Scan barcode
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
4.0
It took me two days, two days before I was annoyed that this was a buddy read and that I couldn't read more than 70 pages a day. I'm not made for buddy reads when good, pleasant, nice books are involved, it seems. Luckily, a lot of others had the same thing and we collectively decided it was okay to finish the book today, if you could.
This book contains a lot of elements that I really love in fiction: We have a very exclusive school that you really want to attend, we have companions to fall in love with (I WANT A BAKU!), we have battles and teams, we have bets and we have girls being bad ass and romantic subplots being nothing but subplots. I mean, there is actually not that much NOT to love.
But what I especially loved were the characters and the plot. Let's start with the characters: At the beginning of the book both Zora and Lacey are told to be smart. What I really loved is that this is backed up during the book. All characters in the book are not just described as smart, they really act smart and are smart. But, the true scene-stealer of the book is Jinx himself. It's impossible not to fall in love with him and his character and his vividness.
What makes the plot clever, is that nothing really comes out of nowhere. Everything is foreshadowed, sometimes in a throw away line, but still. There are no magical life hacks appearing out of nowhere, no magical abilities or talents all of a sudden showing up. It's all there, from the very start, for everyone to see and read.
There is only one thing I didn't like about this book: The Cliffhanger! So, when does the second book come out?
This book contains a lot of elements that I really love in fiction: We have a very exclusive school that you really want to attend, we have companions to fall in love with (I WANT A BAKU!), we have battles and teams, we have bets and we have girls being bad ass and romantic subplots being nothing but subplots. I mean, there is actually not that much NOT to love.
But what I especially loved were the characters and the plot. Let's start with the characters: At the beginning of the book both Zora and Lacey are told to be smart. What I really loved is that this is backed up during the book. All characters in the book are not just described as smart, they really act smart and are smart. But, the true scene-stealer of the book is Jinx himself. It's impossible not to fall in love with him and his character and his vividness.
What makes the plot clever, is that nothing really comes out of nowhere. Everything is foreshadowed, sometimes in a throw away line, but still. There are no magical life hacks appearing out of nowhere, no magical abilities or talents all of a sudden showing up. It's all there, from the very start, for everyone to see and read.
There is only one thing I didn't like about this book: The Cliffhanger! So, when does the second book come out?
lemonbun's review against another edition
3.0
A light and fun read thats like a mix of Pokemon and Robot Wars!
It ends on a cliffhanger with the story unresolved, so I look forward to reading the rest in the next book (which had not yet been announced).
It ends on a cliffhanger with the story unresolved, so I look forward to reading the rest in the next book (which had not yet been announced).
sparksofember's review against another edition
4.0
This was an excellent listen. The plot is a bit slow paced but not boring - just immersive. It's not hard to imagine this world where cell phones have been upgraded to animal-like companions. And it ends on quite a cliff-hanger! My only critique of the audio book was sometimes it would get rather soft/quiet and difficult to hear.
charlottehobbit's review against another edition
3.0
Leuk boek, lekker beta in het begin, maar op ongeveer 2/3 zwaar teleurgesteld door de slechte hollywoodbeschrijving van programmeren. Doodzonde.
libwinnie's review against another edition
1.0
This book was way too unsettling for my taste. Even though the creatures in this novel were robots, the descriptions of the fighting scenes were a little too realistic for me. Had they not been modeled after animals, I probably would have enjoyed the story.
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
4.0
Lacey Chu wants to be a companioneer at MONCHA, one of the engineers responsible for creating the robotic pets called baku. First she needs to get into Profectus and get a level 3 baku. Her dreams seem to be at an end when she receives a rejection letter and has to settle for a level 1 beetle, until she discovers a broken baku at the bottom of a ravine. But Jinx isn't just any baku...
Ahh this was such a fun, lovely book with a career in STEM at the heart of the character's desires. It has a similar feeling to Amy's Potion Diaries books, although published under different names. The setting is reminiscent of the campuses in Silicon Valley, massive tech companies in control and keeping their employees close, whilst providing what looks like a dream from the outside.
Set in the near future, baku are replacements for mobile phones, providing connection to the world without having to worry about charging. They can be seen as status symbols, with level 1 insect bakus being the cheapest but least impressive. Kids still have phones but when they are 15 they get their first baku and celebrate by destroying their old phones in various creative ways.
It opens with a chase and a lost baku, which leaves it pretty obvious to the reader that it was Jinx but Lacey does not know that. After fixing the mangled cat baku, Lacey gets a message from Profectus confirming her admission and showing her registered baku as Jinx. Something's not right but to question it might jeopardise her future.
Jinx has typical cat attitude, not obeying commands and running off at the worst moments. Something's not right, bakus aren't meant to act like that. Is it possible that Jinx is thinking for himself?
Part of the book follows the baku battles at her new school, a bit like Pokemon battles! I wasn't too keen on this aspect but I liked the fact that they could win points for fixing baku as well as destroying them. The skills are equally important.
Things are just getting really interesting when the first instalment ends. So I will be eagerly awaiting book two.
Ahh this was such a fun, lovely book with a career in STEM at the heart of the character's desires. It has a similar feeling to Amy's Potion Diaries books, although published under different names. The setting is reminiscent of the campuses in Silicon Valley, massive tech companies in control and keeping their employees close, whilst providing what looks like a dream from the outside.
Set in the near future, baku are replacements for mobile phones, providing connection to the world without having to worry about charging. They can be seen as status symbols, with level 1 insect bakus being the cheapest but least impressive. Kids still have phones but when they are 15 they get their first baku and celebrate by destroying their old phones in various creative ways.
It opens with a chase and a lost baku, which leaves it pretty obvious to the reader that it was Jinx but Lacey does not know that. After fixing the mangled cat baku, Lacey gets a message from Profectus confirming her admission and showing her registered baku as Jinx. Something's not right but to question it might jeopardise her future.
Jinx has typical cat attitude, not obeying commands and running off at the worst moments. Something's not right, bakus aren't meant to act like that. Is it possible that Jinx is thinking for himself?
Part of the book follows the baku battles at her new school, a bit like Pokemon battles! I wasn't too keen on this aspect but I liked the fact that they could win points for fixing baku as well as destroying them. The skills are equally important.
Things are just getting really interesting when the first instalment ends. So I will be eagerly awaiting book two.
sillyna's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
beyondevak's review against another edition
4.0
Quick Summary: A sci-fi adventure
My Review: Jinxed by Amy McCullough is middle grade read with imaginative characters and a futuristic feel.
About the Book: Lacey Chu has big dreams. Her goal to become an engineer for a top tech firm is dashed when she receives a rejection indication. Even as she struggles with the rejection, fortune gifts her with a baku. There is more to her personally repaired baku unit than it seems.
My Final Say: Young readers will thoroughly enjoy this series. I definitely recommend it.
Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: Y
Thanks to the author, to the publisher (SOURCEBOOKS Kids, Sourcebooks Young Readers), and to NetGalley for providing access to this title.
My Review: Jinxed by Amy McCullough is middle grade read with imaginative characters and a futuristic feel.
About the Book: Lacey Chu has big dreams. Her goal to become an engineer for a top tech firm is dashed when she receives a rejection indication. Even as she struggles with the rejection, fortune gifts her with a baku. There is more to her personally repaired baku unit than it seems.
My Final Say: Young readers will thoroughly enjoy this series. I definitely recommend it.
Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: Y
Thanks to the author, to the publisher (SOURCEBOOKS Kids, Sourcebooks Young Readers), and to NetGalley for providing access to this title.
swiftie7013's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ahen's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75