined, Poltergeeks is an intriguing story.
As soon as Julie is thrust into a paranormal adventure, intuition takes over, and Julie does just about everything and anything to attack the situation head on. I loved reading about the relationship between Marcus and Julie, and it was cute reading how jealous Julie was when Marcus started to receive attention.
The ghost aspect of the story was very different than what I usually read, and I felt that it was unique how Julie was able to contact certain spirits. The culprit behind the attacks was the least likely person suspected, and I love how this novel ended. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 3.5/5.
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Oct 02, 2012 Everybookhasasoul rated it 4 of 5 stars

From the first sentence I was hooked and read this book in just under a day. I was not putting this book down for anything, until I had finished it.

The characters present in this book was one of the many things that make this book so magical. Julie is am amazing characters and is brought to life inside the reader’s mind from the first page and who could not love Marcus every heroin needs a boy who will be by her side no matter what. Cummings did an excellent job with Julies mother even though sh...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

Julie Richardson and her best friend Marcus are going door to door fundraising when Mrs. Gilbert gets flung out her front door. Julie is an apprentice witch and she discovers that there is a poltergeist in Mrs. Gilbert's house. Julie decides to take matters into her own hands without getting her mother's help. It turns out to be a bit more than Julie bargained for as she discovers there is a dark force pulling spirits out of their resting places and back as poltergeists. There are several more...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Poltergeeks is one of the first titles from Strange Chemistry, a promising new YA imprint. It’s about 15 year old Julie Richardson, who’s trying to deal with being an everyday teenager, as well as being a witch.

Julie is being taught and trained by her mum, which puts even more of a strain on the usual teenager-daughter relationship, and of course, being a teen, Julie tries to take on more than she should.

The joy of this book is that it’s not like the usual YA urban fantasy book – there’s no swoo...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Melissa Railey rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book felt a little bit younger than what I usually read but it was enjoyable. It was kind of like Nancy Drew meets Veronica Mars. Cummings had some really good dialogue and humor in the story. Plus, there were some geeky references thrown in that had me laughing. I liked Julie and Marcus a lot and thought that they seemed like normal teenagers. I would like to see how the characters grow in future books (which I assume there's going to be more). I'm also really digging the relationship betw...more

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Jun 25, 2012 Rebecca McKinnon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is my first experience reading a book by Mr. Cummings, and I'm beyond thrilled by it.

A fantastic opening, I have to say. It drew me right in. (After all, a poltergeist kicking a person out of their home doesn't happen every day!) I absolutely had to find out what happened next. What happened was that I held onto the book a little tighter and refused to put it down. This book has a place on my small list of single-sitting reads.

I'm in love with the characters. Julie is phenomenal, and you se...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Wilford Bentley rated it 4 of 5 stars

What makes this book so magical?

A couple days ago I found this book called Poltergeeks on the library shelves and it immediately caught my eye mostly because of its cover. If I had only known of its title then I probably wouldn't have looked into it. But, because of its beautiful cover (and interesting description) I decided to give it a go.
The book doesn't have much of an introduction. I'm not kidding here, the first sentence of the book is, "Mrs. Gilbert literally flew out the front door of he...more What makes this book so magical?

