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Jinxed

(Jinxed #1)

Amy McCulloch (Goodreads Author)

4.17 · Rating details · 1,058 ratings · 299 reviews

Lacey Chu has big dreams of becoming a companioneer for MONCHA, the largest tech firm in North America and the company behind the "baku" - a customisable smart pet that functions as a phone but makes the perfect companion too. When Lacey finds out she hasn't been accepted into Profectus - the elite academy for cutting edge tech - it seems her dreams are over. Worst of all ...more

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Hardcover, 336 pages

Published January 7th 2020 by Sourcebooks Young Readers (first published August 9th 2018)

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Modern Juvenile Science Fiction

53 books — 3 voters

Middle Grade Fantasy/adventure Book/Series with small romantic ending

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Average rating 4.17 ·

Rating details

· 1,058 ratings · 299 reviews

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Aug 07, 2019 Emma rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

Yes I know I'm probably too old for this, but it's such good fun!

Lacey Chu lives in a world filled with ‘baku’, robot animal companions created by tech giant MONCHA. Conceived as replacements for mobile phones, the company hit on a whole new way for people to connect to the world and each other. Lacey dreams of being part of it, a companioneer designing new smart pets and upgrades for the ever growing market. But when she doesn’t get into the specialist feeder school, Profectus, all her plans fo ...more

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Nov 11, 2018 Alice (Married To Books) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2018

3.5 out of 5 stars!

I have some mixed feelings about Jinxed... the main robotic cat is this is called Jinx which is the name of my cat... so, my cat is famous! Kind of XD

But in all seriousness, I loved the premise behind the story. Set in a futuristic world involving bakus (robotic animals) instead of using mobile phones in everyday life. Lacey originally gets rejected for her dream school. But on stumbling onto Jinx, she learns that she will be attending after all. Along the way, she makes new f ...more

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Jan 01, 2020 Juli rated it it was amazing

Shelves: tbr-owned, read-review-copies-2020

I love this book! So entertaining! Just a fun book to read!

Lacey Chu dreams of working for MONCHA Corp, a large tech firm that makes digital pets called Baku. She's 12 and her biggest goal in life is to be a companioneer, creating Baku. Lacey's plans are in jeopardy when she is turned down for a spot at the Profectus Academy in Toronto. Just as she thinks her life is over before it really got started, she finds a damaged Baku. As she repairs it, the little digital cat somehow gets her a spot in ...more

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Dec 26, 2019 Moony (The Burglar Baggins) MeowPoff rated it it was amazing

Holy. This was amazing from start to finish! And that ending!! I wanted to scream!
It was just so wow. It kind of gave me metabots feel, but with school, golden compass and more!

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Sep 20, 2019 Inge rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, pretty-fly-for-a-sci-fi

Even though I never completely fell in love with Jinxed, it was a super fun read. I've been meaning to read the book for ages because the premise is so cool - the people of the world now run around with bakus by their side. Bakus are basically robots in the shape of pets that allow you to read your e-mails, make your phone calls, and everything else a smartphone can do, but because of the connection you form with your baku, they become the ultimate companion.

Except for Jinx, a special baku who b ...more

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Sep 13, 2018 Tracey rated it liked it · review of another edition

More Pokemon meets Robot wars than The golden compass meets Hunger games.

Lacey Chu, high achieving student and self taught engineer extrordinare, fails to get into Profectus - the special training school that trains students for futures in technology and possible careers at MONCHA. MONCHA are the leading tech company and responsible for baku, the smart phone, pet, companion hybrid. Not getting into Profectus means that rather than a deluxe level 3 baku, Lacey is destined to have a level 1 insec ...more

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Aug 06, 2018 Abbie (boneseasonofglass) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was such a fun book to read!!

It was a wonderful first book in the series and I can't wait to read the next one!

It's an amazing book centered around STEM (mostly engineering) and especially women in STEM, which is just great to see in YA!

I really enjoyed the characters and tbh I'm not really sure what happened towards the end. So much is left up in the air, and there is so much mystery! I need to know!!! D:

I would 100% recommend giving this one a go if a women led STEM / sci-fi books wit ...more

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Jul 23, 2018 Cora Tea Party Princess rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Ooops I read this under the table at work?

Review to come on release. But DAMN IT'S GOOD.

Read my review first on my blog. ...more

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Dec 30, 2019 Sci-Fi & Scary rated it really liked it

Shelves: request-netgalley

I truly enjoyed most of this novel but the ending has me ready to scream because it feels too cliff-hangerish.

Need to think more on it before I write up a proper review.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration.

