"Shadowland: The Mediator #1" by Meg Cabot

Suze is a mediator—a liaison between the living and the dead. In other words, she sees dead people. And they won't leave her alone until she helps them resolve their unfinished business with the living.

But Jesse, the hot ghost haunting her bedroom, doesn't seem to need her help. Which is a relief, because Suze has just moved to sunny California and plans to start fresh, with trips to the mall instead of the cemetery, and surfing instead of spectral visitations. But the very first day at her new school, Suze realizes it's not that easy.

There's a ghost with revenge on her mind...and Suze happens to be in the way.

We are deep in the era of the remake and reboot. It seems like the majority of movies and television shows are either a continuation of another plot or just a new version of the same story. I have a love/hate relationship with this. It really seems to depend on the brand if I am bothered or not. For instance, I am all over the new Star Wars movies but could do without the new Ghostbusters. More often than not, I'm left wishing that the original material had been left alone. However, I am never consistent in knowing what I will or will not like, but I tend to have a softer spot when it comes to more books in a series. Therefore am very excited to read the final book in The Mediator series (yes, I know I am several years behind, but I'm getting there). Since it's been awhile since I read the series, and I only read it once, I am getting ready by starting over with the first book, Shadowland.

Suze has just moved to California to live with her mom and new step family. She's not overly thrilled by this, but is going to give it her best try. Things would be a lot better if there wasn't a ghost living in her bedroom. Suze can see dead people. It's not always the worst. She still sees her deceased father on a regular basis because of it. But she also gets stuck with the responsibility of helping ghosts move on to the other side and sometimes that is easier said than done. When she starts at her new school, she immediately discovers that her newest assignment is a ghost set on revenge- and it looks like Suze is going to be her victim.

I was never the biggest fan of The Mediator series. Not because anything is wrong with them, ghosts and the paranormal just aren't my thing. For this reason, I only read the series once and unlike the rest of Cabot's books, I didn't devour them one after the other. Despite this, I found the series to be solid the first time through, and am enjoying them a second time around (probable more so). Suze has a lot of self confidence and is pretty much a badass. Unlike many of her books published under Meg Cabot (this first few books in this series came out under the name Jenny Carroll), this series isn't very girly. Suze isn't too worried about fashion or falling in love and this is probably my favorite part of the series. If you get in the way of her goal, Suze is going to make sure you move. I love her for this. This series is good for those who enjoy the paranormal and the mysterious. It's also a good choice for those that enjoy mysteries. If you've read some of Cabot's books, but found they weren't for you, give this one a chance. It's just different enough, you may enjoy it!

Happy Reading!

-Melly

"Here Come the Bridesmaids" by Ann M. Martin

One more review for the year:

I goofed during my re-reading session. I had it in my head that Dawn came back from California in the regular series and then flew back for her Dad's wedding.  So when I started Kristy and Mr. Mom I was quite surprised to see Dawn.  Oops!  Anyway, this book was great as a kid but kind of weird as an adult.  Things that came off as strange to me:

Dawn assuming that Mary Anne was a bridesmaid too.  Sure, they have a great relationship as stepsisters and Jack did let Mary Anne (and everyone) stay with him that one time, but she is still the daughter of his ex's new husband.  If that were me, I don't think I would be quite comfortable with her being a bridesmaid.  A guest of course, but not in the wedding party.

Stacey being a bridesmaid in Mrs. Barrett/DeWitt's wedding.  I (sort of) get her reasoning, but surely she knows someone else?  I think that it would be weird to look at my wedding pictures and see someone I'm not especially close to in the wedding party.  But I have no marriage plans (and if I did, I doubt they would include a massive wedding party), so either way my brain can't comprehend the situation.

Claudia's "job."  The parents in these book seriously rock.  Not only is Mr. Schafer letting Dawn's friends come out for his wedding (they aren't people that he really knows after all), but he's paying Claudia to help prepare for the wedding.  I kind of side with the people that want to get permission from the Jack and Carol prior to listening to Claudia.  I too would find it strange if someone who was thirteen was trying to change the wedding plans.  Just sayin.

While I was re-reading, the Barrett/DeWitt wedding felt kind of forced.  It completely made sense for the BSC to be involved since the younger kids weren't part of the ceremony.  But it felt like the storyline was thrown in to involve all of the BSC in this story and not just those traveling to California.  I do think I would have enjoyed this particular book more had it been just a regular book in the series.  Because it was a Super Special, there had to be more content and it felt very drug out.  All of the Super Specials were among my favorites as a kid, but this one (sadly) just didn't hold up.

Happy Reading!

-Melly

"Ghost Stories of California" by Barbara Smith (and other ghost stories too!)

Trying to decide how to review a book of ghost stories is far more difficult than I expected.  Stories and books from this genre that I particularly enjoy and have collected over the years come from Lone Pine Publishing.  I picked up my first book of ghost stories during a trip to California where I appropriately purchased a copy of Barbara Smith’s Ghost Stories of California.  I found it while browsing the gift shop at the Winchester Mystery House and appropriately mysterious stories from there and more can be found within the book.  As with many books, I immediately began to read (and be a little scared).  Since that day I have picked up many other volumes including Ghost Stories of the Rocky Mountains (Volumes I and II), Ghost Stories of Arizona and New Mexico and (though I haven’t had a chance to read it yet) Ghost Stories of Christmas.  The books have various authors; some give historical facts as to what led to each place to be haunted and what has been witnessed there and some offer chilling tales to tell around the campfire, but wither way, I have yet to find one that I have not enjoyed.

I have tried other books of ghost stories over the years, but these still remain my favorite.  I am always pleased to find one when I am on a trip so that I can read up on the places I am about to visit to see if I may come across a ghost or spirit (however, I’ve had no such luck).  These are the types of books I prefer to read in the middle of the day, in a very well lit room.  However, on occasion, I have found myself curled up under a blanket, unable to sleep because the stories and legends are swirling in my head.  And this, at least in my opinion, is the sign of a great ghost story.