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The Paranormalists #1
The Haunting of Apartment 101
When a popular, pretty classmate asks best friends Jinx and Jackson, high school sophomores, to investigate a haunting at her father's apartment, Jackson is sympathetic and convinces Jinx to trust him, despite her skepticism about Emily's true intentions.
107 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
28 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
About the author
Megan Atwood
102 books22 followersMegan Atwood lives and works in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she teaches creative writing at a local college and the Loft Literary Center. She has an M.F.A. in writing for children and young adults and was a 2009 Artist Initiative grant recipient through the Minnesota State Arts Board. She has been published in literary and academic journals and has the best cat that has ever lived.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 55 reviews
February 12, 2013
I wasn’t expecting a lot out of this one. It was short and I haven’t had the best of luck with short paranormal fiction.
I was pleasantly surprised with it. I really enjoyed it. It was short enough to read in an hour or so but still keep all the details. When I was done I wasn’t left searching for answers to questions brought up in the book. The beginning, middle, end were all nicely thought out and worked quite well.
I liked the storyline and characters although there was a bit of a lack in character development. I think this book would be well liked by reluctant readers.
I was pleasantly surprised with it. I really enjoyed it. It was short enough to read in an hour or so but still keep all the details. When I was done I wasn’t left searching for answers to questions brought up in the book. The beginning, middle, end were all nicely thought out and worked quite well.
I liked the storyline and characters although there was a bit of a lack in character development. I think this book would be well liked by reluctant readers.
August 5, 2014
Ghosts, unexplained noises and strange happenings really peek the interest of young readers and this book is all over it!! The book is appropriate and would interest 5th-8th grade. I don't think students any younger than 5th grade should read this book because Atwood makes the topic of ghosts come alive and that could be very frightening and even disturbing. Many kids between 5th-8th grade would not only be able to relate to the subject matter but the main characters are very realistic and believable
"The Haunting of Apartment 101" mirrors the ghost hunter shows that are currently popular on television. In the book, Jinx is a very smart but socially awkward teenager and Jackson is a popular jock. The two become friends because they are both interested in ghost-hunting. The book opens as Jinx (a.k.a. Jane) is posting her first blog on her Paranormalists site. Jinx has all the equipment to detect ghosts and other strange happenings, Jackson is her sidekick who is in charge of getting rid of any ghosts they locate as well as researching topics. Up to this point they have been on several cases but no real ghosts have been located. Emily, a popular girl at school comes to Jackson distraught and frightened about strange happenings in her apartment. Jackson researches and uncovers that a murder suicide happened in Emily's apartment years ago and that could be the root of her strange happenings. Jinx is skeptical of Emily but trusts Jackson so they take the case. Jinx does one thing that she does not inform Jackson of to protect the integrity of the test. She places a small camera on the refrigerator, in Emily's apartment. The small camera reveals that Emily's story is a farce but as Jinx studies the case all the pieces start to add up to stranger things than she had originally thought. This is a page turner that will hook kids into the series and keep them reading. This is a thumbs up in my opinion.
"The Haunting of Apartment 101" mirrors the ghost hunter shows that are currently popular on television. In the book, Jinx is a very smart but socially awkward teenager and Jackson is a popular jock. The two become friends because they are both interested in ghost-hunting. The book opens as Jinx (a.k.a. Jane) is posting her first blog on her Paranormalists site. Jinx has all the equipment to detect ghosts and other strange happenings, Jackson is her sidekick who is in charge of getting rid of any ghosts they locate as well as researching topics. Up to this point they have been on several cases but no real ghosts have been located. Emily, a popular girl at school comes to Jackson distraught and frightened about strange happenings in her apartment. Jackson researches and uncovers that a murder suicide happened in Emily's apartment years ago and that could be the root of her strange happenings. Jinx is skeptical of Emily but trusts Jackson so they take the case. Jinx does one thing that she does not inform Jackson of to protect the integrity of the test. She places a small camera on the refrigerator, in Emily's apartment. The small camera reveals that Emily's story is a farce but as Jinx studies the case all the pieces start to add up to stranger things than she had originally thought. This is a page turner that will hook kids into the series and keep them reading. This is a thumbs up in my opinion.
