Return to Shadow School for the second installment of the spooky middle-grade series from J. A. White, the acclaimed author of Nightbooks and The Thickety series.
Cordelia Liu's first year at Shadow School was a success. She studied hard and made friends. She also sent hundreds of ghosts into the afterlife, because Shadow School isn't a normal school, and Cordelia Liu isn't a normal girl.
But her second year is already different. Ghosts are refusing to move on, the teachers are acting weird, and Cordelia's best friends, Benji and Agnes, aren't as interested in rescuing the ghosts as they used to be. Benji is busy hanging out with the girl he befriended over the summer, while Agnes spends all her time building a machine that might be capable of dehaunting the school forever.
Cordelia is the only one who believes that something sinister is happening right under their noses. But what if it's even worse than she could imagine?
Praise for Shadow School #1 Archimancy:
"Just the right balance of humor, mystery, and scariness. Readers will be eager to see more of this smart and spunky trio in further spooky adventures." --Kirkus
"The story balances the spookier elements with the humorous and difficult going-ons of middle school. An easy quick pick for a just creepy enough read."--BCCB
"A well-paced thriller. Tension builds to a crescendo, and the ending promises more adventures to come for Cordelia and her friends."--Booklist
J. A. White lives in New Jersey with his wife, three sons, and a hamster named Ophelia that doesn’t like him very much. When he’s not making up stories, he teaches a bunch of kids how to make up stories (along with math and science and other important stuff). He wishes dragons were real because it would be a much cooler way to get to work.
Dehaunting by J.A. White is the sequel to Archimancy (2019). Cordelia, Benji and Agnes have permission to continue their work of helping ghosts over the summer break, until the nephew of the school's architect (and resident poltergeist) starts exploring the school, hoping to learn all he can about the ghosts. The principal rescinds her offer and the kids aren't allowed back until the first day of school.
When they arrive for the first day of school, things are different. Ghosts have started refusing their brightkeys. The teachers are acting strange. There seems to be a plague of headaches among the staff.
Verdict: A fantastic sequel with a cool new villain for the trio to battle.
A man stood in the corner of Ms. Dalton’s social studies classroom. - first line
It’s Cordelia’s second year at Shadow School and she has freed hundreds of ghosts. But the ghosts are acting weird. They aren’t accepting their bright keys and don’t want to move on. The teachers are also acting weird. Benji and Agnes think Cordelia is overreacting but she is determined to figure out what is going on.
Another delightful instalment of this series! It was a good balance of matching the first in the series, while changing it up enough to keep you guessing.
I’m only sad that the kiddos couldn’t be together as much as they were in the first book.
Wowza! I don’t know if I liked the 1st book or this better! They’re both too good! Since this is the 2nd book I can’t say too much. But loved the friendship dynamic so much still! Some new things added/thrown into that mix that were very interesting! This was even creepier & spookier than the 1st, with even more of a ghostly presence lol you’ll see if you read it. I still love Cordelia & Agnes so much. Benji is great too, just being a boy instead of focusing on the task at hand sometimes lol This was another great, thrilling, mysterious, spooky adventure. I can’t believe I have to wait until August for the 3rd book! 😭I know it’ll be worth the wait though. Of course another gorgeous cover too. Highly recommend!💜
The family that reads together survives quarantine together until this particular situation arises:
Me: “Hey, guess what came in for me at work today?” Mom: “What?” Me: “The second Shadow School book.” Mom: “...I hate you. I get it second.”
Despite all the extra reading time we've had in 2020 (to put it as positively as possible), I've found it tough to really sit down and concentrate on a book, as have many other bibliophiles in my friend circle. I did not have this problem with Shadow School: Dehaunting, as once again, J. A. White's incredible writing smashed through the brain fog and pulled me in from page one, not letting go until the end. As a long-time reader of White's work who finished the first volume, Archimancy, in a single, breathless sitting, my captivation with Dehaunting didn't surprise me.
And yet, despite being an aforementioned long-time reader, the book kept me well on my toes.
(NOTE: Minor spoilers for the previous book, Shadow School : Archimancy)
Dehaunting reunites us with Cordelia, Benji, and Agnes as they run around Shadow School helping the principal and Shadow heir, Dr. Roqueni, send the building's spiritual residents into the afterlife. But unlike last year, Cordelia seems to be the only one who's still invested in the ghost-freeing endeavor and finding purpose in it. Agnes is more interested in the technicalities of archimancy (put over-simply: architecture as a means of capturing ghosts and magical energy) and Elijah Shadow's notes, and Benji is more interested in Viviana, a girl he got close to over the summer. When Agnes uncovers Elijah's unfinished plans for a dehaunter, which could free the ghosts of Shadow School for good, everyone but Cordelia is thrilled. Benji, Agnes, and even Dr. Roqueni have lives outside of ghost-freeing, but who is Cordelia without her ghosts? The ghosts brought the trio together; will their loss break them apart?
