thishannah's review
I'm probably a little biased because I work for the publisher, but this book is SO GOOD! Full of suspense, rich characters, and enough spooky stuff to make me a believer.
mehsi's review
5.0
I totally forgot to do a review for this book, so here it goes, 13/14 days late, but I still want to write down my thoughts.
This book was really great, I was already hoping that I would find a new creepy, mystery, with ghosts series, and I did! The book is mostly a creepfest filled with mysteries, but we also have a bit of realism added to the mix. Kat's mom disappeared (it happened before, but she never came back this time, though she is trying to contact Kat, and her family). Kat doesn't want anything to do with her mom (Which is logical, what mom would just run off like that?), and in the book she finds out one big thing which turns her upside down. But her dad, and also her grandma, would love for her to just try to reach out back. So we have that going on, but also Kat trying to make sure her dad keeps his work, she is not ready to go back home.
What is going on with her dad? Well, the job he has now (the one with the supernatural show) has a curse or something going on with the hosts. Every host so far has quit after x number of episodes. Kat is really trying her hardest to get her dad to not fall under the curse. It was a really fun ride and it was interesting to see her thoughts, even though I already had a feeling it would be wrong, that is all I will say. :P
The book was also scary and creepy at times. We have ghosts, and other unexplained stuff going on, and it was really interesting to see that, but also see how Kat thought about it all, and how she turned from disbeliever to believer.
I also loved Kat's blog, I am glad she found something to enjoy.
The last part of the book was terrific and so awesome! What an end! I can't wait for the next book, I got it ordered, and I am waiting for it to arrive.
There was only one thing that I didn't like. Oscar. Oscar the pretentious little snot-faced troll. Even later with what happens there, I just couldn't like him. He ruined it for himself at the beginning. I know he will also be in the other books, too bad, but I will still read them for Kat, for the ghosts, for the blog.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and I would highly recommend it.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com
This book was really great, I was already hoping that I would find a new creepy, mystery, with ghosts series, and I did! The book is mostly a creepfest filled with mysteries, but we also have a bit of realism added to the mix. Kat's mom disappeared (it happened before, but she never came back this time, though she is trying to contact Kat, and her family). Kat doesn't want anything to do with her mom (Which is logical, what mom would just run off like that?), and in the book she finds out one big thing which turns her upside down. But her dad, and also her grandma, would love for her to just try to reach out back. So we have that going on, but also Kat trying to make sure her dad keeps his work, she is not ready to go back home.
What is going on with her dad? Well, the job he has now (the one with the supernatural show) has a curse or something going on with the hosts. Every host so far has quit after x number of episodes. Kat is really trying her hardest to get her dad to not fall under the curse. It was a really fun ride and it was interesting to see her thoughts, even though I already had a feeling it would be wrong, that is all I will say. :P
The book was also scary and creepy at times. We have ghosts, and other unexplained stuff going on, and it was really interesting to see that, but also see how Kat thought about it all, and how she turned from disbeliever to believer.
I also loved Kat's blog, I am glad she found something to enjoy.
The last part of the book was terrific and so awesome! What an end! I can't wait for the next book, I got it ordered, and I am waiting for it to arrive.
There was only one thing that I didn't like. Oscar. Oscar the pretentious little snot-faced troll. Even later with what happens there, I just couldn't like him. He ruined it for himself at the beginning. I know he will also be in the other books, too bad, but I will still read them for Kat, for the ghosts, for the blog.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and I would highly recommend it.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com
jbojkov's review
5.0
I loved the m.c. of this book! She’s very likable and that made me want to read more. There is action, creepiness, ghosts, and a true mystery at the heart of this story. The author also throws in some topics that many kids deal with divorce, close relationships to extended relatives, parents dropping the ball (including a dad of one character being in jail). Also there is a cast of characters who I believe will become more fleshed out as the series continues. I would give this to older elementary or younger middle school kids.
yapha's review
4.0
This book about a ghost-hunting TV show is super fun and just the right amount of creepy! Kat Sinclair's grandmother starred in horror movies and Kat has been watching them since kindergarten. When her father takes a job as the new host of the TV show Passport to Paranormal, Kat is eager to tag along. She doesn't quite believe in ghosts, but a series of mysterious occurrences has her changing her mind. Along with a few other kids on the set, she begins investigating what really happened to the previous hosts. Recommended for grades 4 & up, but don't read at night if you are easily scared!
ju_shi's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
saragrochowski's review
5.0
Love the characters in this one!! And it was delightfully creepy at times!
lilyn_g's review
4.0
Dead Air is an excellent beginning to a new middle-grade paranormal fiction series written by Michelle Schusterman. It features a POC for the main character and has an LGBT edge to it (although that’s not immediately obvious). It also has an awesome grandma in it. Gotta give points for the grandma who refuses to baby her grandchild, and was a former scream queen!
Kat, the main character in Dead Air, is going through some upheaval in her family when she ends up going on the road with her dad. It’s not long, though until the normal ‘human’ problems are buried underneath some paranormal ones. As someone who has never believed in ghosts, Kat finds herself having to re-evaluate her beliefs when spooky things begin happening around her. A curse, a ghost (or 3?), a new job for her dad, and a change of scenery all at once don’t exactly give Kat the stability she needs, either.
I liked Kat. She’s a perfectly believable character. She makes mistakes and she’s got a temper, but she stands up for herself and her father without thinking twice about it. She’s also pleasingly non-self-conscious, as she’s more concerned with what’s going on around her. She’s also got a decent sense of humor, a bit of a mouth, and a bit of a hero complex that gets her in over her head.
Things of note for those that might care: Dead Air takes place on and off ‘the set’ of a ghost hunt. There is some explanation of EVP and the kids do play with a Ouija board at one point. There is a character with a heart problem, and it does act up during the course of the investigation. However, no long-term damage is done to the person’s health.
A well-paced story with a bit of a spooky flair, Dead Air is not just for middle-graders. Easy to read and entertaining, Dead Air sets the perfect tone for what will hopefully be a popular series. I definitely recommend checking it out when you get a moment.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for review consideration.
Kat, the main character in Dead Air, is going through some upheaval in her family when she ends up going on the road with her dad. It’s not long, though until the normal ‘human’ problems are buried underneath some paranormal ones. As someone who has never believed in ghosts, Kat finds herself having to re-evaluate her beliefs when spooky things begin happening around her. A curse, a ghost (or 3?), a new job for her dad, and a change of scenery all at once don’t exactly give Kat the stability she needs, either.
I liked Kat. She’s a perfectly believable character. She makes mistakes and she’s got a temper, but she stands up for herself and her father without thinking twice about it. She’s also pleasingly non-self-conscious, as she’s more concerned with what’s going on around her. She’s also got a decent sense of humor, a bit of a mouth, and a bit of a hero complex that gets her in over her head.
Things of note for those that might care: Dead Air takes place on and off ‘the set’ of a ghost hunt. There is some explanation of EVP and the kids do play with a Ouija board at one point. There is a character with a heart problem, and it does act up during the course of the investigation. However, no long-term damage is done to the person’s health.
A well-paced story with a bit of a spooky flair, Dead Air is not just for middle-graders. Easy to read and entertaining, Dead Air sets the perfect tone for what will hopefully be a popular series. I definitely recommend checking it out when you get a moment.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for review consideration.
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