While I like the character type that Courtney represents, I did not feel that this series was anything remarkable or added anything new for other existing reads. However, I do understand this was released in 2003 and probably was more notable at that time - I just cannot speak for that time or really verify if my feelings would have been different back then. The book reads pretty quickly, as it is for middle grade readers, and there are seven books total to the series. This would be good for teenagers looking for a "darker" read and characters that represent the outcast type in school. There is a little bit of violence as it does deal with demonic creatures and the alternative world they reside in, so I would not recommend this book as the first choice for a darker plot.