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Young Blood

(The Mediator #4)

Jenny Carroll,

Meg Cabot (Goodreads Author)

4.15 · Rating details · 35,776 ratings · 834 reviews

Suze should be spending the summer vacation at the beach. Instead, she's been forced to get a babysitting job at a swanky resort. She'd expected to look after some boring brat, so Suze is surprised to find that her charge is actually a budding mediator - with a totally hot older brother. Not that Suze's head could be turned by some guy - she's pledged her heart to Jesse, t ...more

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Paperback, 208 pages

Published August 5th 2005 by Macmillan Children's Books (first published December 1st 2001)

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Average rating 4.15 ·

Rating details

· 35,776 ratings · 834 reviews

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Aug 08, 2013 Chelsea ❤Peril Please❤ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: absolute-favorites, could-read-over-and-over-again, unforgettable-male-leads, my-favorite-covers, favorites, awesome-heroines, re-read

Here's the thing about Mediators:
We're hard to kill.

I know it’s been a week since I posted my pre-review and I know I said I would be writing said review a long time ago. But, as it is, I’ve been tired and busy and just completely out of sorts. Sometimes, though, you love a book so much that you can’t stand the thought of not posting your thoughts about it. And, even more surprising, I loved this book so much more than I expected or ever thought I could this time around and just want ...more

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Jul 09, 2013 Chelsea (chelseadolling reads) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: books-ive-reread

Re-read 4/27/17: Swooney swoon SWOON. I cannot over here. I'm a swooney mess. Have mercy ...more

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Nov 23, 2015 April (Aprilius Maximus) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015

THIS BOOK JUST TOOK THIS SERIES TO A WHHOLE NEW LEVEL OMG

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Jun 24, 2018 Sharon rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, friendship, family, 3-and-a-half-stars, likable-heroines, paranormal-romance, kickass-heroines, paranormal

This book has a slightly more serious tone than the previous books. A lot more tears from Suze and a lot more high-stakes situations.

I still find Suze to be infinity relatable and hilarious. I like that we get to see her becoming more serious, but at the same time, I do miss the more fun, breezy times like from the 1st book.

It is summer in this book, and Suze has a babysitting job. Not the most fun premise but I do like the normalcy of this. She is getting more comfortable around her stepfamily ...more

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Feb 05, 2018 Sara (sarawithoutanH) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018

This book took shit to the next level. The series had blurred together in my memory and I couldn’t remember when Paul made an appearance, but I’m so glad he finally did. I’m excited for the drama in the next book!

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Jan 23, 2010 Madlenka rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: my-biggest-loves, read-in-czech, 2010, meg-cabot, numbered, series, paranormal, young-adult, sci-fi-fantasy

This is the best Mediator book so far! In the three previous books, it was always according to a model great times - ghost - a boy who wants to have a date with Suze (and is in some relation with that ghost) - ghost is beaten with some consequences to that boy. And of course there was Jesse, somewhere, usually telling Suze not to do something dangerous what she obviously does so he helps her. (And I mean every word of it in a good way, I enjoyed every single book.) But now, finally, Suze knows h ...more

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Oct 17, 2020 Rhea (Rufus Reads) rated it it was amazing

Definitely my favourite book in the series!!! I mean, welcome Paul Slater *whistles*, hello to badassery by Father D, and *drumroll*....that.last.scene...my heart can't deal. Swooning. ...more

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Jul 31, 2018 Syira rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: action, favorites, favourites-of-all-time, fav-character, fantasy, lol, favourites, mystery

read this in one sitting!
i need more of jesseeee!!

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Apr 09, 2015 Amy rated it really liked it

Shelves: favourite

Young Blood, the fourth book in the Mediator series by Meg Cabot is definitely my favourite so far!

Suzie's first summer in California doesn't quite go to plan when her stepdad forces her to either get a job or go to summer school. She chooses to work and ends up at the Pebbel Beach Hotel and Golf Resort as a daytime child minder. She is assigned to look after a unsociable young man called Jack and it soon become evident that just like Suzie he can also see spirits. Throw in Jesse, Suzie's gorge ...more

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Aug 29, 2013 Yue rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adults, 2013, 1st-person-narrative, comedy, contemporary, ghosts, great-characters, author-female

Meg Cabot, to end the book like this! Oh, God, Oh, God... I have to rush and read the next one.

Jesse querido...

I have Buffy in mind sometimes when I read this. Suze is such a kick-ass in that black clothes. And Jesse is Angel <3

So that means this Paul Slater will be Spike? No way, but he will come back, I am sure.