November 1, 2017
The Haunting of Apartment 101 is about Jinx and Jackson who are a ghost hunting duo. They try to discover the mystery of whether apartment 101 is haunted or not and what to do about it.
The characters are somewhat well developed and the plot is pretty interesting but overall I found the book predictable and lacking. It is definitely a book for younger readers (5th-7th grade) but even so I think the characters and plot could have been more developed. I did like the play between the two main characters and the character development but that was about it.
I would recommend it to someone who likes easy to read, mysterious, Halloween books.
The characters are somewhat well developed and the plot is pretty interesting but overall I found the book predictable and lacking. It is definitely a book for younger readers (5th-7th grade) but even so I think the characters and plot could have been more developed. I did like the play between the two main characters and the character development but that was about it.
I would recommend it to someone who likes easy to read, mysterious, Halloween books.
October 28, 2013
Jinx is a nobody by day, and a paranormal investigator at night. Jackson is a jock by day, and Jinx's partner by night. One day at school Emily, one of the most popular girls in school, asks the duo for help. Jinx is skeptical, but Jackson insist on taking the case. Well, the truth is just as strange as Emily's stories are.
This book was very short, yet it took me a while to read. I love paranormal books, but I don't think added high school students into the mix worked out good.
This book was very short, yet it took me a while to read. I love paranormal books, but I don't think added high school students into the mix worked out good.
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October 28, 2021The haunting of Apartment 101 is by Megan Atwood. Emily is a sophomore and lives with her dad. Her dad is out of town and Emily thinks she’s being haunted by ghosts. She hasn’t slept in three weeks, she can’t eat, she can’t concentrate. Emily wants Jinx and Jackson to help her get rid of the ghosts in her apartment. So Jinx asks her parents if she can have a “sleepover”. Jinx wants to charge a $400 flat fee, $200 each and both stay overnight. Jinx and Jackson go over to Emily’s apartment. Jinx starts to set up all the equipment. When Jinx and Jackson get there Jinx sets up the secret teddy bear camera on the shelf and the magnet letters on the fridge. Emily went into her room and Jackson sat in the chair next to Jinx, he started to doze off. He thought about his dad and how if ghosts were real then he would get to see his dad. Jackson woke up to the door slamming. He got to the door and started to pound on it, he said to Jinx “Will you help me, please”. She walked to the door and said in a bored voice” Open the door, Emily”. Emily opened the door and she had the same slashes on her wrists. Jinx whispered to Jackson and asked him to go check the kitchen. Then something said “Get out”. Emily and her boyfriend Travis have been faking it the whole time. Emily said that she had been faking it the whole time because she wanted to get her mom's attention. Jinx checked the EVP and the EMF recordings and she remembered the time both her and Jackson felt the air change and the EMF reader went off the charts. The temperature dropped. When she looked at the EMF and the EVP sensors again she saw something. Ghosts were real.
The theme of my book is fitting in and friendships. The theme of fitting in as well as the setting has developed within jinx because she had a difficult time fitting in with her peers beginning middle school. By the time she gets into high school she embraces her outsider status, even the way she is treated by other students(Travis calls her weird at one point in the book). The haunting of apartment 101 is about these two beginner ghost hunters who try to solve their first mystery in a haunted apartment.
My reflection on the book is that it's not very professional because it has some spelling errors. I didn’t like the book but I picked it because it was short and sweet. My favorite part is when Jinx was so calm when Emily had slashes on her wrists from the “ghosts” and then she told Jackson to run into the kitchen and he found Travis hiding. This book was very easy to read and I recommend it to ages 11-13. I didn’t like the ending because it was a cliffhanger.
The theme of my book is fitting in and friendships. The theme of fitting in as well as the setting has developed within jinx because she had a difficult time fitting in with her peers beginning middle school. By the time she gets into high school she embraces her outsider status, even the way she is treated by other students(Travis calls her weird at one point in the book). The haunting of apartment 101 is about these two beginner ghost hunters who try to solve their first mystery in a haunted apartment.
My reflection on the book is that it's not very professional because it has some spelling errors. I didn’t like the book but I picked it because it was short and sweet. My favorite part is when Jinx was so calm when Emily had slashes on her wrists from the “ghosts” and then she told Jackson to run into the kitchen and he found Travis hiding. This book was very easy to read and I recommend it to ages 11-13. I didn’t like the ending because it was a cliffhanger.
