The Ghost of Jessica Majors
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this podcast.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Ghost of Jessica Majors is a mystery podcast for kids that was chosen as a Webby Award Honoree for "Best Series." The main characters are thrown together by events out of their control, but learn to see past their first impressions and work together to become friends. They show bravery in the face of both paranormal and real life threats. We also see how different characters handle the loss of a parent, or adjust to divorce and becoming a stepfamily. These topics are treated thoughtfully and realistically. Positive messages center around teamwork, courage, and empathy. While there are plenty of spooky encounters with spirits and some eerie sound effects, it's just enough to keep listeners more excited than frightened.
What’s It About?
THE GHOST OF JESSICA MAJORS is a mystery serial podcast with an intriguing setup—why has an 11-year-old ghost from the 1800s shown up in 2017? After a storm at the local cemetery, Luke Majors meets a ghost named Jessica who has the same last name as him. Together with Luke's soon-to-be stepsister Dahlia, they have to figure out why Jessica's come back and how to handle all the paranormal activity in their town. They're also up against a devious mayor, which is quite a lot for middle schoolers already dealing with family and school drama.
Is It Any Good?
This is an exciting podcast series where the supernatural mystery is just as important as the relationships between the lead characters. The kids in The Ghost of Jessica Majors are relatable because they face real-world problems like adjusting to a new town and stepfamily or dealing with bullying at school. The fact that they have to figure out friendships while also solving a ghostly mystery makes the story even more engaging. The Ghost of Jessica Majors benefits from talented young voice actors and immersive sound-design that bring the story to life. Kids and adults will find themselves drawn to the mystery of what's really happening in Curiosity, Maine.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Ghost of Jessica Majors is about more than just the mystery. How does the series handle difficult topics like losing a parent or becoming a stepfamily?
Luke has to deal with bullies at school, and bullying is a topic that comes up in a lot of shows. Do you think it's portrayed accurately?
Many episodes in serial shows end on a cliffhanger and are "bingeable." Do you like to listen to or watch more than one episode at once? Does it change the experience for you?
Podcast Details
- Release date: October 4, 2017
- Genre: Mystery
- Average Run Time: 20 minutes
- Website: https://pinna.fm/teachers/teaching-resources/the-ghost-of-jessica-majors
- Host: N/A
- Publishers: Pinna, Gen-Z Media
- Pricing structure: Free to try, Paid (You can sample an episode for free on some listening platforms, but a Pinna subscription is required to hear all the episodes. Pinna subscription is $7.99/month for month-to-month or $5.99/month billed annually. You can also subscribe on Apple Podcasts.)
- Topics: Friendship, Middle School, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Character Strengths: Courage, Empathy
- Last updated: October 11, 2022
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