Review: Hex Hall

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wasn't too sure about Hex Hall when I first started it, the whole 'Chosen One' YA story is over done these days and so I was a bit wary.

Although there are quite a few expected plot points and characters in the book, Sophie Mercer's voice is a very fun and interesting one. (even if her waxing about the cute guy gets a little much at times).

The idea of having a Juvie version of Hogwarts is very interesting and amusing. However, it does run into the same sort of problems, no one seems to be learning math, there is apparently no adult oversight except that which would end in lawsuits in the real world, and at no point does anyone sit down with Sophie and give her a comprehensive rundown of the new society that she is expected to live in.

And perhaps that's my biggest problem with this book, the adults are idiots.
I have a hard time believing some of the interaction between Sophie and her mother, if her mother has been so protective of Sophie her whole life then I can't believe that she would have hid anything from her once they knew she would be going to Hex Hall.

Other then a few nit-picky things like that, this book was quite fun. Fast easy read, perhaps just a touch too heavy on the romance angle, but hey, I guess everyone's High School experience differs. I would have liked to have seen a bit more interaction with other students to get a better feeling for the world though. The book also ends on a cliffhanger, so head's up on that.

But all in all, Hex Hall works as a breezy engaging follow-up for the older Potter/fantasy fan.

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