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Saranormal #11
Yesterday and Today
In the conclusion to the Saranormal series, Sara discovers the connections between the past, the present, and her powers.Sara was absolutely thrilled to find the diary that her mother left hidden away so long ago—but she’s quickly disappointed by what she reads. She learns that her mother had paranormal powers too, and she hated them so much that she somehow managed to get rid of them. How did she do that? And is that the secret message she has for Sara? Will there ever be a way for them to communicate?Meanwhile, Sara’s crush, Mason, seems to like her back, but he doesn’t want anyone else to know they’re hanging out. Especially not after a rumor gets started about Sara and her paranormal powers. Sara doesn’t care anymore what other people think—but Mason does, and that’s a problem. When Mason begins to fear that his association with Sara will somehow cause his own paranormal secret to be revealed, Sara has to Will she stand up for who she is, even if it means losing the boy she likes so much?
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2013
260 people want to read
About the author
Phoebe Rivers
26 books49 followersPhoebe Rivers had a brush with the paranormal when she was thirteen years old, and ever since then, she has been fascinated by people who see spirits and can communicate with them. In addition to her intrigue with all things paranormal, Phoebe also loves cats, French cuisine, and wiling her afternoons away in coffee shops writing stories. Phoebe has written dozens of middle-grade fiction books and is thrilled to now be exploring Sara’s paranormal world.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 23, 2020
So, this was the last book in the Saranormal series and there are a lot of things going on.
For one thing, Sara is dealing with Mason, who hates and is embarrassed of his paranormal abilities. Sara is starting to realize that Mason may not be the perfect boy for her, as she had previously believed.
At one point, she is confused by Mason's behavior when they try to go on a date. But rather than be upset or angry at the situation, she realizes that he's just a boy and the situation is nothing to be overly concerned with. What really matters, she tells herself, is that she has found her mom's journal and now has a connection to her mom. I love sending such a message to young girls: there is more to life than hanging on the every stupid whim of a boy ;) .
However, Sara is not that thrilled with her mom's journal once she starts reading it. Her mom actually does have paranormal powers, but hates those powers much the same way Mason does. Sara feels let down by much of what her mom says and does in the diary. Sara's mom, Natalie; and her mom, Diana -Sara's grandmother; treat Lady Azura pretty badly, Sara learns. They think she is an embarrassment. Sara is very protective of her great-grandmother, Lady Azura, who has helped her so much with understanding and controlling her powers.
I admit that at times I was a bit confused by this last installment. But I think the main point is that Sara has grown a lot over the course of the series. She now accepts her abilities as the gift that they are and accepts herself for who she is. She does not care anymore if people find out what she can do. Most of all, she has little time to spare for people like Mason, who are still very immature in that regard.
When she picks up her mom's journal again at the end of the book, she discovers that that people learn and grow over time. With the passage of time, her mother came to regret some of the things she said and did. She grew into a more mature version of herself, just as Sara has done. This is a good lesson.
We learn in this book that people who have had paranormal powers in life, often have a hard time communicating with the living once they have passed on. This is why Sara has never seen her mom's spirit. Uh, okay - I don't know if that's true, but I'll accept it for the sake of the story. Sara has often wondered why she sees so many spirits, but not the one she really, really wants to see: her mom. The series ends with Sara making a special wish and believing that she will see her mom at some point. I'm not sure why we couldn't have actually seen her meet her mom's spirit. That struck me as a little odd, since it was mentioned often in the previous books. At any rate, this is the only reason I gave this volume 4 stars instead of 5.
Overall, I love this series and highly recommend it to young and older readers alike. I even recommend it to people who are NOT fans of paranormal stories, like me. It's just so well done! The writing is great and the characters are so real and true. That's why I would have liked to see Sara actually meet her mother. But, as far as endings go, it still wasn't bad. I now have the whole set of these books and might just start from the beginning again!
I am also so glad that this wonderful series takes place in New Jersey and gives such a positive view of my home state! :)
For one thing, Sara is dealing with Mason, who hates and is embarrassed of his paranormal abilities. Sara is starting to realize that Mason may not be the perfect boy for her, as she had previously believed.
At one point, she is confused by Mason's behavior when they try to go on a date. But rather than be upset or angry at the situation, she realizes that he's just a boy and the situation is nothing to be overly concerned with. What really matters, she tells herself, is that she has found her mom's journal and now has a connection to her mom. I love sending such a message to young girls: there is more to life than hanging on the every stupid whim of a boy ;) .
However, Sara is not that thrilled with her mom's journal once she starts reading it. Her mom actually does have paranormal powers, but hates those powers much the same way Mason does. Sara feels let down by much of what her mom says and does in the diary. Sara's mom, Natalie; and her mom, Diana -Sara's grandmother; treat Lady Azura pretty badly, Sara learns. They think she is an embarrassment. Sara is very protective of her great-grandmother, Lady Azura, who has helped her so much with understanding and controlling her powers.
I admit that at times I was a bit confused by this last installment. But I think the main point is that Sara has grown a lot over the course of the series. She now accepts her abilities as the gift that they are and accepts herself for who she is. She does not care anymore if people find out what she can do. Most of all, she has little time to spare for people like Mason, who are still very immature in that regard.