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Jun 18, 2012 Megan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, 4-star, ya

Original rating: 4 stars
7/2020 reread: 4.5 stars

--

I was flattered. I truly was. No one had ever called me loathsome before.

In the fourth book of The Mediator series, readers finally learn the full details surrounding Jesse de Silva's death. Considering that Jesse is both one of the series' main characters and Suze's main love interest, not to mention an all-around cool dude you hate to imagine being murdered at twenty, the buildup to the events in this novel can be considered, um, "extreme." ...more

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Nov 30, 2015 Brooke ♥booklife4life♥ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites-2016, started-series-need-to-finish, read-in-2016

At A Glance

Genre: Young Adult; Ghost
Love Triangle/Insta Love/Obsession?: no
Cliff Hanger: no
Rating: 4.5 stars

Score Sheet
All out of ten

Cover: 8
Plot: 8
Characters: 9
World Building: 8
Flow: 8
Series Congruity: 9
Writing: 7
Ending: 8

Total: 8

In Dept

Best Part: Jack :D
Worst Part: Nah!
Thoughts Had: Oh no; yayyyyyy; hurry up!!!!!!!

Conclusion

Continuing the Series: yes
Recommending: yes

Short Review: Probably my favorite so far in this series. It had everything and i have zero major issues with it. Other than Paul ...more

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Apr 10, 2015 Noella rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: apr15-keepitgoing-chl, own-physical-copy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 01, 2015 Connie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, series-finished, read-in-2015

Source: I own a bind up of books 3 and 4 in this series.
Cost: Free gift

Title: Darkest Hour/Young Blood
Series: Mediator #4
Author: Meg Cabot
Overall Rating: 3.7 stars

This one I liked slightly less than the past one, it didn't hold me as much but that may be because of the whole...lack of Jesse thing. Jesse is definitely one of my favourite characters. The best thing about Meg Cabot's books though have to be that her main characters sort of take things into their own hands rather than depe ...more

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Nov 07, 2020 Jenny rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Best book in the series to date. Takes the book into a new direction making me keen to read the next instalment.

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Sep 15, 2015 Nasty Lady MJ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Reread 2020: This may be my favorite out of the series. I like that the ghost mystery is personally connected to the characters. And Jesse's character development is really added too. Also the mediator mythos is explored some. Also, God, Paul. Probably my favorite Cabot secondary love interest even though I don't actually root for him and Suze to be together in cannon.

To see review with gif click here.

What I Remember:

I remember really being surprised by this one and kind of shocked about how ev ...more

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Aug 27, 2011 Harley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is like a fangirling mess, so read at your own caution

Jesse made the move! My heart!

The second half of this series is probably my favorite, I mean I love them all but at this point we are getting a main antagonist in Paul, we're finally getting into Jesse's past, and my OTP took the plunge! This is like the turning point for the series, we're getting down to business!

(view spoiler) This is like a fangirling mess, so read at your own caution

Jesse made the move! My heart!

The second half of this series is probably my favorite, I mean I love them all but at this point we are getting a main antagonist in Paul, we're finally getting into Jesse's past, and my OTP took the plunge! This is like the turning point for the series, we're getting down to business!

(view spoiler) ...more

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Nov 30, 2011 Lubnaa (Romance Library) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: interracial-couples, audiobook, paranormal-romance, young-adult

Re-read in 2020 on audio:

Suze's stepdad is digging a hole in their backyard to build a hot tub, but the ghost of Maria de Silva threatens to kill Suze if she doesn't put a stop to the digging. Why? Well, because Jesse's body is buried in Suze's backyard. The truth about Jesse's murder comes to light and at the same time, Suze is working as a babysitter for little Jack Slater, who also happens to be a mediator. Only, Jack doesn't understand why he sees ghosts, so he doesn't know that he's a media ...more

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Oct 03, 2009 Morgan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks

In this installment we finally met Paul Slater. He was all sorts of charming and every bit as cocky as I remember. I can't wait to see more of him in the next couple books because I know I really liked him but I couldn't remember why in Darkest Hour. Here's to finding out why in the future!

Jake (aka Sleepy) is my favorite of the brothers. I don't really know why but I have just been adoring him lately.

Jesse and Suze are fabulous together as always. I love them too much. BUT THAT ENDING. I can't ...more

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Jan 29, 2010 Ashley rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Teens who like a little bit of supernatural

Recommended to Ashley by: No-one.