A couple days ago I found this book called Poltergeeks on the library shelves and it immediately caught my eye mostly because of its cover. If I had only known of its title then I probably wouldn't have looked into it. But, because of its beautiful cover (and interesting description) I decided to give it a go.
The book doesn't have much of an introduction. I'm not kidding here, the first sentence of the book is, "Mrs. Gilbert literally flew out the front door of her house." The first few chapters of this book are weird. It's trying its best to pull the reader in, but I couldn't help but feel pushed away at the same time. For me at least, I need some sort of intro to get me interested before the action. Let me get to know the characters a little or something. But to be fair, it kept me reading until the end of the book. I didn't really emotionally connect to the characters of the book until about a third or fourth of the way into it.
Anyway, let's talk about the plot. This teenage girl named... uh... (looks inside the book) JULIE, is a teenage witch still learning in the arts of magic, constantly getting in trouble with her mother because she tries to do stuff that is normally beyond her level of magic. However, her mother gets put into a coma and it's up to her and her friend Marcus to figure out who's behind all the hauntings in town!! At least, that's it in a nutshell. There are a lot of spoilers fairly early on in this book.
Throughout the book I noticed that the author is very descriptive of the imagery going on throughout novel. However, I found that most of the time, the imagery is just slowing down the pace of the overall action and kind of takes away from it. Also, for some reason one of the things that is put in the most detail is what the "rival girl" is wearing. Her clothing. Huh. It is written by a guy, after all.
A lot of the action in this book is pretty intense, though. Many times I had to just put the book down and wrap my head around everything that was happening. It sets up for some incredible stuff, but again, the action moves a little too slow for it to work in the best way.
I think the part of the book that got me the most invested and interested was right before the final showdown. My gut was turning in suspense of what was going to happen next and I was actually kind of surprised at how invested and excited I was.
This book was pretty hard to get into in the beginning, but it somehow kept me interested, and it only got better and better until the amazing ending. However, I don't know if I'll be looking forward to the sequel which I've heard will be released in 2013.
Four stars out of five. There are two things holding this book back from a five-star rating, and that is 1) The constant descriptions of what's happening slows down the overall pace, and 2) There's no real introduction and as a result it's hard to get into.
I reccomend this book to most teens who like action and mystery.(less)

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Oct 04, 2012 Cheree Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Julie Richardson is just like a normal girl, well except for the fact that she's a witch. Actually a witch-in-training. Her mother is teaching her how to harness her magic and help exorcise spirits/poltergeists from the mortal realm. When Julie and her best friend, Marcus encounters a poltergeist attacking an elderly neighbour, and a large-scale paranormal attack on her high school, Julie knows that something malice is out to get her and her mother. After her mother falls victim to a spell calle...more Julie Richardson is just like a normal girl, well except for the fact that she's a witch. Actually a witch-in-training. Her mother is teaching her how to harness her magic and help exorcise spirits/poltergeists from the mortal realm. When Julie and her best friend, Marcus encounters a poltergeist attacking an elderly neighbour, and a large-scale paranormal attack on her high school, Julie knows that something malice is out to get her and her mother. After her mother falls victim to a spell called Endless Nights, Julie must learn the truth about who she is and learn to harness her full powers if she hopes to stand a chance against defeating this evil and saving her mother's life.

Ever since the cover and blurb was revealed I knew I wanted to read Poltergeeks and I wasn't disappointed. Sean Cummings has created an interesting and original world of witches and ghosts and together with the snarky and humorous attitude of Julie, Poltergeeks is a page-turning read that will capture and hook the reader's attention from the first page.

Julie is just like an average teenager. She fights with her mother, she struggles with determining her feelings towards her best friend, and she makes mistakes (a lot of them). She is eager to prove to her mother, and herself, that she can handle things without anyone's helps. This doesn't always lead to the best result, and often gets Marcus into trouble with her. Julie isn't the only well-rounded character. This novel is full of a cast that reader's can root for and sometimes despise.

The story starts at a sprinting pace and doesn't slow down as Julie is attacked over and over again by supernatural forces, which will have the reader wanting to continue turning the page to find out what's going to happen next (trust me, lost sleep just to see how it ended). It is a fun and quick read with a few twists and turns thrown in to keep Julie on her feet. I would definitely recommend Poltergeeks to anyone who loves YA paranormal, but also anyone who loves sassy characters and strong, butt-kicking females. I can't wait to read the sequel and see where Julie's adventures lead her next.(less)

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Sep 15, 2012 Tsana Dolichva rated it 5 of 5 stars

Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings is a rollicking great read out from Strange Chemistry (YA imprint of Angry Robot) on October 2nd in the US/Canada and ebook and on October 4th for the UK/Aus paperback. A copy of this book was provided for review from the publisher. Also, how awesome is the cover? I love it.

Julie is a trainee witch, still learning the craft from her mother. The only person who knows her secret is her best friend Marcus. An excerpt from the blurb:

When she and her best friend, Marcus,...more Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings is a rollicking great read out from Strange Chemistry (YA imprint of Angry Robot) on October 2nd in the US/Canada and ebook and on October 4th for the UK/Aus paperback. A copy of this book was provided for review from the publisher. Also, how awesome is the cover? I love it.

Julie is a trainee witch, still learning the craft from her mother. The only person who knows her secret is her best friend Marcus. An excerpt from the blurb:

When she and her best friend, Marcus, witness an elderly lady jettisoned out the front door of her home, it’s pretty obvious to Julie there’s a supernatural connection.

