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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
alongreader's review against another edition
4.0
The future has never felt closer in this fun novel for teens and tweens.
Lacey's world is dominated by Moncha, the creators of the baku; a robotic pet that functions as a smartphone. She's desperate to join their ranks and become a companioneer, dedicated to creating newer, more lifelike baku. But things are rotten in Moncha and it will take all her skills and all her friends to help her figure out what's gone wrong.
This is a wonderful read, set just a few steps away from our world. Instead of going for sleek flat phones, Moncha went for robot animals, from insects right up to boars and eagles. Naturally, the larger animals are most expensive, but that's only fair, isn't it?
I liked the characters, they were well done, but I struggled with the idea of the baku battles. With something explicitly designed to be your best friend, and expensive to buy and repair, why would you risk it in all out battle? And in one of the battles, a competitor is explicitly causing damage for damage's sake, his opponent is already down and out. Why wouldn't the teachers stop him?
I love the idea of the baku, and I will definitely read the second part because that cliffhanger! Gah! And hopefully the reasoning behind the battles will become clearer to me in the second one. Maybe I just missed something!
Overall, a really great read. Off to hunt down the second one!
Lacey's world is dominated by Moncha, the creators of the baku; a robotic pet that functions as a smartphone. She's desperate to join their ranks and become a companioneer, dedicated to creating newer, more lifelike baku. But things are rotten in Moncha and it will take all her skills and all her friends to help her figure out what's gone wrong.
This is a wonderful read, set just a few steps away from our world. Instead of going for sleek flat phones, Moncha went for robot animals, from insects right up to boars and eagles. Naturally, the larger animals are most expensive, but that's only fair, isn't it?
I liked the characters, they were well done, but I struggled with the idea of the baku battles. With something explicitly designed to be your best friend, and expensive to buy and repair, why would you risk it in all out battle? And in one of the battles, a competitor is explicitly causing damage for damage's sake, his opponent is already down and out. Why wouldn't the teachers stop him?
I love the idea of the baku, and I will definitely read the second part because that cliffhanger! Gah! And hopefully the reasoning behind the battles will become clearer to me in the second one. Maybe I just missed something!
Overall, a really great read. Off to hunt down the second one!
christajls's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun audiobook and a great STEM-focused middle-grade story for both boys and girls. It's described as Golden Compass for the digital age but there are also some strong Pokemon vibes.
guylou's review against another edition
4.0
This is the story of Lacey a teenager who dreams to work at Moncha Corp. one day as a companioneer. You probably wonder what a companioneer is. A companioneer is a person working on bakus. Now you probably wonder what a baku is. A baku is an electronic helper which connects with its owner and performs all kinds of tasks such as getting recipes, calling or texting. It has replaced the smartphones. In order to live her dream, Lacey must first attend and graduate from the Profectus Academy of Science. Lacey has maintained high grades in school and has done everything she can to be accepted by the Academy. To her surprise, she received a rejection letter from the Academy. When she thinks all is lost, she finds a baku in pieces in a ravine. After some preliminary repairs, she discovers that the baku is a cat. It is in bad shape, but she thinks she can fix it. After connecting with the cat, she receives a letter of acceptance from the Academy welcoming her and her level 3 baku. She has the summer to fix the baku who she names “Jinx”. Jinx has a mind of its own and is putting Lacey in some predicaments. Moncha Corp. is looking for a missing baku with special abilities. Could it be Jinx? Is Jinx in danger? Is Lacey in danger too?
This is an exhilarating book that takes place in Toronto. It contains great values such as friendship, dedication, perseverance, and compassion. Fanfastic book!
katiebookqueen's review against another edition
4.0
Full review at: http://www.queenofteenfiction.co.uk/2018/08/review-jinxed-by-amy-mcculloch.html
Plot
Jinxed is set in the not-too-far-off future, in a world that has advanced past the general use of smartphones. Inventor, Monica Chan, was inspired by her addiction to her smartphone to create robotic, animal companions that are able to do everything that a smartphone could, and more. These animals have become part of everyday life for people all around the world.
Characters
Our main character in this story is Lacey Chu. A creator herself, Monica is her ultimate hero. She dreams of working for the company that Monica started, Moncha, the company that her father also used to work for. Her ambitious and determined nature is something I admired about her character throughout the story. She had a goal that she would do anything to reach, but I appreciated how her opinions shifted as she learned more about the situation around her.