October 7, 2021
Quick review for a quick read. So this is the first middle grade/possibly low end of YA, reluctant reader title I've read in quite some time from this publisher. I originally had this as a galley back in 2012 but am picking it up belated. I make a mention of the date because...there are aspects of this story that don't age well, even with the young audience it targets. (Yeah, I hesitantly say this while reflecting on some moments here that made me fully cringe. I don't doubt some of the depictions will make some kids/teens cringe reading them as well because of outdated stereotypes along racial and social class lines. Also mentioning the humor feels a bit too forced and stilted in moments of the plot.)
"The Haunting of Apartment 101" is the first book in the Paranormalists series, centered about a pair of supernatural scouting teens who help others with individual cases. Emily, a popular girl at school who just moved into a new apartment with her father, approaches Jinx (a.k.a. Jane) and Jackson about her fears of a ghost. Jinx isn't thrilled about helping Emily because of her clique status, but Jackson sees helping Emily as a chance to actually put their Paranormal investigation group on the map with an actual case. Jinx you can tell is the more impulsive, somewhat insensitive one of the group, while Jackson's more level-headed. Parts of the plot allow you to get to know Jinx and Jackson's families and circumstances, as well as their individual flaws and strengths. This is a relatively short novel (just a little over 100 pages), and it takes a bit to get to the main mystery and reveal.
I was very much let down by not only the reveal but also the ending point. Like I really think a kid/teen would pick this up and say "That's it? Really?" (Honestly, I would be inclined to agree.) It sets up a false promise of what the story entails. That's not to say that it doesn't have a decent message and reveal for the mystery to some extent, but...*points to the group name*. If you've got a ghost story, actually DELIVER a ghost story.
Quick read but honestly I can recommend way more exciting and invested stories of this vein to kids/teens written now.
Overall score: 1.5/5 stars.
Note: I received this as an ARC on NetGalley from the publisher.
"The Haunting of Apartment 101" is the first book in the Paranormalists series, centered about a pair of supernatural scouting teens who help others with individual cases. Emily, a popular girl at school who just moved into a new apartment with her father, approaches Jinx (a.k.a. Jane) and Jackson about her fears of a ghost. Jinx isn't thrilled about helping Emily because of her clique status, but Jackson sees helping Emily as a chance to actually put their Paranormal investigation group on the map with an actual case. Jinx you can tell is the more impulsive, somewhat insensitive one of the group, while Jackson's more level-headed. Parts of the plot allow you to get to know Jinx and Jackson's families and circumstances, as well as their individual flaws and strengths. This is a relatively short novel (just a little over 100 pages), and it takes a bit to get to the main mystery and reveal.
I was very much let down by not only the reveal but also the ending point. Like I really think a kid/teen would pick this up and say "That's it? Really?" (Honestly, I would be inclined to agree.) It sets up a false promise of what the story entails. That's not to say that it doesn't have a decent message and reveal for the mystery to some extent, but...*points to the group name*. If you've got a ghost story, actually DELIVER a ghost story.
Quick read but honestly I can recommend way more exciting and invested stories of this vein to kids/teens written now.
Overall score: 1.5/5 stars.
Note: I received this as an ARC on NetGalley from the publisher.
May 3, 2025
This novella finds us learning of a pair of teenages, sophomores in high school who are exploring ghosts and how to find and get rid of them. They are new to the scene and Jinx is in it because she wants to be seen. She would rather be seen as slighly or even extremely dangerous instead of ignored and continued nothing, which has been though her schools.
Meanwhile, Jackson has a vested interested in finding a ghost because he has regrets about his father's death and wants to be able to at least once say "I love you" to his dad. They think they have a chance when a girl they go to school with is distraught and even crying in the hallways at school. Jackson has a big heart and totally wants to help. Jinx hates the girl because she called her by the wrong name, but gradually finds herself having sympathy...at least a little.
They go and set up their equipment, we watch the whole experience and then it looks like it is another fake ghost until despite the ample evidence that it is fake there is something they see or hear that indicates that the ghost might just be real after all. Both of them have what they wanted, in terms of what they find out.