In fact, there’s a whisper of menace behind increasing levels of poltergeist activity all over town. After a large-scale paranormal assault on Julie’s high school, her mother falls victim to the spell Endless Night. Now it’s a race against time to find out who is responsible or Julie won’t just lose her mother’s soul, she’ll lose her mother’s life.

This was a great fun read packed full of action and (magical) explosions. I liked Julie as a kick-arse heroine but one who hadn't come into her full power yet. When bad things happen, she's still supposed to call her mum and when she doesn't, she gets told off and grounded. It's nice to see a YA book where the main character's parent has some agency and acts like a normal parent despite the supernatural elements (even if she spends half the book unconscious — it's still an improvement).

Marcus is painted as a love interest early on and, although Julie panics at first, I found her examination of her feelings (in between something trying to kill her) believable. Oh and Marcus is a science geek and keeps trying to work out how magic fits in with physics. It was great.

The only thing I didn't like was Julie's other (female) friend's jealousy regarding Marcus. It would have been nice if there was also a strong girlfriend relationship but at least there were no queen bitches at the school (a trope I'm a bit sick of).

I very much enjoyed this read and I hope that there will be more books about Julie in the future (and from his website it seems that Cummings is working on a follow up, Student Bodies, so yay). I recommend Poltergeeks to anyone who wants a quick, fun read with lots of action, crazy paranormal activity and a dash of awkward romance. And bonus: it's set in Canada for a bit of variety.

4.5 / 5 stars

You can read more of my reviews on my blog, Tsana's Reads.(less)

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Apr 04, 2013 Christopher S. Nelson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

POLTERGEEKS: May the Force bewitch you!

The stunning cover art of POLTERGEEKS is a promise delivered. From the intense opening scene until the spectacular climax, author Sean Cummings conjures a Teen Paranormal novel that crosses the boundaries of the heretofore stereotypical teenage girl-biased genre and ushers in a whole new perspective, one to which many of us can easily relate.

POLTERGEEKS is about teenage witch Julie Richardson and her struggle to prove herself to her mother, a powerful witc...more POLTERGEEKS: May the Force bewitch you!

The stunning cover art of POLTERGEEKS is a promise delivered. From the intense opening scene until the spectacular climax, author Sean Cummings conjures a Teen Paranormal novel that crosses the boundaries of the heretofore stereotypical teenage girl-biased genre and ushers in a whole new perspective, one to which many of us can easily relate.

POLTERGEEKS is about teenage witch Julie Richardson and her struggle to prove herself to her mother, a powerful witch that lives apart from the local coven. When sudden poltergeist activity reaches new and terrifying levels of violence, Julie’s mother is compromised and a tragic twist of irony places Julie in such a position where she must prove herself if she is to save her mother’s life. Her journey becomes one of self-discovery and growth as Julie must navigate through two worlds, one of high school drama and typical teen challenges, the other a breakneck pace through the spirit world of evil shades and spell-blasting immortals.

Sean Cummings captures the voice of his teenage protagonist from a surprisingly risky style, but one that pays dividends throughout. Unlike the typical, first-person POV and present tense combination found in so many titles under the Teen Paranormal heading of late, POTERGEEKS is written in a third-person past tense, making it a bit more appealing to the young male audience, as well as female. Also, the use of language is spot on with a great Star Wars motif woven throughout and a very believable teen dialect found in both conversation as well as narrative. Of course, it wouldn’t be a good teen novel without a solid romance arc and Sean Cummings crafts a beautiful one that—while not exactly unexpected—teases and then delivers to satisfaction.

Overall, the only drawbacks I found in POLTERGEEKS were a few very minor grammatical/ typeset errors in the e-book version, though I suspect that is idiosyncratic to digits and not found in the actual print edition.

Highly recommended, POLTERGEEKS is an action adventure amalgam at every chapter. Righteous imagery, military precise detail, and all the wonder of the unknown wrapped into one delightful tale where the teenage witch is more than just a spell-casting chick in red hair and sparkles—she’s a kick ass heroine with the moves of a ninja and the power of a Jedi, all fueled by a heart that beats fierce for the ones she loves.