Shelves: supernatural-romance, romance, young-adult

One of the best of the series. Reasons include:
* Paul is an interesting complication to the Jesse/Suze relationship.
* Great finally getting more information on Jesse's background and the reason for his death.
* Love the romantic element, Suze leaving her body to bring Jesse back to earth.
* More butt kicking and supernatural action.
Ticks the boxes for me. :) ...more

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Apr 29, 2018 Thenia rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, paranormal, reviewed, 2018, romance, r-ab, series, ya-na, magic

Suze's boring summer of working as a babysitter for customers of an expensive hotel in the area, gets more exciting than she'd ever wished, with the appearance of (view spoiler).

Suze is certain she can deal with everything, but does not expect (view spoiler) ...more

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Aug 05, 2017 Nicole Collins rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Loved Jack and the ending was everything. This was my fave so far finally some Jesse loved it!!

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Jun 10, 2012 Jessica-Robyn rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-ya, mystery-crime

I don't know what it is about this series. I liked this book, but I didn't really like it. It's sort of par for the course when it comes to my response to the series, but I was really hoping that this book would break the trend.

Darkest Hour brings everything back to Jesse's death when his ex-fiancée decides that the backyard reno is digging a little too deep for her liking.

You know with this sort of plot that the focus will undoubtedly be all about the Jesse/Suze relationship. This is the firs I don't know what it is about this series. I liked this book, but I didn't really like it. It's sort of par for the course when it comes to my response to the series, but I was really hoping that this book would break the trend.

Darkest Hour brings everything back to Jesse's death when his ex-fiancée decides that the backyard reno is digging a little too deep for her liking.

You know with this sort of plot that the focus will undoubtedly be all about the Jesse/Suze relationship. This is the first time where their connection really worked for me. In the last couple books, Cabot never gave me a strong enough feeling that these two actually have conversations, actually have things in common, actually have something going on between them beyond Suze thinking he's dreamy. It makes a lot of difference when Jesse is the focus of the story and isn't just appearing to help out and give vague warnings. I liked seeing more of him.

As for the plot itself. It went in some pretty unexpected directions and has opened up the door to question what it really means to be a mediator for Suze.

Cabot writes books that are easy to read, I was able to finish this within a couple hours of when I started. But I think that might also be part of why I find it so difficult to give these books anything higher then a three. I like the characters and the stories, but so much is left undeveloped and unexplored. So many of the characters just get rotated out of the story. Any new character that is introduced is generally written away by the end chapter. They've moved, they were on vacation, they have some other reason to skedaddle. It's all too neat for me. It's like nothing has any sort of lasting repercussions and the story is so condensed that it misses out on opportunities to do more.

For example, where is Suze's dad? When the series started up Suze made a point of saying he pops up in her life a lot, but we haven't really seen much of him since. I would have thought he'd play a bigger role. Having a dead parent who hasn't passed on seems like it should be a bigger deal.

I just don't know what it is I'm not getting from the story, but it's all too put together and the more I read the more formulaic it's starting to become. Now is when Suze will not tell anyone what's going on to try and do things on her own; now is when she'll decided she needs to kick some ass and go off on her own; well what do you know that didn't go well; now it's time for a new plan which works, but only sort of; now she's in trouble; final battle; emotional conclusion; new characters written out of story; normalcy restored; the end.

It's still enjoyable to read, but it's not hitting that level of enjoyment that I've been waiting for. ...more

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May 15, 2011 Em-em rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It is Suze's first summer in California but instead of lounging and hanging out with friends she finds herself working at a hotel as an in house baby-sitter. But it seems like having a good summer is the least of her problems when the ghost of Maria de Silva Jesse's ex fiance woke her up in the middle of the night with a knife threatening her to stop the construction in their backyard or else it would cost her her life. Suze has a pretty good idea of what is buried there - the body of Jesse; the It is Suze's first summer in California but instead of lounging and hanging out with friends she finds herself working at a hotel as an in house baby-sitter. But it seems like having a good summer is the least of her problems when the ghost of Maria de Silva Jesse's ex fiance woke her up in the middle of the night with a knife threatening her to stop the construction in their backyard or else it would cost her her life. Suze has a pretty good idea of what is buried there - the body of Jesse; the guy that she is in love with. While the idea of finally finding Jesse's body and putting him to rest appeals to her, the idea of losing him cripples her more. Furthermore she just discovered that the boy that she is currently baby sitting is also a mediator just like her. torn between her duty and her love will she be able to do the right thing in the end?

