Tired of being in her mother’s shadow the Ferrer household is parting from the Jimenez, moving from Miami to California. And since Paloma is her mother’s daughter, she has to move to- just because she is tired of being around spirits, reality shows, none of which she has the abilities for. However, Paloma is very talented at reading the spirits, even though she is just starting out. And she wants to be just like her Abuela- the famous Miami Mystic who had her own television program since the eighties. But now she just does reading for the stars. Right now, Paloma’s greatest wish is that she can go on tour with her Abuela but this new move across the country puts a major NO to Paloma’s wishes.
Before Paloma leaves for California Abuela gives her some tools for help in talking to the spirits and doing readings- One is a compact with a special mirror inside, dark instead of clear white. With it Paloma can talk to the spirits and even Abuela- as words appear on the black mirror inside the compact. Since Paloma has a special talent for seeing flowers with the spirits, which help to convey the meaning of the spirits message, her Abuela also gives her a book passed down through the family about flowers and their meaning when they appear, with notes from her dead relatives.
Because all the Jimenez- Ferrer clan has talents when it comes to the spirits, however different that may be. All of them, that is, except Paloma’s mother- which is why Paloma is convinced her mother does all she can to keep her away from the spirits and her Abuela. However, by the end of the debacle in Totally Psychic Paloma will learn her mother is special- just in a different way which helps to teach her a lesson.
Abuela does teach Paloma that there are rules when interpreting spirit messages for the living. And while Paloma very much wants to do readings for people like her Abuela, some of these rules are questionable, when she thinks about following them. One of them is that there are some things that those who read the spirits are not supposed to tell the living, even when the medium knows them. And this is one of the rules Paloma doesn’t like- that she cannot convey everything, even when there is a warning of danger. However Abuela is quite stern that mediums do not convey everything the spirits tell them.
From the moment the Ferrer’s start out to California spirits are coming out of the woodwork around Paloma. She even does her first reading at the airport, with a woman who has just lost the friend that was supposed to accompany her on the very trip she is leaving for- Paloma conveying from the spirit that now she can go with her friend because now the trip is cheaper with her friend traveling with her in spirit- after all, there is no charge for a ghost on a plane. This reading changes the whole attitude of the living friend and now she leaves for her trip in high spirits- all because of Paloma.
Now that Paloma is in her new home she is seeing spirits everywhere. And as Paloma’s Abuela is about to set out for her Latin American tour that she won’t be on, Paloma comes up with a new idea to get the attention of her grandmother, to convince her that she is good enough to be on tour with her too. So she stays up late one night and sets up a website called Totally Psychic- a social media page for ghost content. The next day she hangs up flyers around her school, promoting the readings she wants to do for classmates, so that they may talk to the spirits through her.
One thing that I always LOVE, LOVE, LOVE about a book is when it becomes a teaching tool- just by reading the story. And since the intended audience for this book is middle school aged children, along with those in their early teens (but, really, it's a great story for all ages)- when different students go to Paloma for their readings, they all react to grief in a different way. For instance, when Paloma does her second reading with a peer named Lisa, the girl is bubbly, energetic and Paloma makes the comment to herself that she didn't understand why Lisa was in such a good mood, was even unsettled by it because "Wasn't she supposed to be grieving someone?" However, by the end of the reading (in which an animal comes through, a cat, a first for Paloma), it teaches her that all people grieve differently and that she never would have guessed that the girl was mourning the loss of her cat who died only a month prior (whom she really seemed to love).
So, while Totally Psychic is very entertaining for readers it is also a teaching tool about how grief can be expressed, how people grieve differently and especially young people- since the story is about middle aged school kids. And while there may be some parents who do not want their children to believe in psychics and things of that nature, this is also a tool to teach children about fiction- that the story is made up and that, if it is your belief that people do not have abilities like this, it can be explained that the book is fiction, as many are.
It also shares that sometimes popularity that is gained may not be for the right reasons and that it may not last. Because in the story Paloma has genetic talent, passed down through her family, but real talent in speaking with the spirits, of course. And because of this alone she becomes the center of attention, everyone's new best friend, with invites to all the parties- VIP style. Another teaching moment with older children and teens is that fair weather popularity and all that comes with it- goes away as quick as it comes. And, actually, the whole thing can do a complete 180 reverse, and become something that is as bad as it was good as it does here, in Totally Psychic.
Because, when Abuela’s warnings and rules are bent and then broken by Paloma, she finds herself with problems that she is not adept to handle. What will happen if Paloma goes too far and then gets caught and can't come back or fix the problem she created.....as did the relative in a story that Abuela told her, about them having used a Ouija board and getting trapped in the Spirit world forever? Because as Paloma is urged on by her peers to do more and more dangerous things with the spirit world she is not yet ready to handle (like use a Ouija board)....who will be there to help her when and if there are problems, with the rest of her family across the country in Miami and Abuela on her Latin America trip?
Can Paloma keep herself from trouble? Can she keep her newfound fiends without use of the spirit world and her powers? Or will she find herself lost forever, as she pushes the boundaries and rules more and more, unguided, for the most part, in all she is doing?
