Hex Hall, by Rachel Hawkins

Welcome to Hecate Hall, or as known by the students, Hex Hall.  Similar to Hogwarts in the fact that all the students have some magic ability, but different in the fact that no one wants to be there and no one is studying magic.  This school is a reformatory for those who don't seem to be able to live normal lives on the outside and everyone is required to stay until they're at least 18.  The student body is comprised of witches, warlocks, fairies, werewolves, shifters and even a vampire (The Council decided integration is best in the case of vampires, so they started with one student at Hex Hall).  They spend most of their time taking classes like a History of Witches to help them recognize the dangers of exposing their differences in the outside world.  Sophie grew up with a normal human mom and her dad (whom she's never even met) is the source of her magical powers.  Once she arrives at Hex Hall, it doesn't take her long to figure out how much she doesn't know.  She's almost attacked by a crazed werewolf on her first day and all she can manage to say is, "Bad dog!" as he comes flying towards her.  Sophie was out of place in the normal world and she's out of place at Hex Hall too.  I love rooting for the underdog, so she was an easy character to care about.  Life at Hex Hall isn't all classes and trying to fit in though, because before Sophie starts attending there is already one unsolved murder on campus and with no way to get in or out of the heavily magicked school everyone seems to think Sophie's new roommate, (the only student vampire) Jenna, is responsible.  Unfortunately for Sophie, Jenna is the only person who's been nice to her and her only friend so far at Hex Hall.  Is it possible her new friend is guilty?  Or is someone else responsible?  I was curious to find out and I'm sure other readers will be too.  The writing was smooth and flowing and this book was an easy read (I certainly welcomed that after trying to get through the last book I read haha).  The similarities between Hex Hall and Harry Potter gave the book a sense of familiarity as well (without being boring) and it's been quite awhile since I've read the Harry Potter series, so I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of it.  I'm definitely going to read the next one and I think the best parts are yet to come, so I was left wanting more.  I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick read, fans of YA, paranormal or Harry Potter.

Favorite things: the setting, the twists in the plot, the hint at something more sinister (which made for a book a bit more grown up than Harry Potter) and the ease of the writing which made the book a pleasure to read.

Criticisms:  the same writing that made the book such an easy read, also gave me little to ponder and nothing profound to highlight either, usually I highlight at least one passage from every book and I was disappointed to find there was nothing to quote in Hex Hall.

Overall:  4 out of 5 stars!  I have high hopes for the next one in this series though, I think it could be a 5.  (^_^)