(less)

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May 30, 2012 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Poltergeeks opens up with all hell breaking loose : a woman is thrown out of her house while her furniture and objects are found floating around. From Julie and Marcus' expertise, this can only be the result of a very mischievous poltergeist who was yanked from the other side by someone very powerful. Supernatural activity is going off the charts everywhere, even in school. No one is safe, not even Julie's mother who falls under the spell of Endless Night, a powerful spell that leaves her in a c...more Poltergeeks opens up with all hell breaking loose : a woman is thrown out of her house while her furniture and objects are found floating around. From Julie and Marcus' expertise, this can only be the result of a very mischievous poltergeist who was yanked from the other side by someone very powerful. Supernatural activity is going off the charts everywhere, even in school. No one is safe, not even Julie's mother who falls under the spell of Endless Night, a powerful spell that leaves her in a coma. Messages are being sent to Julie via YouTube videos, an immortal named Holly will give her answers but she'll demand something in return, and the spirit of a loved one will offer help and will reveal Julie's destiny. It's now up to Julie, Marcus and Betty, Julie's guardian, to find out who's behind all of this mayhem and put an end to it while fighting to save her mom's life.

Julie may be a witch but she really is your normal teenager. Proof? Well how about her mother grounds her even if, in Julie's eyes, she's just trying to help. She often takes matters in her own hands and doesn't think about the consequences. For example, she doesn't listen to her mom when the school is in total chaos and tries to take care of it herself. Result : her mom is now laying in a hospital bed. Her best friend, Marcus, is the one making sure she follows the rules.

Marcus and Julie have been friends for so long that she doesn't know how to react when he admits his feelings towards her. Julie needs to get her feelings straight before goth girl Marla steals him from her. Marcus is the science geek. He sometimes wants to gather scientific information on the supernatural and he's also dumbfounded in front of anything abnormal. He's one of the few who knows about Julie and her mother's witchcraft and it doesn't seem to bother him. He's always there to lend a helping hand. He also has a very vulnerable side. At school he often gets teased and thrown in the garbage. He really needs to stand up for himself and not let Julie always do it for him.

When her mother is in the hospital Betty comes in the picture as Julie's guardian and offers a hand but only if Julie asks the right questions. She isn't human; she takes the body of a dying person or animal as her host until she grows tired of it. My favorite is when she occupies the body of a Great Dane. Even in the body of an animal she can be very useful!

Poltergeeks is Sean Cummings' first YA and also the first book in a new series that's off to an incredible start. Even if the story deals with Julie's mom fighting for her life, it's really a light and fun read. No tissues will be needed! I absolutely loved the chemistry between Julie and Marcus. They make an excellent team! The romance is a nice touch added to the plot but it's not the main focus. The magic is fantastic. He did an amazing job describing the supernatural. Everything is carefully thought-out and well-explained. I loved the mix of poltergeists and magic. I was really engrossed in the book from the very beginning. The action starts on page one and ends on the last page with hints of more action coming in the next book. I honestly can't wait to find out more. I think there might be a few family secrets that Julie has yet to unveil. I'm eagerly anticipating the sequel!

Poltergeeks is a great entertaining read that will please the fans of YA paranormal and urban fantasy.

*e-book courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review*(less)

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Sep 29, 2012 Mieneke rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, fantasy, young-adult

From the first synopsis I read when Strange Chemistry announced they had signed Sean Cummings, this book sounded like it would be a super fun read. And though it wasn't a perfect book, it made good in its promise with a very fun tale of hauntings, magic and romance. Reminiscent in tone of Buffy, it's a book that has fun with the tropes of the genre and doesn't take itself too seriously, despite tackling some difficult emotional topics, such as the impending loss of a parent and the first steps o...more From the first synopsis I read when Strange Chemistry announced they had signed Sean Cummings, this book sounded like it would be a super fun read. And though it wasn't a perfect book, it made good in its promise with a very fun tale of hauntings, magic and romance. Reminiscent in tone of Buffy, it's a book that has fun with the tropes of the genre and doesn't take itself too seriously, despite tackling some difficult emotional topics, such as the impending loss of a parent and the first steps on the romantic front.