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Jul 09, 2018 Madison rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, science-fiction

Jinxed is a fun, near-futuristic science-fiction novel that will appeal to young teen readers, especially those interested in STEM.

Lacey Chu’s one dream is to become a companioneer with the biggest tech company Moncha, the creators of the Baku - part smartphone part animal companion. But when she is rejected entry to the prestigious academy Profectus, a second chance unexpectedly arrives in the form of a broken Level 3 Baku. Lacey spends the summer fixing the robotic cat before joining her new Jinxed is a fun, near-futuristic science-fiction novel that will appeal to young teen readers, especially those interested in STEM.

Lacey Chu’s one dream is to become a companioneer with the biggest tech company Moncha, the creators of the Baku - part smartphone part animal companion. But when she is rejected entry to the prestigious academy Profectus, a second chance unexpectedly arrives in the form of a broken Level 3 Baku. Lacey spends the summer fixing the robotic cat before joining her new classmates. She hopes no one will discover the way she was admitted or Jinx’s secret - he doesn’t act or communicate like a normal Baku. But the school-run Baku Battles throw Lacey and Jinx into the spotlight.

Like robot wars and high school, Jinx mixes advanced technology with friendship dramas and fights to the death (for the robots). Lacey is a keen companioneer - an engineer who specialises in tinkering and fixing the mechanics of the robotic pet companions. Lacey’s best friend is a gifted coder and both young ladies promote strong role models for young girls interested in the fields of science, technology and engineering, as does the founder and creator of the Baku technology, Monica Chan. Lacey greatly idolises Monica, her inventions, company, community and cities that have sprung up around the company and everything from the schools and employment programs she has created. I was a little suspicious of Lacey’s unwavering devotion to Monica and the technology. While this is slightly explored later in the novel, the focus on the Baku technology remains largely positive. It warrants further discussion with readers about such technology, the possibility of its creation in our own world and one’s response to it.

The Baku Battles bring plenty of action and drama to the pages of Jinx, heightening the stakes around Lacey and Jinx’s secret, exposing their strengths, and complicating Lacey’s life with both enemies and allies. With a dash of developing romance, friendship complications, plenty of intrigue still to be unraveled and a big cliffhanger ending, readers will be eager to get their hands on Jinx’s sequel.

Jinxed is a lighthearted and fun novel, perfect for young teen readers. With diverse characters and a focus on strong, talented females, it is an easy book to recommend.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library ...more

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Jul 30, 2019 Melanie Dulaney rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi, middle-grades

Middle grades and YA readers of sci-fi and action/ adventure with get all that and more from McCulloch’s series opener “Jinxed.” Cell phones and tablets are completely outdated and instead, everyone has an engineered insect or mammal, called a baku, that is tricked out to do everything today’s smart phones and computers can, but can also become attuned to their owners needs and feelings. Lacey is a STEM whiz with her sights set on working for the premier technology firm and getting into a presti ...more

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Sep 13, 2018 Nikki rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: book-box-club

I need a Baku! Jinx was sassy and wonderful, and definitely my favourite character.

I did really like Lacey and how good she was at companioneering, she was awesome. I less liked her suddenly being a dizzy muppet over a boy, but other than that her character was fab and really worked for me.

I got proper protective over the bakus in battle, my babies!!

I definitely need to know more about Lacey’s dad and also about Monica too. There’s so much intrigue there and not enough information!! I loved th ...more

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Dec 27, 2019 Devann rated it liked it

Shelves: a-mid-grade-child, c-arcs, g-scifi-steampunk, z-19-netgalley, 3-0-star, 0-abandoned-series

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley

I liked the concept of this book but ultimately I think the middle grade level was maybe not the best decision for it. There were a lot of holes and just flat out weird things in the world building from my point of view.

Everyone in this world uses bakus - robotic animals that are basically like your cell phone / computer - and the bakus are supposed to also be like pets or friends but then Lacy gets into the school run by the woman who invented ...more

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Dec 30, 2019 Beth Cato rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2019, middle, ebook, netgalley, science

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

This tense, smart middle grade book establishes a near-future Earth where only the poorest people have smart phones. Anyone who’s anyone has a baku, which is a companion robot, computer, and accessory all in one. Lacey Chu is a brilliant young engineer with her hopes set on getting into an elite school that fast-tracks graduates to the Moncha corporation, where Monica Chan invented bakus. Lacey is devastated when she isn’t accepted, and embar ...more

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Dec 26, 2019 Darla rated it liked it