The emotional struggle is the least of Cordelia's worries, as things are getting weirder than usual at Shadow School. Ghosts that should be thrilled to pass into the afterlife are now refusing to leave, and while the teachers were never normal, their newest quirks are cause for concern. Cordelia is convinced that something sinister is afoot, but she's the only one who thinks so. With her devotion to ghost-rescuing clouding her view, Cordelia's not sure she can trust her own judgment. How does she convince herself – and her friends – that there really is something wrong before it's too late?
This is usually where someone puts the cliché “read the book to find out” sentence, but in the case of Dehaunting, the sentiment is closer to “buckle up and secure all loose belongings.”
I mention in my review of White's Nightbooks that I categorize books by reader immersion, and Dehaunting is another full-immersion ride. Whenever the trio flattened themselves against the wall to avoid the stampede of students between classes, I could hear the thundering of sneakers and feel the claustrophobia of a middle school hallway. My heart raced with every spectral misencounter in the secret lairs and levels of Shadow School (seriously, if you're ever out of coffee, this book is a good three cups' worth of caffeine-induced adrenaline). It's the best repeat of middle school you'll ever experience, and I say that as someone who couldn't leave middle school fast enough.
Dehaunting introduces some fun new characters to the stellar cast of Archimancy. We get to meet Dr. Roqueni's uncle, Darius Shadow, in person. While his true intentions are unclear (and thus cause for suspicion), we learn more about the Shadow legacy from his point of view. Despite being a point of conflict for Cordelia, Viviana slides into the team dynamic with her own brand of strength and sass. Even poor Ezra, starting his first year at Shadow School and completely unaware of what he's gotten himself into, has his part to play.
What most impresses me about Dehaunting (besides that after having read all of J. A. White's previous novels he still manages to catch me off guard and freak me out) is how White manages to work the budding-teenage angst into the plot and give it more purpose than simple growing pains. Cordelia's struggle with her personality and relationship with her friends is one we can all relate to, even if the only supernatural force we had to deal with back then was puberty. She, Benji, and Agnes all face hard questions about balancing their individual needs with the dynamic of their friend group, and they have to learn how to adjust when that dynamic inevitably changes. The lessons they learn about themselves and the world are the same lessons that make them good supernatural saviors and vice versa.
Shadow School: Dehaunting seamlessly weaves the genres of intelligent mystery and white-knuckle thrill ride into a glorious adventure interspersed with poignant guidance and whip-smart humor. While the series is aimed at middle-grade readers, J. A. White is an author whose work transcends age brackets and captivates adults and kids alike. Whoever you are and whatever age you may be: if you need to escape the world for a bit and go on a fun and feisty adventure, Shadow School is the series to read.
Back at Shadow School, Elijah's design for a dehaunter is found, which should rid the school of all the ghosts, without Corelia and her friends having to find each one's specific brightkey. At the same time, many ghosts are refusing to move on and some of the teachers are behaving very strangely. Cordelia isn't as excited about the dehaunter as the others. Principal Roqueni, Benji and even Agnes are all excited about the possibility and Cordelia wonders if this could be the end of their friendship.
I liked this second book as much as the first and really felt for Cordelia, up against everyone else. Some new interesting characters are introduced and the mystery through the book is intriguing. There are still quite a few things left unexplained which bothered me a little but didn't really detract from my enjoyment of the book.
I LOVED THIS BOOKKKKKKKKK IT WAS WAYYYYYY BETTER THAN BOOK TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved all the drama, characters, and action. I really wish this series would become a movie! I can’t wait to read book 3!
I think I have some not positive things to say about this one, and it makes me sad as hell because I really loved the first book!
I listened to this on scribd because it was the only thing available there or at the library, and I think I would've enjoyed a physical read more. I adore kim mai guest, but she's a little too upbeat for a creepy story. I'm not sure if I thought the first book was creepy, but this one involves some stuff I definitely should've had a reaction to, haha. Not being scared bc I'm an adult and such... but still. Idk. I also had to listen to the audio on 3x speed, which I won't think I've ever done. I don't listen to a ton of middle grade, but so they purposely all read slower? Messed up if they do. Anyway.
I was very much NOT here for their crushes and drama, which wasn't really there in the first book. I also kind of hate how cordelia lies to her parents all the time (both books) so she can go to school and do all the ghost stuff. Also, one time her dad waited an extra hour for her to come out of the school, and her lies and excuses were accepted, no punishment. Which annoys me, because her parents seem nice and also present, which is often rare in mg/ya books. Couldn't roqueni (might've spelled that wrong) had a talk with them, especially since the glasses now exist and things can be proven? Sigh. I appreciate that teachers are involved and mostly trustworthy (and yes, that spoilery thing in this book was immediately obvious and super irritating to me), but the three of them spend so much time before and after school...ghost hunting, basically. How are no parents at all suspicious?
Sigh. Will I continue the series? Maybe. If I can get the ebooks from the library or scribd, very likely. I'm assuming the series will continue anyway? It resolved the issues in this book, but it didn't feel like a series ending or anything.
Sweet character growth, great friendships, a plot that grips you and doesn't let go and the pieces for a terrifying conflict on the next book. Can't wait!