A lot of this book depends on the chemistry and dynamics between Julie and her best friend, Marcus. Fortunately, this worked really well and felt convincing, especially later on in the book when there is a clear 'will she, won't she' going on. Their friendship is one of the mainstays of Julie's life and when all hell breaks loose, Marcus is the one thing that keeps Julie focused and sane. I loved the interaction between them; they often had me chuckling out loud with their snarky banter, but at the same time Marcus' unwavering support and that letter also made me a bit mushy on the inside.

Of course, there is far more to Julie than just her relationship with Marcus. She's a strong female lead: funny, capable, head strong and independent. Julie is burning to prove to her mum how competent she, that she doesn't need to be treated like a child anymore. It's the classic adolescent's revolt. Unfortunately, when her mum gets hurt and might not make it, Julie thinks it is all her fault and she reacts accordingly. Julie has some growing up yet to do and while Cummings took her a ways to maturity, I think she's far from mature yet, which leaves some interesting things to discover in the next book. Similarly, Marcus has to do some growing of his own, though in his case, it's more that he needs to learn how to stand up for himself. While he doesn't really come across as unsure of himself, he actually seems pretty comfortable with who he is, he does let the bullies walk all over him – read stuff him in a trash can – at school, seemingly unable to get them to stop, whereas by the end of the book he faces them down and gets the upper hand. While I really liked Marcus, I thought he was awesome and a lot like someone I would have hung out with at school, I do think he doesn't come across as a bullied kid. The only department in which he seems rather insecure is in the romance section and well, I think 98% of young teens are, so that really isn't surprising. Then again, apart from the few scenes with the bullies, we only see Marcus around either people he's comfortable with or in an action-filled situation, so there isn't really a lot of time or need to show him behaving like a bullied kid.

I loved the supernatural community Cummings created. We only catch the barest glimpse of the whole, since Julie and her mum aren't part of a coven, but it's clear that Cummings knows how this community is shaped and who you could meet if you'd ever find yourself amongst them. I thought Holly Penske, the crooked information broker was genius and Betty the Great Dane was AWESOME! I totally loved Betty and from the first time she walked on page until quite late in the game I wasn't sure whether she was a good guy or a bad guy, which gave her an extra edge.

If there was one complaint I had with Poltergeeks, other than the previously mentioned thing about Marcus, it was that some things were a little predictable. I'd figured out the identity of the person possessed by Thomas Hopkins a long while before the end, though I hadn't expected the twist that followed after Julie figured it out. What I can't figure out is whether Cummings telegraphed the culprit's identity that clearly or whether I just watch and read too many crime shows and books and he's relied too much on the common tropes of the genre, which made it easy for me to solve the riddle. I suspect it's the latter as the former would be sloppy writing, unless he did it on purpose as a misdirect for the twist that comes after. In which case, well-played sir, well-played.

Regardless, Poltergeeks is a fun read. It might not be a classic of the genre, but it is the kind of book that will show a teen that reading can be fun and those kinds of books are just as, if not more, important than the classics. Poltergeeks could be a gateway drug for a reluctant reader who enjoys the snarkier adolescent-oriented TV shows. In any case, this non-reluctant not-so-adolescent reader had a great time with Julie and Marcus' adventure and I'm looking forward to the second book in the series.

This book was provided for review by the publisher.(less)

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May 23, 2012 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sean Cummings, Canadian author of adult Urban Fantasy, has written a young adult paranormal for Angry Robots’ new YA imprint, Strange Chemistry. Poltergeeks is about Julie, a young teenage girl trying to prove to her mother and herself that she is responsible enough to use her magic on her own, but she quickly gets in over her head, dragging her best friend Marcus along for the dangerous ride.

This is an action/mystery story with a sweet romance woven in. What impressed me most was Cummings’s kno...more Sean Cummings, Canadian author of adult Urban Fantasy, has written a young adult paranormal for Angry Robots’ new YA imprint, Strange Chemistry. Poltergeeks is about Julie, a young teenage girl trying to prove to her mother and herself that she is responsible enough to use her magic on her own, but she quickly gets in over her head, dragging her best friend Marcus along for the dangerous ride.

This is an action/mystery story with a sweet romance woven in. What impressed me most was Cummings’s knowledge of magic and his use of it in this story. I don't know much about magic, but I know when something doesn't ring true and his system was very believable. Add fabulously written action scenes and you have a fast-paced kick-butt story. Even though Julie has to deal with a few serious issues, the author keeps it light and angst-free, giving the reader a fun reading experience. (And any story with a talking dog is winning in my book.) I am a fan of first person POV and enjoyed experiencing things through Julie’s eyes. She has the makings of one of those snarky heroines I love in urban fantasy novels.