A fascinating premise in which smart phones are replaced with robo companions called Bakus. I don't know what happened to all the real animals, but the Bakus are pretty cool. Lacey's ambition in life is to be an engineer at MONCHA, the company that designs the Bakus. She has skills and uses them to get herself into the school she needs to realize that ambition. Cracks begin to form in the MONCHA facade as she gets a closer look. There are Baku battles which add a new level to the narrative and r ...more

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Oct 22, 2018 Sally906 rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, ebook-kindle, science-fiction, fantasy, netgalley-review

I like YA books, Science Fiction and cats and JINXED has all these elements rolled into one story. I loved, at first, the idea of having a Baku – but these gorgeous little critters go above and beyond being a communications device and companion. Baku are increasingly social status markers, the higher you rise within the company, or society, the more complex in both design and size your Baku gets to be. This works the other way too the lower you are the less impressive is your Baku.

Lacey Chu’s o I like YA books, Science Fiction and cats and JINXED has all these elements rolled into one story. I loved, at first, the idea of having a Baku – but these gorgeous little critters go above and beyond being a communications device and companion. Baku are increasingly social status markers, the higher you rise within the company, or society, the more complex in both design and size your Baku gets to be. This works the other way too the lower you are the less impressive is your Baku.

Lacey Chu’s one dream is to join the biggest tech company Moncha, the creators of the Baku - part smartphone part animal companion to do this she needs to be accepted into the elite academy once she finishes school – instead it looks like she hasn’t made the grade and instead of getting the expected level 3 Baku (a furry critter like a dog or a cat) she’s stuck with a level one (a bug)

Despondent she comes across the thrown away wreckage of a cat like Baku. It is very badly damaged but she decides to fix it and soon Jinx comes alive. Jinx is not at all like other Bakus he is able to think and act independently, and go where he wants rather than where he is instructed to go. As soon as Lacey has got Jinx up and running she finds that she has been accepted into the elite collage and her future in robotics seems assured.

I loved the world building, and the fact that no matter how far in the future you go there will still be teen angst. Lacey’s best friend through High School is following a different career path – and so their friendship is hard to maintain – however making new friends is hard too. Author, Amy McCulloch, has this torn loyalties bit down pat. The story focusses on Jinx – who made it and why. There is an unresolved back story of Lacey’s father – he disappeared when she was young and her mother won’t talk about it. I suspect that this story will be expanded on as JINXED is the first of a series.

For the most part I really enjoyed the story – although I have to confess my eyes glazed over at the Baku battles that started midway through the story – they just went on and one and on without very much progression in the story, well other than it becomes very obvious to other people that Jinx is different. Fortunately the battles came to an end and Lacey discovered something not quite right was going on at the academy and a cliff hanger ending is the result, so we are now set up nicely for the next book in the series.

Overall JINXED is a light-hearted and action filled book. There is plenty of humour, danger, friendship, a smidge of romance and plenty of intrigue. Oh, and did I say I loved Jinx? He certainly had a mind of his own, and his own agenda, he is cheeky, unruly, sarcastic and certainly intrigued by real cats.

Rating:
Great - I really enjoyed reading it and it is a book I will be recommending to all my friends who like this genre.

With thanks to Simon & Schuster - Australia and the author for my copy to read and review.
...more

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Sep 25, 2019 Ms. Yingling rated it really liked it

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Lacey has always dreamed of attending Profectus school, which is geared to students who want to be Companioneers for Moncha Corporation. She has always tinkered with machinery and computers, and is excited about getting a baku of her own-- the android animals that are the digital communication devices of choice in her society. When she doesn't get in, she is crushed, but after rescuing her best friend Zora's baku, she ends up with a cat that has characteristics unusual E ARC provided by Netgalley

Lacey has always dreamed of attending Profectus school, which is geared to students who want to be Companioneers for Moncha Corporation. She has always tinkered with machinery and computers, and is excited about getting a baku of her own-- the android animals that are the digital communication devices of choice in her society. When she doesn't get in, she is crushed, but after rescuing her best friend Zora's baku, she ends up with a cat that has characteristics unusual for a baku. Suddenly, Lacey has gained entrance to the academy and her life is back on track. She fixes Jinx up, and is soon on a baku battle team at her school. She is better at repairs than anyone, fixing a completely crushed dog baku so that her team can continue. She even has a light romance going with the team captain. Still, there are problems-- Monica Chan, the founder of the baku movement, hasn't been heard from in a long tie, and Eric Smith is taking over. His evil son is trying to get Lacey kicked out of school. Lacey's father, who worked for Moncha Corp but left under suspicious circumstances, may be affecting her scientific progress. Lacey is even having problems with Zora, and she begins to suspect that Jinx's origin may be even more secret than she has suspected. A sequel, Unleashed, came out in the UK
August 22nd 2019 (Simon & Schuster Children's UK ), so hopefully we will see it here next year.

