Very enjoyable series. Most of the characters lack depth, but the most important characters throughout the series are complex and consistent. ( )

Not much like the TV-Series, but I really liked it. ( )

Ah, omnibus editions.

When Lightning Strikes: Unlike the first Mediator book, this doesn’t really grab me into the series at first. Which is a let-down seeing that a lot of the book focuses on how Jess gets her power in the first place.

The problem is the pacing of the plot—the whole book takes place within a week, two weeks tops. Jess hasn’t explored the limits of what she can do after three phone calls, although she doesn’t seem particularly disturbed by the fact that she knows where people are. I can understand the FBI getting involved after the first dead body, but if she’s calling from different locations, it would have been more intriguing if Jess had been doing this for a while and then people catch on to “Hey, someone from Indiana knows where all of these kids are.”

I do like how Jess approaches the morality of what she does, though. I like that she gets pissed when people start asking her about she’ll do with the reward money. Once she realizes that not everything’s as black-and-white as it seems, Jess does take steps to make sure that she’s not involved anymore. Of course, again, she doesn’t really realize that she’s out forever, but she catches on pretty quickly.

Jess is an interesting character—I like how she’s quick to defend the people she cares about, and that’s she’s willing to stand up for herself. She’s more of a tomboy, and not just in the “I don’t like to wear dresses!” vein. (Also, I love her “MOTORCYCLE *DROOOL*”) Rob’s more of the strong, silent bad boy with a heart of gold, so he’s a little bit better than most of Meg Cabot’s other love interests. The only other character who interests me is Jess’s brother, Douglas. You can see that he’s got problems and how much that affects his family. Other than that, no one really stands out.

Since this is an omnibus edition, I don’t mind it too much now that the opening’s a little bland. (And again, an updated edition—cue my brain screeching when Jess talks about buying a PS3.) As such, we have book 2 to automatically follow up.

Code Name Cassandra: What I really like about this book is that it shows how much Jess still has to deal with being “Lightning Girl” with the Feds and the public. From the end of the last book, she had a good reason for claiming to have lost her powers and I like that while she tries to keep one step ahead of Agents Smith and Johnson, they’re clearly more experienced and trip her up. And Jess’s reply is to snark. Ah, I love her.

That said, I’m really not a fan of the central mystery in this volume. It doesn’t have the same action and uncertainty as book one had, and a lot of it just feels like a way for Jess to slip up. I’m also not really a fan of the summer camp setting; while it’s nice to get away from the high school element for a while, there’s not much that really happens.

All in all, Book 2 feels more like a filler volume compared to the rest of the series. You see more character development if anything (although with Jess, there’s really not much to her aside from softening up a tiny bit). It’s not a bad book, but in terms of plot, there’s not much there.
( )

The Good Stuff

* Absolutely positively delightful heroine. I would totally adopt this girl in a heart beat
* Hilarious dialogue
* quirky and different plot
* Parents of Jess are realistic and only slightly clueless. I really don't like the Mom though
* The storyline is so absorbing and fun you will not want to put it down and even-though the book looks huge, you will have it read in no time at all
* Loved the realistic and honest relationships between Jess and her family and friends
* The scenes between Meg and the two FBI agents are LMAO funny
* Very sweet at times
* Tons of pop culture references such as the X-Files and Bones which I totally geeked out about
* This is my first Meg Cabot book and now I must go out and get some more of her books

The Not so Good Stuff

* Book is cumbersome to read - would have preferred to read it as two separate books
* So fun and good I didn't want to put it down & I left the next book at work and its Friday so I cannot read it until Monday

Favorite Quotes/Passages

"And what the hell, I have so many weeks of detention, I've completely given up the idea of ever having a life. It's too bad, in fact, that detention doesn't count as an extra-curricular activity. Otherwise, I'd be looking real good to a lot of colleges right about now."

"That's the thing about Feds, see. They can sound just like normal people. When they aren't wearing their trench coats and earpieces, they look just like anybody else. They're not like the Feds on TV-you know, like Booth or Brennan, or whatever. Like, they aren't really handsome, or pretty , or anything."

"You were right, Jess," he said. "Tampons do make good fuses.

I glanced at Ruth. "And you said detention was a waste of my time."

Ruth only shook her head. "The American public education system," she said, "was clearly not designed with ingrates like you in mind."

What I Learned

* Getting hit by lighting - not all bad

Who should/shouldn't read

* Perfect for fans of Kiersten White as the writing style and dialogue has the fun sassy quality to it
* Those who enjoy Buffy or Veronica Mars will definitely enjoy
* Not for those who like darker angsty YA fiction

4.5 Dewey's

Natasha (Thanks Tasha!!) lent me this and I did not have to review it, but I had to tell you how delightful these stories are -- now stop reading my inane babbling and get thee to a book store and buy it ( )

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!! You never know what's going to happen next and it's amazing. This is one of my favorite books. If you like adventure or fantasy then this is the book for you!! ( )