Lacey discovers an abandoned cat baku and rebuilds it, calling it Jinx. I adored Jinx just as much as Lacey did. His witty comments were brilliant, and I was on edge waiting to find out what would happen to him next. Lacey’s growing bond with Jinx is one of the highlights of this story. With Jinx at her side, she ends up going to her dream school, Profectus.
At Profectus, Lacey finds a friend in fellow student, Tobias. It’s pretty clear from the moment he’s introduced that he’s going to be a love interest, so there is a hint of romance within their story. What was more important to me, though, was Lacey’s relationship with her best friend, Zora, and her growing friendship with her whole team at Profectus.
Reasons to Love
- Engineering. Lacey is a scientific badass with creator skills to be envied. We need more Mechanical Queens in YA.
- Friendship. The friendship between Lacey and Zora is adorable and I want more of it. Also, the bond between people and their bakus is so interesting. Which leads me to…
- Bakus. Oh boy, do I want a baku. Like, today. The idea of reaching a certain age and then getting to hurl your phone across a room to go and get a cute animal replacement? Count me in.
- Mystery. There are so many things to wonder about in this story, and we end up with more questions than answers by the end of it. I’m not saying prepare yourself for a cliffhanger before you delve into this book, but be warned.
Overall Thoughts
This is such an exciting concept that I had a feeling I’d love it before I even turned the first page. And I was right. There were chapters I absolutely could not put down, and the fast-paced ending had me on edge. The only thing that didn’t really work as much as the rest of the story for me was the romance between Lacey and Tobias. For some reason, I just didn’t feel the chemistry between them. But this is the first in a series, so I’ll probably change my mind further down the line!
Plot
Jinxed is set in the not-too-far-off future, in a world that has advanced past the general use of smartphones. Inventor, Monica Chan, was inspired by her addiction to her smartphone to create robotic, animal companions that are able to do everything that a smartphone could, and more. These animals have become part of everyday life for people all around the world.
Characters
Our main character in this story is Lacey Chu. A creator herself, Monica is her ultimate hero. She dreams of working for the company that Monica started, Moncha, the company that her father also used to work for. Her ambitious and determined nature is something I admired about her character throughout the story. She had a goal that she would do anything to reach, but I appreciated how her opinions shifted as she learned more about the situation around her.
Lacey discovers an abandoned cat baku and rebuilds it, calling it Jinx. I adored Jinx just as much as Lacey did. His witty comments were brilliant, and I was on edge waiting to find out what would happen to him next. Lacey’s growing bond with Jinx is one of the highlights of this story. With Jinx at her side, she ends up going to her dream school, Profectus.
At Profectus, Lacey finds a friend in fellow student, Tobias. It’s pretty clear from the moment he’s introduced that he’s going to be a love interest, so there is a hint of romance within their story. What was more important to me, though, was Lacey’s relationship with her best friend, Zora, and her growing friendship with her whole team at Profectus.
Reasons to Love
- Engineering. Lacey is a scientific badass with creator skills to be envied. We need more Mechanical Queens in YA.
- Friendship. The friendship between Lacey and Zora is adorable and I want more of it. Also, the bond between people and their bakus is so interesting. Which leads me to…
- Bakus. Oh boy, do I want a baku. Like, today. The idea of reaching a certain age and then getting to hurl your phone across a room to go and get a cute animal replacement? Count me in.
- Mystery. There are so many things to wonder about in this story, and we end up with more questions than answers by the end of it. I’m not saying prepare yourself for a cliffhanger before you delve into this book, but be warned.
Overall Thoughts
This is such an exciting concept that I had a feeling I’d love it before I even turned the first page. And I was right. There were chapters I absolutely could not put down, and the fast-paced ending had me on edge. The only thing that didn’t really work as much as the rest of the story for me was the romance between Lacey and Tobias. For some reason, I just didn’t feel the chemistry between them. But this is the first in a series, so I’ll probably change my mind further down the line!
mxmlln's review against another edition
4.0
Story: 8 / 10
Characters: 9
Setting: 8.5
Prose: 8
Note: This book does not have an ending
Characters: 9
Setting: 8.5
Prose: 8
Note: This book does not have an ending
jeske's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
smitchy's review against another edition
4.0
In a world almost like ours everyone has a Baku - a technological marvel; part pet and part fully equipped smartphone. They are more than just a useful gadget, they offer comfort and companionship. Bakus are the brain child of Monica Chan and in the decades since they were invented no other company has come close to re-creating them.