I recommend this novella for the younger ages. It has no real shockers and tells more about sympathy and trusting that it actually reveals about the horror of ghostly presenses.
Meanwhile, Jackson has a vested interested in finding a ghost because he has regrets about his father's death and wants to be able to at least once say "I love you" to his dad. They think they have a chance when a girl they go to school with is distraught and even crying in the hallways at school. Jackson has a big heart and totally wants to help. Jinx hates the girl because she called her by the wrong name, but gradually finds herself having sympathy...at least a little.
They go and set up their equipment, we watch the whole experience and then it looks like it is another fake ghost until despite the ample evidence that it is fake there is something they see or hear that indicates that the ghost might just be real after all. Both of them have what they wanted, in terms of what they find out.
I recommend this novella for the younger ages. It has no real shockers and tells more about sympathy and trusting that it actually reveals about the horror of ghostly presenses.
November 4, 2025
Another "fast" read recommended by the library, though I suspect it's more due to page count than any genuine recommendation. (Then again, a lot of literal trash ends up being popular...)
I mean, it's not bad! I don't regret reading it, certainly, and I might even look for more in the series! (Not go out of my way to do it, though—my To Read list gets too long to add much more to it intentionally.) Some of it is just curiosity about what direction the series will take, which is the usual par for the course for thrillers: only as interesting as when the ending is still unknown.
Definitely a good fast read, but longer books are more satisfying in general.
I mean, it's not bad! I don't regret reading it, certainly, and I might even look for more in the series! (Not go out of my way to do it, though—my To Read list gets too long to add much more to it intentionally.) Some of it is just curiosity about what direction the series will take, which is the usual par for the course for thrillers: only as interesting as when the ending is still unknown.
Definitely a good fast read, but longer books are more satisfying in general.
May 16, 2019
Randomly picked this book up at the public library because I saw it took place in Oregon (I'm in the middle of a reading challenge where I read a book set in every state) and I thought the ghost hunting would be really fun. This book was shelved in the YA section, although I'd tend to call it more "middle school" despite the fact the characters are in high school. The reading level, however, is not high school level (hopefully?).
It was a quick read, but was rather disappointing. Predictable (for me, maybe not for others) and not anything that I would slap the label of "horror" on. It was "so so" but didn't capture my attention. This may be great for the appropriate reading level, but for me it missed the mark.
It was a quick read, but was rather disappointing. Predictable (for me, maybe not for others) and not anything that I would slap the label of "horror" on. It was "so so" but didn't capture my attention. This may be great for the appropriate reading level, but for me it missed the mark.
June 2, 2021
Two teenagers: a girl who is a social "reject" and "punked out" and a boy who is a jock and her best friends. One is trusting and likes people; the other hates the world. When a popular girl tells them her apartment is haunted, one is skeptical and the other believes. A teddy bear came helps solve the ghost mystery...or does it?
December 19, 2024
I picked this up at an online library for a bit of light, quick reading.
Little did I know that it would take me so long to finish it because I couldn't stand the edgy, bitter, not-like-other-girls stereotype of a main character.
I don't blame it on it being YA. There are plenty of good YA books out there even if I'm not the target audience anymore.
But this just wasn't it.
Little did I know that it would take me so long to finish it because I couldn't stand the edgy, bitter, not-like-other-girls stereotype of a main character.
I don't blame it on it being YA. There are plenty of good YA books out there even if I'm not the target audience anymore.
But this just wasn't it.
August 30, 2018
Great book for older students with lower reading ability
January 22, 2019
Good fun quick real with a nice twist AND a surprise at the end.
May 12, 2019
Not only was this a really good book but it was such a wonderful set up for the next chapter of this series. I can't wait to continue.
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August 16, 2019This book was really good and I can't wait to finish the series of it to see what happens next!
April 15, 2020
a good start to this spooky series.
clean. no language, no sex.
clean. no language, no sex.
January 17, 2021
The story was pretty good, but the book was full of grammatical errors. The fact that this book was published with all these errors is more terrifying than the book itself.
February 5, 2021
i hate cliffhangerss.
March 24, 2022
A quick read for late Elementary and early Middle school age students.
December 16, 2023
I love weird short books that get me closer to my reading goal 🥳🥳
February 11, 2024
Teenage characters. Story too short. Probably a sequel came out. Only about 1 hour long.
