Ghost Hunting by Jason Hawes & Grant Wilson with Michael Jan Friedman

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

Hawes and Wilson, founders of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (or TAPS), and lead investigators on the Sci-Fi Network's Ghost Hunters, share their experiences with the paranormal in this book. TAPS was founded on the principle that investigators would go into homes, businesses, churches, etc. looking for ways to debunk or negate a paranormal claim. Throughout the book, Hawes and Wilson will mention that nearly 80% of cases are debunked of paranormal activity. Containing information on cases prior to their TV debut and some of their more notable TV episode cases, Hawes and Wilson detail some of their findings, outline TAPS purpose in the "ghost hunting" world, and offer some advice to those thinking about creating their own paranormal society group. Several pages of still photographs featuring paranormal phenomena and practical jokes among teams members appear in the middle of the book.

I have to admit I am addicted to the TV show Ghost Hunters. Though a skeptic to anything paranormal, I'm still addicted! When I learned that the guys wrote a book, I had to read it. I'm glad I did! Mostly written by Hawes, viewers of the TV show will definitely see his personality come through in the words. I loved reading about some of the behind the scenes information for a few of their TV episodes. It was also interesting to learn about their beginnings and some of the cases they went on prior to gaining fame on the Sci-Fi Network.

Fans of the show must read this book. Incidentally, if you have never seen Ghost Hunters, or would like to watch the episodes again, the Adams County Library System has Seasons 1 and 2 and the live episode from the Stanley Hotel. Put yourself on the waiting list today...and while you do that, check Ghost Hunting out too. It's a fun, fast read.

Reviewed by Jessica

Season of the Witch by Natasha Mostert

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

This goth thriller combines alchemy with psychic abilities to create a "spellbinding" read from start to finish. Gabriel Blackstone, a freelance information hacker, receives a call from dying millionaire William Whittington, asking Blackstone to help find his missing son, Robert. Using his psychic abilities to read the minds of someone missing to find their whereabouts, Gabriel discovers a partial truth to Robert's disappearance. In his quest to find the facts, Gabriel becomes friends with the mysterious Monk sisters and soon follows the path leading towards destruction.

Mostert has crafted such a wonderful thriller; I was hooked from the first page! To me, the storyline was not predictable, so I found myself surprised at the different twists and turns in the plot. Those not interested in the world of sci-fi and witchcraft may not find this book to be enjoyable. There is some discussion on alchemy and on psychic mind reading, which helps to clarify the concepts to those readers not familiar with the topics. I normally do not read these type of thriller stories, but I found this one entertaining from start to finish.

Reviewed by Jessica

Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCaig

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

Ever wonder about the man behind one of the best known love stories of all time? Margaret Mitchell's Rhett Butler comes alive in this novel based on Mitchell's Gone With the Wind. McCaig takes readers through Butler's life, from his boyhood in the Low Country of South Carolina, to his first encounter with Scarlett O'Hara at Twelve Oaks Plantation, to the Civil War and beyond. Butler's family is introduced, as well as the reasons behind Butler's relationship with Belle Watling.

For those who do not like recreations or adaptations of famous stories, you may not like this novel. It is very hard to take a story so well known as Gone With the Wind and create an adaptation for it. Alexandra Ripley tried this several years ago with Scarlett, which to some readers proved disasterous. McCaig creates new situations in which Rhett and Scarlett encounter one another and at times rewrites scenes from Gone With the Wind, though this might have been done since he could not take Mitchell's words verbatim and use them in his novel. McCaig also creates a different ending to the story, an ending in conflict with Mitchell's novel. Characters' personalities differ between Gone With the Wind and Rhett Butler's People. However, the incite into Butler's family and his escapades are very intersting. If you want to figure out the mystery behind Butler, read this book.

If you read the reviews on Amazon.com, people either really love this novel, or they absolutely hate it. For me, I was extremely curious to read something authorized by Margaret Mitchell's estate. I was a little disappointed with some of the scenes in this novel, but overall, I thought this to be an okay read. If you are interested in reading this novel and have never read Gone With the Wind, I suggest reading Gone With the Wind first. Knowing the plot line for Mitchell's novel will help in understanding some of the situations found in Rhett Butler's People.

Reviewed by Jessica

Big Boned by Meg Cabot

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

Life is finally going good for Heather Wells, former teen pop princess and current Assistant Dormitory Director of a certain residence hall that has been nicknamed "Death Dorm" after a few recent murders. There have been no recent muders and she's somewhat secretly dating Tad, her remedial math professor while still pining away for Cooper, her PI landord. Unfortunately, the good in life quickly turns bad when she finds her boss murdered in his office and becomes just one name on the long list of suspects. It's just bad timing for her to become involved in yet another murder investigation, what with her father's big business proposal for her and Tad getting ready to ask the Big Question, that she's not sure she has the answer to.

Big Boned is the third book in Meg Cabot's Heather Wells Mysteries series (after Size 12 is Not Fat and Size 14 is Not Fat Either). Heather is a very likeable girl who, as you learn in the previous books, used to be a pop star princess but has since gained a few pounds. She has an amazing knack for getting into dangerous situations that are too tight for comfort. Heather is a spunky girl that doesn't give up when she believes that someone is getting the raw deal or that one of her many residents of the hall she oversees being unfairly accused of murder.

Big Boned is a quick and fun read. If you haven't already, definitely pick up Size 12 is Not Fat and Size 14 is Not Fat Either before delving in to Big Boned. You must investigate the previous mysteries surrounding "Death Dorm" before looking into this one.

Reviewed by Sara

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Age Level: Teen

Format: Book

 

Thirteen Reasons Why is the story of one night in Clay Jenson’s life.  Clay is a normal high school student, a good student and all around nice guy.  One day, when coming home from school, he sees a package addressed to him on the front porch of his house.  When he opens the package, Clay finds seven cassette tapes with each side marked 1 – 13 in blue nail polish.  When he pops the first tape in his father’s tape player, he hears the voice of Hannah Baker, a classmate of his who recently committed suicide.   Clay is one of 13 people to receive the tapes, which tell her story and describe why she decided to commit suicide.  He spends that night listening to Hannah’s voice, visiting the places she wants him to go to, and becoming more and more horrified with the picture her voice paints.  He is also trying to figure out why he is one of the 13.  He knows he never wronged Hannah.

 

I like to read realistic fiction, especially when it comes to teen literature, and there’s really nothing more realistic than this book.  It gives a great depiction of the life of a teen who doesn’t fit in with the rest of her peers, as Hannah doesn’t.  It shows how rumors and innuendos start and how they really ruin a person’s belief in themselves.  Hannah was a normal girl, until one rumor started about her and then that rumor just continued to build into other rumors.  It’s a very compelling story of how we treat other people and how that treatment can really spiral until finally ruining another person’s self esteem.

 

The basic format of the book is set up so the reader will be reading Hannah's voice which is shown in the book by being in italics and then Clay's thoughts and reactions to what was just said.  It is a great format for this type of book as it helps you to get into the minds of both Clay and Hannah.

 

It’s a heartbreakingly real story that will change the way you look at how you treat other people.  You won’t be able to put it down.  I wasn’t.

 

Reviewed by Sara.