When she picks up her mom's journal again at the end of the book, she discovers that that people learn and grow over time. With the passage of time, her mother came to regret some of the things she said and did. She grew into a more mature version of herself, just as Sara has done. This is a good lesson.
We learn in this book that people who have had paranormal powers in life, often have a hard time communicating with the living once they have passed on. This is why Sara has never seen her mom's spirit. Uh, okay - I don't know if that's true, but I'll accept it for the sake of the story. Sara has often wondered why she sees so many spirits, but not the one she really, really wants to see: her mom. The series ends with Sara making a special wish and believing that she will see her mom at some point. I'm not sure why we couldn't have actually seen her meet her mom's spirit. That struck me as a little odd, since it was mentioned often in the previous books. At any rate, this is the only reason I gave this volume 4 stars instead of 5.
Overall, I love this series and highly recommend it to young and older readers alike. I even recommend it to people who are NOT fans of paranormal stories, like me. It's just so well done! The writing is great and the characters are so real and true. That's why I would have liked to see Sara actually meet her mother. But, as far as endings go, it still wasn't bad. I now have the whole set of these books and might just start from the beginning again!
I am also so glad that this wonderful series takes place in New Jersey and gives such a positive view of my home state! :)
October 5, 2023
I'm really torn with this one. On one hand I think there was some great character growth for Sara in this book. She finally gets to have some communication with her mother as well as have a first date with Mason. Things definitely fell flat on both occasions however.
Not to mention by reading this you can tell that the author who wrote it (because Rivers is a pseudonym for multiple writers) wasn't made aware that this was going to be the last book in the series. I do not truly believe that any writer would end a children's series with a cliffhanger involving not only the romantic interest but also her entire family.
There was so much more we could have seen from this story and it just never happened. For that reason I have a hard time seeing this as a good final book in a series, especially one that I've for the most part enjoyed reading over the past few years.
Not to mention by reading this you can tell that the author who wrote it (because Rivers is a pseudonym for multiple writers) wasn't made aware that this was going to be the last book in the series. I do not truly believe that any writer would end a children's series with a cliffhanger involving not only the romantic interest but also her entire family.
There was so much more we could have seen from this story and it just never happened. For that reason I have a hard time seeing this as a good final book in a series, especially one that I've for the most part enjoyed reading over the past few years.
February 22, 2025
Wow, the end of the Saranormal series.
I want more! Eleven books are not enough.
I liked getting to know Sara and her support system (family and friends). Seeing her through some tough times and growing with her powers and as a person was an endearing experience.
I want more! Eleven books are not enough.
I liked getting to know Sara and her support system (family and friends). Seeing her through some tough times and growing with her powers and as a person was an endearing experience.
February 12, 2017
It's a good book series for little girls to read. It teaches them about friendship and embracing there uniqueness.
March 9, 2022
Loved this series I want more :(
August 18, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
December 31, 2013
I have really enjoyed this series of books. It gives one a glimpse into the feelings of 12-13 year olds and their experiences with friends and boyfriends. It also shows relationships with families as well as dealing with issues they worry about. This young girl has lost her mother and lives with her dad and great grandmother. She can see and talk with ghosts and sometimes that causes her some problems, but she has come to appreciate her gift and enjoys helping the ghosts with problems they have. Her great grandmother also has a gift and helps people reach out to their loved ones that are dead. This is the final book of the series and it has a great ending. I also like how she thinks she likes a boy, but after she gets to know him, decides that it is OK to not like him. I think the things she goes through and thinks about would be a good discussion starter for the girls in this age category. The books are based on the author experiencing some interactions with ghosts herself, so that might be frightening to some children, but all in all the books are easy, fun reads.
May 4, 2015
In this final book in the Saranormal series, Sara has found her mother's diary from when she was a girl. As she learns about the mother she never knew, she is also coping with crushes and trying to help her bff and the ghosts from a long ago tragedy.
I really enjoyed this series and I am going to miss it. I think this is a great series for tweens and even some younger girls, not to mention aging librarians, who like a good story with ghosts on the side.
I really enjoyed this series and I am going to miss it. I think this is a great series for tweens and even some younger girls, not to mention aging librarians, who like a good story with ghosts on the side.
August 19, 2014
Amazing. Phoebe Rivers is one of my favorite authors. She falls in the category of authors that can write a book where you can combine a little romance, a little paranormal activity, and emotion throughout the whole book. I hope she can write more!
April 18, 2015
Why?
Why did the book have to end with a cliff hanger?! It's the last book! YOU DON'T END THE LAST BOOK WITH A CLIFF HANGER!!! Don't read this book series. It was great until the last book because you never know what's gonna happen, so don't waste your time!!!!!!
Why did the book have to end with a cliff hanger?! It's the last book! YOU DON'T END THE LAST BOOK WITH A CLIFF HANGER!!! Don't read this book series. It was great until the last book because you never know what's gonna happen, so don't waste your time!!!!!!
January 6, 2014
i have really enjoyed reading this series. Sara has great people around her that love and help her.
June 19, 2014
Don't like Mason. He sucks. Jayden was pretty cool.
April 14, 2015
Very boring and very paranormal lite.
So glad I didn't buy the book esp at the ebook prices. I loved the series but was so disappointed re: the plotline with her mother and Mason
So glad I didn't buy the book esp at the ebook prices. I loved the series but was so disappointed re: the plotline with her mother and Mason
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews