August 30, 2022 – August 31, 2022

When I saw where this was going all I thought was “oh gosh I hope she treads lightly.” And during it I was like “I don’t know very much about autism but so far she sounds like she’s doing a good job.” And then at the end when he’s “cured” made me want to throw the book across the room, because I have friends and family who have or has kids with autism and you don’t just “cure” it. Also, I don’t like these books where they are working separately.
Ug. The beginning was awesome though with the remote and DVD player. It was a nice transition from the heavy of the last book.
It’s just, Ug. I just told my husband what I just read and then talking to my brother about how it is normalizing middle schoolers having sex. Why am I reading these again? Because over all they are good books. That’s why I keep giving them four stars. Except for this one.

August 29, 2022 – August 30, 2022

Oh my GOSH was that heavy!!! And probably extremely triggering for someone who has had someone have cancer. I’ve only been very sick and in and out of the hospital and I was feeling slightly queasy during it.
The ending was not what I was expecting. I honestly thought they were going to win. Instead she didn’t get better… but it also felt like the right decision. And I hate it. I hate that I’ll have to say good bye to my parents someday. Ug. Blaa.
I want to go hug my kids. And will probably run through disaster scenarios where this happens to me and I leave my kids behind.
Here’s something happy and shallow: Kit’s not gay! Gay guys don’t wish their girl friends would wear short skirts. Not that It would be bad if he was, but as I said I’m shipping them and would have to deal with disappointment.
I am annoyed that they keep having these “last one ever” battles with the Lone Power. I can fudge it for the sake of the story, but it is still kind of a weak point for me.
Five down, five to go!

August 27, 2022 – August 29, 2022

Ok first the note for whether this series is good for my ten-year-old son: no. There is a scene where they are talking about whether or not she has had sex with Kit with one of them making a gesture showing sex and she says yes she is. That’s a little too much for how old he is.
Now on to the book! These books are great, with original ideas and world-building and a fun magic system and a good plot that always sticks the landing. I’m bummed about the sex stuff because I would love to shove these in my son’s hands.
Now for the shallow stuff.
I’m so angry. Like really angry at the author. In book two she admits to having a huge crush on Kit. Then in the last book she has a confession to him that she does. Then in this book it is like all that never happened! And then she crushes and kisses another boy! And Kit isn’t bothered at all and teases her about it! I’m so angry. I’m shipping them so hard, and wonders if the author is going to make it so they don’t end up together. There are another six books. Let’s see if she fixes this.

August 26, 2022 – August 26, 2022

I didn’t like this one as much because it spent so much time on the sister when I want to read more about Kit and Nita. That being said it was still a good book. She spends a lot of time on descriptions and random stuff (ok it isn’t random) that make me kind of gloss over. Like there is no way you would be able to get away with it now a days. The space stuff was fun because that’s where my passion was back in the day. I don’t know where she’s going to go now that Satan had been redeemed. Like who’s the bad guy going to be?

Now for vetting for my son. They talk about breasts and bras, which is a lot more tame than the last book and maybe he’ll just gloss over it. I don’t know. Why is this so hard?

August 25, 2022 – August 26, 2022

When I finished the last book all I could think was “well they just took on Satan, how are they going to top that?” And though it wasn’t as big it was still pretty good. It seemed kind of confusing – in the last book it ends with the jerk power deciding to change? Or given the chance? I can’t remember if it did. Then in this one they are fighting it again. Only as whales.

The ocean stuff was fun, but like with the last one the long descriptions made my brain gloss over. I kept wondering if my son will like it.

Because if you didn’t read my review of the first book this is why I’m doing this, to see if these books are good for him. And let me tell you I pulled up real fast when her and her mom started talking about sex. I THINK it will be ok. We’ve already talked to him about what it is, but the idea, as an adult, of a 13 year old and 12 year old having it feels more than a little not great. Then there is all the nudity- it would be one thing if they took turns getting naked and turning into whales or turning back again, but they stood on the beach together with nothing on and no reaction. That felt a little unrealistic, especially since she admitted to having a crush on him.

So do I think my ten year old should read this? I don’t know. He’s young enough he might just not care, but I don’t want him thinking that getting naked with a girl is ok. Blaaaa I’m over thinking this. I’ll read the next one and see what I think.

August 23, 2022 – August 24, 2022

I’m so tired. I’ll ramble tomorrow.

Update: SO! My ten-year-old son reads stupid fast. Like a Percy Jackson book a day fast, so I’m feeling pretty desperate to find books for him to read and decided on middle grade, figuring that they would be longer than kiddie stuff but not as heavy as grown up stuff. All because he’s reading at seventh grade level doesn’t mean he’s ready for books that are YA or older. So I asked for recs from my Facebook writing groups and this book was one of them. But I wanted to read it first to make sure there wasn’t anything bad in it and I can say with confidence that it is safe. Not only safe but long and well constructed. But there are more! What if we get to book three and Kit turns into a murderer or something! Daugh! So now I have to read the whole series before I can give it to him.

Talking more about the book I really did like it, minus the whole walking on air part. I have a fear of heights and I felt sick the whole time. But I couldn’t stop reading toward the end. My husband asked if we could turn off the light and I said “no! I’m almost done, they are about to defeat Satan!” Because that was obviously who he was. And the whole “I Am” thing? Someone else was described that way. Not that it bothered me. Honestly the whole white hole thing and the bad science behind it was more of an annoyance. I double-checked with my husband who has an PhD in astronomy and he said it is basically a theory in the very loosest terms. But you know what, this is a book about freaking wizards and magic, they can have fudgy physics too.

Ug, I’m complaining. I like how they worked together and I liked how they did their spells. I liked how they handled the bullies. And I liked how they turned New York into a hell scape. (What is it about NYC?!? It seems like every other book goes into how much they love it!)

I know this isn’t a review blog because I don’t write reviews, but this book really was fun and I’m going to give it to my son assuming the rest of the books are safe.