Darkest Hour is really the dark one for Suze. There are so many things that which I can justify this statement but right now I am busy organizing my thoughts they are so jumbled. Okay I will make an attempt to try to organize them and put them into words. First of all, it is her darkest hour because the ghost of Maria paid her a visit and it wasn't because of some unfinished business but to threaten her to stop her step father from digging that hole in their backyard mainly because they would discover Jesse's body there. The fact that she was visited with a threat and a knife is not the thing that made it her darkest hour but it is the fact that she was Jesse's ex fiance. Jesse! the man that she is falling in love with. It isn't the jealousy emotion that I am talking about here but it is the murderous attempt that it is written all over her face. Second of all, the discovery of the body might be cause Jesse to disappear permanently. She is in love with the guy and even when Jesse is there accessible to her it was pretty clear that she can't be with the guy under normal circumstances now she has to consider the reality of not having him at all. That is indeed a heartbreaking thought for a girl who is in love. Lastly, and probably my best reason for saying that the Darkest hour is indeed a dark one for Suze is that she was forced to live in the moment of not having Jesse there with her. She was really devastated for now she has no way of being with him and seeing him. I have to admit I was sad for her. It would seem the things in her life are starting to fall apart. Nothing seems to be going her way.

It seems like the books in this series has this way of keeping me glued to its pages. I am telling you once I started reading it I can't stop not until I finish the book. ...more

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Jan 17, 2017 Aylee rated it really liked it · review of another edition

You can also read this review on my blog.

This review applies to the entire Mediator Series.

The Mediator Series was my first series read of the year and let me tell you, it was a fantastically FUN way to start off my reading year. The series follows Suze Simon who has the ability to see, to talk to, and to beat up - whatever the occasion warrants - ghosts in order to send them on their way to the afterworld. The series was completed after six books in 2005, with an added novella and seventh novel ...more

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May 07, 2018 Claire Chibi rated it liked it

Shelves: nov-dec-2019-challenge

Rating 3.5

Lmao yikes. Well, they can't all be winners. I find it interesting that even though I tend to prefer female authors for older YA/adult fiction, when it comes to books for younger teens I consistently prefer stuff by male authors. (Anthony Horowitz, Lemony Snicket, Rick Riordan, Darren Shan, etc.)

I think it must be because books aimed towards 12 year old boys tend to focus on the magic and adventure side of things, whereas books aimed towards 12 year old girls tends to focus on the (cri ...more

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Apr 28, 2018 Cyndi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

What happens to our hero (who is a ghost) when his murder is solved? Will he pass over? Our heroine is reluctant to discover his corpse because she wants to keep him around, also his murderer (his ex-fiancee) wants his body to stay buried, too.
I really like this series! A teenage girl who fights ghosts. Maybe thats what all the shadow boxers and karate kickers are doing. They aren’t punching the air, they are fighting ghosts! That makes so much more sense! 🤔👻

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Jul 15, 2008 Megan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: 14-16

Recommended to Megan by: no one

this book has got to be the best one so far in this series. its so cute with the little mediator and how sue saves Jesse form being forced to move on. but that Paul guy needs to get some manners.

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Apr 26, 2014 Melissa **Just Really Loves Musicals** rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2018, read-2016, favourites, to-reread

Once again, another amazing book by Cabot. This is the point the series gets seriously good. I'm having so much fun with these rereads. ...more

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Apr 27, 2016 Haraiah Eve rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-tbr-pile-rc

Gina and Doc, my favorites, are unfortunately MIA. But at least there's Jack, who is such a sweet kid. And can I just say, FINALLY? ...more

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Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Meg Cabot Fan Club: Paul	4	22	Oct 13, 2018 02:07PM
YA Buddy Readers'...: Darkest Hour (Mediator #4) by Meg Cabot -> Starting 13th November, 2015	13	14	Dec 15, 2015 12:23AM
Meg Cabot Fan Club: Darkest Hour (The Mediator #4)	2	26	Jun 21, 2012 09:40PM
YA and Teen books!: The Mediator: Darkest hour	1	3	Aug 15, 2011 05:26AM

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About Jenny Carroll

Jenny Carroll

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A pseudonym of Meg Cabot, under which she wrote the first 4 1-800-Where-R-You books (When Lightning Strikes, Code Name Cassandra, Safe House, and Sanctuary) and the first 4 Mediator books (Shadowland, Ninth Key, Reunion, and Darkest Hour). These 8 books have been re-released under her her real name. ...more