It is a little difficult to say what age group would enjoy this most. The story will definitely appeal to the 13-15 year old crowd. There is a little bit of profanity in it, but let’s face it, any 15 year old would cuss while being attacked by a malevolent sprit . If you don’t mind your middle grader watching PG-13 movies, I think they will enjoy this story too.

One more note, have you checked out this cover? It is fabulous! Strange Chemistry is off to a great start with Poltergeeks (and isn’t that a clever title? ) in its line up so be sure to check them out. Sean will be doing a blog tour for the release of Poltergeeks in October and will be stopping by I Smell Sheep, maybe he will give us some hints about about book two Student Bodies releasing Spring of 2013.

SharonS (edited by BAK)
4 sheep
You can find the review and others here:http://ismellsheep.blogspot.com/...(less)

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Mar 28, 2013 Valeottantadue rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: whish-list

http://my-empty-purse.blogspot.it/201...

Julie ha 15 anni e non è una ragazza comune. Come sua madre, anche lei è una strega, per il momento un'apprendista-strega.

O yeah! I’m a witch. A pretty good one, actually, though Mom keeps reminding me that I’m still her apprentice and that drive me nuts because it’s almost like it’s rubbing my face it, you know?

O yeah! Sono una strega. Una abbastanza brava, in realtà, anche se la mamma continua a ricordarmi che sono ancora la sua apprendista il che mi fa...more

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Sep 25, 2012 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, physical-copy, two-star-reviews

I'm having a bit of a writing block today, so here, in list form, are some of my thoughts. (I like lists.)

Here are some things I liked:
* A teenage main character who acts and sounds her age. Julie is 15 and she's written like it! Her dialogue doesn't sound like the words of an adult coming out of a kid's mouth. She's headstrong and emotional and makes rash decisions and thinks she knows best. Sound like anyone you know? Yeah, sounds like me when I was 15.
* A teenage main character who has a good...more I'm having a bit of a writing block today, so here, in list form, are some of my thoughts. (I like lists.)

Here are some things I liked:
* A teenage main character who acts and sounds her age. Julie is 15 and she's written like it! Her dialogue doesn't sound like the words of an adult coming out of a kid's mouth. She's headstrong and emotional and makes rash decisions and thinks she knows best. Sound like anyone you know? Yeah, sounds like me when I was 15.
* A teenage main character who has a good relationship with her mom! Sure, there are bobbles here and there and Julie can be kind of bratty sometimes, but it was so nice to see a mother and daughter working together. I liked that the thing that really helped Julie find her power was the fact that her mom was in danger. A great change of pace from many other YA books.
* The book is a quick read and is very fast paced. The action doesn't really lag, and the plot is pretty simple. There are enough loose ends to justify a sequel, but not so many that you think you missed something by the time you finish.

Here are some things that I didn't like:

* Many of Julie's problems seemingly could have been avoided if the main character had just asked for help in the first place. I know that this is reality for teenagers -- they want to do things themselves, they want to prove themselves -- and so this is where YA books so often show their 'you're not my core demographic' colors for adult readers like myself. Julie was mature or self-aware enough to know at several points that she wasn't an advanced enough witch to solve the problems on her own, but she still waited until the problems were huge to bring in her mom for help.
* Julie's BFF Marcus has been secretly crushing on her for years and years. The book blurb doesn't mention romance, but it's in here, and while it's sweetly done, I still sighed whenever that plot point came up. I would love to see more books where the male and female leads are just friends and not nursing secret feelings.
* The villains in this book had me rolling my eyes for reasons that I can't really talk about without giving away spoilers, but suffice it to say, I am trying very hard not to climb back up on my Certified Feminist-y Book Blogger Soapbox to complain about it.

Overall, I thought the book was okay. It wasn't anything too ground-breaking, but it was a nice change of pace from many other YA paranormal/urban fantasy books out there. Julie doesn't fall for someone morally ambiguous or unreachable or who could possibly kill her. She doesn't suffer through unbearable traumas. She's just a normal girl, who happens to be an extraordinary witch. There is some violence and mild profanity in the book, but nothing that most teenagers aren't already exposed to.(less)

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