Monica's company MONCHA is at the cutting edge of tech and development, and the MONCHA academy Profectus is the place to be if you want to work at MONCHA.
For Lacey it is the be all and end all of her ambitions and this is the summer she find out if she has done enough to get in to Profectus. So when she gets denied the bottom falls out of her world...
Until she finds a severely damaged Baku. A Baku of a kind she has never seen before. Then a new notification from Profectus: She is accepted. Working all summer to get the Baku functional Lacey discovers that this Baku is much more than just a new design, it makes decisions without asking Lacey, it does things other Bakus could not, it has... independence... and it is named Jinx.
Meanwhile, things at Profectus are not what Lacey imagined, it is more challenging and more consuming than she expected. And the more she discovers the more she realises that MONCHA is hiding something, something that could change the way Bakus are viewed and how Lacey thinks the world works.
I loved this story the chapters are short and punchy, Lacey is relatable and best of all it promotes the idea of women in STEM, girls who love tech (and are good at it), and will make kids look at the role of both tech and corporations in their lives. Monica Chan is both a genius inventor and CEO of a multinational company as well as Lacey's hero. Lacey is totally nerdy and cool with it (and she's better than the guys because she has WORKED at it - she isn't just "naturally" gifted).
My major issue with the book is the antagonist is so obviously the "bad guy" right from the get go. It is almost cartoonish. Maybe that will change over the course of the series (we end on a cliffhanger and I am totally going to grab the next book ASAP!) but in this book there is no mystery as to who the villain is. Other than that little issue I loved this book and can't wait to recommend to both boys and girls 10+
Monica's company MONCHA is at the cutting edge of tech and development, and the MONCHA academy Profectus is the place to be if you want to work at MONCHA.
For Lacey it is the be all and end all of her ambitions and this is the summer she find out if she has done enough to get in to Profectus. So when she gets denied the bottom falls out of her world...
Until she finds a severely damaged Baku. A Baku of a kind she has never seen before. Then a new notification from Profectus: She is accepted. Working all summer to get the Baku functional Lacey discovers that this Baku is much more than just a new design, it makes decisions without asking Lacey, it does things other Bakus could not, it has... independence... and it is named Jinx.
Meanwhile, things at Profectus are not what Lacey imagined, it is more challenging and more consuming than she expected. And the more she discovers the more she realises that MONCHA is hiding something, something that could change the way Bakus are viewed and how Lacey thinks the world works.
I loved this story the chapters are short and punchy, Lacey is relatable and best of all it promotes the idea of women in STEM, girls who love tech (and are good at it), and will make kids look at the role of both tech and corporations in their lives. Monica Chan is both a genius inventor and CEO of a multinational company as well as Lacey's hero. Lacey is totally nerdy and cool with it (and she's better than the guys because she has WORKED at it - she isn't just "naturally" gifted).
My major issue with the book is the antagonist is so obviously the "bad guy" right from the get go. It is almost cartoonish. Maybe that will change over the course of the series (we end on a cliffhanger and I am totally going to grab the next book ASAP!) but in this book there is no mystery as to who the villain is. Other than that little issue I loved this book and can't wait to recommend to both boys and girls 10+
btpbookclub's review against another edition
4.0
I was kindly gifted this by a friend recently so I had to read it. The author wrote the potion diaries series which I started and loved so I had high hopes for this. This is book one in a series and I already can’t wait to get my hands on book two.
This is a very futuristic, young adult read, set in the future where robotic animals can communicate to humans, send messages and basically do anything a phone or Internet can do. Fancy right? But they’re also used to fight/battle with which kind of reminded me a little of robot wars.
Lacey is a lovely character who just wants to get into the best school and get a high level Baku (robotic pet) she soon gets more than she bargained for when she fixes up what she presumes is an old, beaten up and abandoned Baku. Meet Jinx… Jinx is not like any other Baku. He’s his own boss. Cheeky. Unique. Different.
A brilliant read. Loved every minute of it. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.
This is a very futuristic, young adult read, set in the future where robotic animals can communicate to humans, send messages and basically do anything a phone or Internet can do. Fancy right? But they’re also used to fight/battle with which kind of reminded me a little of robot wars.
Lacey is a lovely character who just wants to get into the best school and get a high level Baku (robotic pet) she soon gets more than she bargained for when she fixes up what she presumes is an old, beaten up and abandoned Baku. Meet Jinx… Jinx is not like any other Baku. He’s his own boss. Cheeky. Unique. Different.
A brilliant read. Loved every minute of it. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.