Totally Psychic - a fun adventure by Brigid Martin for all ages really (but written for middle school and early teenagers) to enjoy- whether you read it as a family for the lessons that can be found in the story, or alone- about the warnings when giving into peer pressure, the trouble you can find oneself in when you don’t follow rules- and also, a book about the importance of family, overall- who, in the end, stand together and save their own- Because no matter how far apart you find yourself from them, when you call for help, they are there (and even when they aren't called, many times, when not needed, they are there too). Totally Psychic- a story that displays all that and more!
Happy Reading!
Before Paloma leaves for California Abuela gives her some tools for help in talking to the spirits and doing readings- One is a compact with a special mirror inside, dark instead of clear white. With it Paloma can talk to the spirits and even Abuela- as words appear on the black mirror inside the compact. Since Paloma has a special talent for seeing flowers with the spirits, which help to convey the meaning of the spirits message, her Abuela also gives her a book passed down through the family about flowers and their meaning when they appear, with notes from her dead relatives.
Because all the Jimenez- Ferrer clan has talents when it comes to the spirits, however different that may be. All of them, that is, except Paloma’s mother- which is why Paloma is convinced her mother does all she can to keep her away from the spirits and her Abuela. However, by the end of the debacle in Totally Psychic Paloma will learn her mother is special- just in a different way which helps to teach her a lesson.
Abuela does teach Paloma that there are rules when interpreting spirit messages for the living. And while Paloma very much wants to do readings for people like her Abuela, some of these rules are questionable, when she thinks about following them. One of them is that there are some things that those who read the spirits are not supposed to tell the living, even when the medium knows them. And this is one of the rules Paloma doesn’t like- that she cannot convey everything, even when there is a warning of danger. However Abuela is quite stern that mediums do not convey everything the spirits tell them.
From the moment the Ferrer’s start out to California spirits are coming out of the woodwork around Paloma. She even does her first reading at the airport, with a woman who has just lost the friend that was supposed to accompany her on the very trip she is leaving for- Paloma conveying from the spirit that now she can go with her friend because now the trip is cheaper with her friend traveling with her in spirit- after all, there is no charge for a ghost on a plane. This reading changes the whole attitude of the living friend and now she leaves for her trip in high spirits- all because of Paloma.
Now that Paloma is in her new home she is seeing spirits everywhere. And as Paloma’s Abuela is about to set out for her Latin American tour that she won’t be on, Paloma comes up with a new idea to get the attention of her grandmother, to convince her that she is good enough to be on tour with her too. So she stays up late one night and sets up a website called Totally Psychic- a social media page for ghost content. The next day she hangs up flyers around her school, promoting the readings she wants to do for classmates, so that they may talk to the spirits through her.
One thing that I always LOVE, LOVE, LOVE about a book is when it becomes a teaching tool- just by reading the story. And since the intended audience for this book is middle school aged children, along with those in their early teens (but, really, it's a great story for all ages)- when different students go to Paloma for their readings, they all react to grief in a different way. For instance, when Paloma does her second reading with a peer named Lisa, the girl is bubbly, energetic and Paloma makes the comment to herself that she didn't understand why Lisa was in such a good mood, was even unsettled by it because "Wasn't she supposed to be grieving someone?" However, by the end of the reading (in which an animal comes through, a cat, a first for Paloma), it teaches her that all people grieve differently and that she never would have guessed that the girl was mourning the loss of her cat who died only a month prior (whom she really seemed to love).
So, while Totally Psychic is very entertaining for readers it is also a teaching tool about how grief can be expressed, how people grieve differently and especially young people- since the story is about middle aged school kids. And while there may be some parents who do not want their children to believe in psychics and things of that nature, this is also a tool to teach children about fiction- that the story is made up and that, if it is your belief that people do not have abilities like this, it can be explained that the book is fiction, as many are.
It also shares that sometimes popularity that is gained may not be for the right reasons and that it may not last. Because in the story Paloma has genetic talent, passed down through her family, but real talent in speaking with the spirits, of course. And because of this alone she becomes the center of attention, everyone's new best friend, with invites to all the parties- VIP style. Another teaching moment with older children and teens is that fair weather popularity and all that comes with it- goes away as quick as it comes. And, actually, the whole thing can do a complete 180 reverse, and become something that is as bad as it was good as it does here, in Totally Psychic.
Because, when Abuela’s warnings and rules are bent and then broken by Paloma, she finds herself with problems that she is not adept to handle. What will happen if Paloma goes too far and then gets caught and can't come back or fix the problem she created.....as did the relative in a story that Abuela told her, about them having used a Ouija board and getting trapped in the Spirit world forever? Because as Paloma is urged on by her peers to do more and more dangerous things with the spirit world she is not yet ready to handle (like use a Ouija board)....who will be there to help her when and if there are problems, with the rest of her family across the country in Miami and Abuela on her Latin America trip?
Can Paloma keep herself from trouble? Can she keep her newfound fiends without use of the spirit world and her powers? Or will she find herself lost forever, as she pushes the boundaries and rules more and more, unguided, for the most part, in all she is doing?
Totally Psychic - a fun adventure by Brigid Martin for all ages really (but written for middle school and early teenagers) to enjoy- whether you read it as a family for the lessons that can be found in the story, or alone- about the warnings when giving into peer pressure, the trouble you can find oneself in when you don’t follow rules- and also, a book about the importance of family, overall- who, in the end, stand together and save their own- Because no matter how far apart you find yourself from them, when you call for help, they are there (and even when they aren't called, many times, when not needed, they are there too). Totally Psychic- a story that displays all that and more!
Happy Reading!