December 11, 2024
really good book
July 12, 2014
Who says a ghost story has to (a) be long to deliver a few chills and decent character development, or (b) be peopled with sympathetic protagonists? Not me. And certainly not Megan Atwood, author of The Paranormalists, Case 1: The Haunting of Apartment 101.
I came across this 2012 publication in my favorite way, browsing through library shelves and taking a chance. I immediately liked the tone of the blog entries that lead off the story: brash, defiant, and funny. My enthusiasm dipped, however, in the next chapter, as Jinx, principal protagonist, made an entrance that wobbled wildly. One moment she’s humorously critical and the next she descends into an unoriginal, whiny, pain in the ass, and while one might say teenagers—and adults—do, in fact, run this gamut, I found myself wondering if Atwood meant this wobbling to last throughout the book, or if, in writing this quick book, she occasionally went for easy moments of characterization rather than working for a consistent wit and self-awareness within her principal protagonist. What saved Jinx in my eyes, and kept the book from being thrown across the room, was the compassion she shows for her faithful from-childhood-friend, Jackson, still grieving the death of his father.
I read on.
The end has a twist that, while predictable, proved enjoyable, probably because the author was smart enough not to do too much with it . . . in this book. It’s shameless and tempting incentive for readers to continue on to the next volumes, and the twist doesn’t detract from a clean wrap-up of Haunting.
I found myself wishing I had rebelled half as creatively as Jinx during my own dweeby high school years, rather than inventing surface conformances that sought (unsuccessfully) to mask my obsessions with magic, ghosts, history Star Trek/Wars, writing, and other nerdsome delights. I didn’t think of starting a ghost-busting business, but the suburbs of Washington, DC, weren’t noted for their undead . . . and I’ll spare everyone the bad jokes that last sentence brings to mind.
For those who care about such things, this short book (103 pages of large type and wide margins) uses language and images accessible to and appropriate for YA, MG, and adult readers.
The Haunting of Apartment 101 delivers a short, workmanlike, and agreeable ghost story. Those who sneer at any spooks less literary than The Turn of the Screw won’t embrace Haunting, but those who do won’t find themselves nodding off in the midst of Henry James’ dense Victorian writing. I’ll be reading the next couple of installments of this series and am hoping for the best.
I came across this 2012 publication in my favorite way, browsing through library shelves and taking a chance. I immediately liked the tone of the blog entries that lead off the story: brash, defiant, and funny. My enthusiasm dipped, however, in the next chapter, as Jinx, principal protagonist, made an entrance that wobbled wildly. One moment she’s humorously critical and the next she descends into an unoriginal, whiny, pain in the ass, and while one might say teenagers—and adults—do, in fact, run this gamut, I found myself wondering if Atwood meant this wobbling to last throughout the book, or if, in writing this quick book, she occasionally went for easy moments of characterization rather than working for a consistent wit and self-awareness within her principal protagonist. What saved Jinx in my eyes, and kept the book from being thrown across the room, was the compassion she shows for her faithful from-childhood-friend, Jackson, still grieving the death of his father.
I read on.
The end has a twist that, while predictable, proved enjoyable, probably because the author was smart enough not to do too much with it . . . in this book. It’s shameless and tempting incentive for readers to continue on to the next volumes, and the twist doesn’t detract from a clean wrap-up of Haunting.
I found myself wishing I had rebelled half as creatively as Jinx during my own dweeby high school years, rather than inventing surface conformances that sought (unsuccessfully) to mask my obsessions with magic, ghosts, history Star Trek/Wars, writing, and other nerdsome delights. I didn’t think of starting a ghost-busting business, but the suburbs of Washington, DC, weren’t noted for their undead . . . and I’ll spare everyone the bad jokes that last sentence brings to mind.
For those who care about such things, this short book (103 pages of large type and wide margins) uses language and images accessible to and appropriate for YA, MG, and adult readers.
The Haunting of Apartment 101 delivers a short, workmanlike, and agreeable ghost story. Those who sneer at any spooks less literary than The Turn of the Screw won’t embrace Haunting, but those who do won’t find themselves nodding off in the midst of Henry James’ dense Victorian writing. I’ll be reading the next couple of installments of this series and am hoping for the best.