Strengths: The premise that since people always had cell phones with them, but the cells phones were making them anxious, so lets make faux pets that function like smart phones is brilliant. I always love books where the children have a passion in an interest, and Lacey has worked really hard to start on the path to making baku with Moncha Corp. The light romance is fun and doesn't take over the story, and there's a good balance between supportive and antagonistic characters. The baku battles will add another level of interest for students who want more action in the book; I was just enthralled with Lacey's ability to fix things!
Weaknesses: The British cover is SO much better. The US cover looks a bit too young, and this would do well even with high school readers with the older cover. I could have done without the mystery of her father, but maybe that will make more sense in the next book.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing and hoping the second book comes out soon, since this ended on such a cliffhanger! Also, I would like a baku poodle WAY more than my idiotic new smart phone. Slider phones rule! ...more

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Jul 10, 2019 Medusa Bren De wit rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Review follows soon on https://thebookdragonsnook.com ...more

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Sep 11, 2018 Lulai rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

So much fun and so easy to read. I love Lacey she is a science girl and there are so few of them in YA. So yeah for her. A lot of action, a lot of family stuff and robot. I really have a great time while reading this book.

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Aug 16, 2018 Nrere rated it liked it · review of another edition

Most badass robotcat in the world.

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Aug 16, 2019 Karen Barber rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

A 4.5 star rating, but only because that ending was brutal!
Lacey Chu is a fantastic engineer. She harbours dreams of working for MONCHA, a leading firm behind the concept of the baku - robotic companions that also act as phones. Unfortunately, it looks like her dream will fall at the first hurdle when she’s not accepted at the special school linked to the company.
With her dreams seemingly in tatters Lacey is not thinking straight when she tries to rescue her best friend’s baku and ends up findin ...more

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Mar 01, 2020 Jasmine rated it really liked it

Friendship is about choice, not obligation.

I adored this book 😍 I'm normally quite off put about the thought of robots and advancing technology, and I'm really not a pet person...but I absolutely LOVED the thought of a Baku!
Jinx had so much sass and a great personality, Lacey wasn't a perfect character- she made a lot of mistakes- but that endeared her to me more and made her more realistic.
I can't wait to read the second book! ...more

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Jul 15, 2018 Kirsti rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

Argh, I absolutely adored this, and I'm so excited to think that this is a part of a series and not just a stand alone, because I am so not done with this yet. I love cats, and that's what first appealed to me with this cover, but then you throw into the ring that they're ROBOTIC animals that kind of act like a smartphone but with more personality, and well Jinx. Jinx absolutely makes this book.

I said in my status update t ...more

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Jan 23, 2020 Zoë ☆ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-reads, ebook, netgalley

Well that was a pretty fun read!! Though I don't think I was the audience for this book (I'm probably too old) and I'm not that much into technology, it was still an interesting read. Especially now when children are more into technology, I think this would be a fun read for a lot of kids! ...more

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Feb 03, 2021 Miranda Excell-Smith rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I absolutely adored the plotline for this, not only because having a robot pet that talks to you and thinks like you do has been my ultimate dream for my entire life; but also because it drew me in so much that I literally read it in one sitting. Not a single GoodReads update. It was simply too good!!!

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Jun 22, 2019 Rivka rated it really liked it

All the way till the end, really enjoyed this one and than felt like a last few chapters were missing. But still. Very good

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Sep 17, 2018 Moon rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Solder! Electronics! Coding! and Bakus! what else could my engineering bookish heart wish for?

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Aug 16, 2019 SJH (A Dream of Books) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, young-adult

Review to follow...

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Dec 24, 2019 Feli rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-and-read-physical-books

Okay, I loved that one.

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Sep 13, 2018 Dreximgirl rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I was a little hesitant to begin with especially when the boy mooning got a bit much but the last third of the book was brilliant and the ending killed me. I want more. Now.

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About Amy McCulloch

Amy McCulloch

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Amy McCulloch is a Chinese-White author, born in the UK, raised in Ottawa, Canada, now based in London, UK. She has written seven novels for children and young adults, and been published in over ten different languages.

Before becoming a full-time writer, she was editorial director for Penguin Random House Children’s Books. In 2013, she was named one of The Bookseller‘s Rising Stars of publishing.

W ...more