Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this book is about a nice girl who is a witch -- and a mean girl who thinks she is one. There is an apparent suicide attempt, an attempted bloodletting, and a stalking (thanks to a love spell gone bad). Jean and her boyfriend share kisses that she feels "all the way to my toes." Also, Tory drinks and takes Ritalin and Valium. And the au pair shares a bed with her boyfriend.
Families can talk about how much pain and humiliation Torrance is able to cause her cousin without even using magic. This could be a good way for parents to begin a conversation with their daughters about "mean girl" behavior. Do they know anyone like Torrance who spreads rumors or sets up cruel schemes just to maintain her own power? What's the best way to fight back against this kind of behavior -- besides witchcraft, that is.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kate Pavao
This book is filled with familiar but fun elements starting with the set-up: A preacher's daughter from Iowa arrives in New York City to live with her snooty and sophisticated cousin, and go to her exclusive private school. But that's not all: A family legend predicts that oldest daughters in a generation will have "the gift of magic."
How could JINX not be entertaining? Of course when a feud breaks out between the cousins -- sweet Jean, who has promised herself she will no longer play with magic denies her powers to terrible Torrance (a wannabe witch who threatens classmates with her spells) -- readers won't need second sight to know a final face-off is in store.
In fact, this book has few surprises, from its stock characters to its ultimate conclusion in which Jean must learn to accept her true self. The only eye-opener is how creepy and violent the girls' final confrontation is.
In the end, there is enough drama here -- some of it magical and some merely mean-spirited -- to make this book satisfying if not spellbinding.
From The Book
"Jinx, you're just going to have to face it. You have the gift."
My breath froze in my throat. "The... the what?"
"The gift," Tory repeated. "Didn't Grandma ever tell you about Branwen."
I let out a nervous laugh. What else could I do?
"You mean that crazy story about her great-great-grandmother or whoever?" I tried to sound as scornful as possible. "Come on Tory. Don't tell me you believe that baloney. That's just a crazy story Grams pulls out when things get dull in her bridge group down in Boca..."
Plot Summary:
When Jean -- nicknamed Jinx because she's a bit of a bad-luck magnet -- moves from Iowa to her aunt's house in New York City (all readers initially know is that she was being "stalked" back home), she immediately gets off on the wrong foot with her beautiful -- but mean -- cousin Torrance. The tension only escalates when Torrance confronts Jean, saying that she knows they are both the witches foretold by family legend -- and that they should use their powers to "rule the school."
When Jean denies her powers, Torrance unleashes a series of cruel punishments meant to torment and humiliate her cousin (think headless rat in the locker). Jean needs to decide if she should use the magic she promised not to in order to fight back.
Related Books:
Also by Meg Cabot:
How to be Popular
All-American Girl
Valentine Princess: A Princess Diaries Book
| Content | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS | adults | kids | ||
Sexual ContentSome smooches between Jean and Zach. Jean discovers the au pair has been sleeping in the same bedroom as her boyfriend. |
 |
|
||
ViolenceAn intense scene towards the end has Jean tied up by her cousin; Torrance wants to cut her and drink her blood. Torrance also is taken to the hospital in what looks like a suicide attempt. |
 |
|
||
LanguageSome words like "bitch" or "freakin'." |
|
|
||
Message |
|
|
||
Social BehaviorA good underlying message about being your true self. |
 |
 |
||
CommercialismMentions include Betsey Johnson, Gucci, Ferragamos, and Laguna Beach. |
|
|
||
Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoTory and her friends drink, take drugs, and "party" Tory takes Ritalin and Valium. |
|
|
||