This book continues with the characters at Shadow School, only now they are working together to clear the school of shadows. Is there maybe a way to stop the ghosts from getting trapped at all?
some themes / plot points raised while this story is one of fantasy, it still portrays relevant and serious elements as well: - children having "secret" relationships with adults that they cannot tell others about (they are helping work on a problem) - losing friendships can be very isolating - the weight of being accused of something you didn't do - sometimes the fear of the unknown can make someone instinctually reject an idea without really giving it time
my review / highlights it is important for kids to know to question weird behavior (especially from adults!), to identify emotions in themselves, and remember to question assumptions (both their own, and that of others)
I also appreciated the echos from the first book, in how Cordelia relates to the ghosts (obsessing over them, constantly thinking about them) and how that impacts her interactions with others. sometimes the reader would be agreeing with Cordelia, accepting her judgement of their actions, only to realize that Cordelia had been missing a key piece and maybe we should be open to receiving more data ..
recommend? final thoughts overall, similar level of enjoyment/interest to the first one. if you liked that one and want more of it, give it a shot. if you didnt love the first one and want something different, I would recommend a different book
Placeholder review now that I remember having read the series and found a record of when I read it.
This was pretty good for a discount book find (dollar store or Book Outlet, I don't remember which). I remember enjoying the story despite having not read book 1 first, and the characters seemed genuinely fun.
My main complaint:
I mean, sure, it's tough drawing characters to look like a specific race without accidentally making them racist caricatures. However! Cordelia looks so white that I was surprised that she's described as Chinese (with Chinese last name—non-Chinese first name isn't a surprise).
Definitely worth a read, in proper order or not! I actually want to find the series again now for a proper re-read. :)
3.5 I actually liked this. Agnes and Cordelia were as insufferable as always, yet the middle school experiences just felt so real and relatable. Benji basically redeems this book for me because he acts much more mature than them, with appropriate responses to situations. I feel bad for Cordelia, but I'm also frustrated with her behavior towards him. She shouldn't take her anger out on him if she won't explain it..and she really has been taking out her emotions on her friends. She pushes them outside her comfort zone and tends to try to force them to hunting ghosts because that's her obsession. I really liked the romantic element between Cordelia and Benji, I just wish that it was with another girl. I wouldn't mind if Vivi was the main character because I thought she was reasonable and likeable. It was more interesting than book one, and pretty good. This could be rated so much higher if the main character wasn't such an immature jerk...
This was a fun sequel that built the world of Shadow School, introduced a handful of fun new characters I absolutely love, and raised the stakes for a thrilling adventure.
I feel like White reigned in this ideas here to keep things a bit more on track and on the level of what I would expect for a middle grade novel (he usually adds too many layers in). That said, there is still a lot of great character development, plot twists, and creativity all around. O
ther than one major plot hole , this novel was great fun. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
Cordelia, Benji and Agnes are back. They discover the school has a dehaunter, which will send ghosts to their Brights and the kids won’t have to do that anymore, but as they try to finish building it based on Elijah’s plans things start to go wrong. They don’t know who they can trust or what exactly is going on. On top of all that Benji has a new friend, Viviana, and could it be that Cordelia is a little jealous?
Not as good as the first one, but I still enjoyed it and flew right through it.
Ghosts go bad in this second Shadow School book. We meet Darius Shadow and he plays a role in helping to bring the situation that arises to conclusion. Cordelia, Benji and Agnes have friendship issues. This is on the more scary side of middle grade reading. There is good depth of relationship development between the kids. They manage to save the day with help of adults. I am glad the author includes adults in the resolution. There are trust issues that are presented because adults they thought they could trust are among those affected by the ghosts.
Cordelia, Benji and Agnes have been freeing ghosts from their school for the past year. They found a hidden room where Elijah had created the plans a special machine that would free all of the ghosts. Cordelia believe that something is wrong in the school but her friends are not convinced at first. Will they be able to solve what is going on? Are their teachers really possessed or can they stop the evil?
Even better than book one. Spooky, scary, fun and full of heart. The perfect amount of horror and the perfect amount of thrills and laughs. I loved how the cast of characters grew and how the relationships developed. This books just cemented what I already knew: J.A. White is definitely my favorite Middle Grade author. Highly recommended.
Just as strong as the first one. My 13- and 11-year olds both devoured this one, and then let me read it for myself. A little spooky, but not too much, they agree. The romance/jealousy played a role and purpose, and wasn't just there. A solid ending, which is unusual for the second in a series, but was much appreciated. We'll still check out the next one when it gets published, of course!
What a great book! A terrific sequel! Love this series& this author! This is a school called shadow school in this book where students & ghosts attend! This book reminds me of ghostbusters! Highly recommended!
The stakes are so much higher than the first installment and the progression of character development is balanced absolutely perfectly with the introduction of new characters like Vivi and Ezra. Still highly recommend this series.
It was pretty good honestly. I don’t really have any dislikes, but compared to the other books I’m reading it’s a bit less dramatic. But I really did enjoy it. The plot was fun and I’m exited to read the 3rd book. I was exited to read it and liked the intervention of lizzy
initial impressions: benji - action oriented, doesn't think things thru before wanting to proceed cordelia - one track mind, seened a bit selfishly trying to keep her friends