October 22, 2012
Jane is tired of not being noticed in high school, over the summer she transforms herself from being plain Jane to a Twizzler eating, paranormal investigator named Jinx who has a hard time being positive. Jinx and her best friend Jackson are as different as night and day. Jackson the popular kid who loves to play sports and everyone knows in name. The one thing they do have in common is their love of paranormal investigations. Jinx is excited to have launched her ghost hunting website for her business, the only problem is, she has yet to investigate her first haunting. Once Jinx and her trusty sidekick, Jackson, start their business they soon have their first client, Emily. Once she was a former nemesis of Jinx, but through the coaxing of her sidekick and a large supply of Twizzlers Jinx agrees to take the case. Emily is convinced she is being attacked by a ghost in apartment 101. As Jinx and Jackson investigate their first haunting, they discover some starting surprises and reasons behind the hauntings. Not all is as it appears in Apartment 101. As the first book in a series, Atwood does an adequate job of developing the characters. The website prologue at the beginning of the book adds a unique and interesting start to the book. The language and content of the book is for the older young adult audience. Some readers may enjoy this book, but others may find the negative attitude of Jinx too pessimistic to make the book enjoyable.
November 12, 2015
I think that it was a good book. I like that it was a little scary. It was a good story it made me want to keep reading every time i stopped. Even in the beginning it was still pretty good and not boring like other books ive read. I actually got into this book too unlike most other books are boring and its hard for me to keep reading them but this one is good enough to where i actually want to keep reading instead of stopping and thats actually how i read it pretty fast. The book had a good story in my opinion but i didnt like the ending beacause janx and the other ghost hunter got tricked by emily and travis. Even though they got tricked it turns out the apartment actually was haunted because the tv turned on by itself sometimes and paranormal things like that happened. It sucks that at the end the ghost hunters got mad at each other kinda for a stupid reason too. They were friends for so long and just for that they split up for a little.
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May 4, 2016Jackson and Jinx have started up a blog about their paranormal studies. Only problem is they never actually came into contact with a real ghostly situation. As a new school year begins Jackson runs into Emily and she looks like a deer in head lights. Come to find out. She thinks that she is being haunted and they are into killing her.
When Jackson convinces Jinx to help his friend Emily out, they find out that there was actually a murder suicide in the exact apartment that Emily and her father have just moved into.
There were a few nights of investigation at her apartment and then Jinx figured out the whole thing was made up and Travis, Emilys' boyfriend was in on the prank.
After the case was closed Jinx decided to look over the EVP and EMF readings realizing that in fact her apartment really is haunted after all.
When Jackson convinces Jinx to help his friend Emily out, they find out that there was actually a murder suicide in the exact apartment that Emily and her father have just moved into.
There were a few nights of investigation at her apartment and then Jinx figured out the whole thing was made up and Travis, Emilys' boyfriend was in on the prank.
After the case was closed Jinx decided to look over the EVP and EMF readings realizing that in fact her apartment really is haunted after all.
June 24, 2014
This book is extraordinarily short for a teen fiction book, so I can see why it is a YALSA quick pick winner. For being so short, the real meat of the story doesn't come in until late in the book, and it leaves off with a bit of a cliffhanger, so I was a little disappointed that it didn't go on longer. The characters were fairly simple, and I wanted a bit more of their background and insight into what makes them who they are and what their personalities are really like, but I assume more background info is given as the series progresses. I'd recommend this book to students who like scary, ghost-hunting thriller stories and want something that they can read quickly. The font and layout of the book make it an easy read, so it's great for reluctant readers.
February 9, 2017
I actually really enjoyed this a lot. Short, but with a very in depth story line. Great read!
October 3, 2012
When I found Case #1: The Haunting of Apartment 101 in The Paranormalists series by Megan Atwood, I was looking for books that would fit our Halloween selections. This one looked like it might be just the thing, so I snapped it up. It turns out that this is a short YA paperback that’s a lot of fun, with some creepy moments. I’d say it’s more appropriate for tween through young teenage readers. Think Scooby Doo without so many people, or a dog, but with some nasty ghosts. After watching Ghost Hunters on TV, my friends and I would definitely have at least thought about doing something like these kids did. Read the rest of my review at http://popcornreads.com/?p=4694.
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