Quick review for a quick read. So this is the first middle grade/possibly low end of YA, reluctant reader title I've read in quite some time from this publisher. I originally had this as a galley back in 2012 but am picking it up belated. I make a mention of the date because...there are aspects of this story that don't age well, even with the young audience it targets. (Yeah, I hesitantly say this while reflecting on some moments here that made me fully cringe. I don't doubt some of the depictions will make some kids/teens cringe reading them as well because of outdated stereotypes along racial and social class lines. Also mentioning the humor feels a bit too forced and stilted in moments of the plot.)

"The Haunting of Apartment 101" is the first book in the Paranormalists series, centered about a pair of supernatural scouting teens who help others with individual cases. Emily, a popular girl at school who just moved into a new apartment with her father, approaches Jinx (a.k.a. Jane) and Jackson about her fears of a ghost. Jinx isn't thrilled about helping Emily because of her clique status, but Jackson sees helping Emily as a chance to actually put their Paranormal investigation group on the map with an actual case. Jinx you can tell is the more impulsive, somewhat insensitive one of the group, while Jackson's more level-headed. Parts of the plot allow you to get to know Jinx and Jackson's families and circumstances, as well as their individual flaws and strengths. This is a relatively short novel (just a little over 100 pages), and it takes a bit to get to the main mystery and reveal.

I was very much let down by not only the reveal but also the ending point. Like I really think a kid/teen would pick this up and say "That's it? Really?" (Honestly, I would be inclined to agree.) It sets up a false promise of what the story entails. That's not to say that it doesn't have a decent message and reveal for the mystery to some extent, but...*points to the group name*. If you've got a ghost story, actually DELIVER a ghost story.

Quick read but honestly I can recommend way more exciting and invested stories of this vein to kids/teens written now.

Overall score: 1.5/5 stars.

Note: I received this as an ARC on NetGalley from the publisher.