Jinx

 

  • Blackwood, Sage. Jinx. HarperCollins, 2013. Ages 8-12.

This story takes place in Urwald, a world full of wizards, werewolves, trolls, and magic. Jinx was born with the ability to see people’s feelings by seeing a cloud of color over their heads. After Jinx is orphaned and abandoned by his stepparents in the woods, he is adopted by a wizard named Simon Magus. Jinx is unsure of Simon at first, but then the wizard decides to make him his apprentice. When Simon casts a spell to take away Jinx’s ability to read people's emotions, he embarks on a quest to get back his magic, detailing, “Jinx took deep, ragged breaths and tried to calm down and think, difficult as it was around the blank white space. Whatever Simon had done to him, there had to be a way to undo it. And Jinx was going to have to find it” (Jinx 114). Along the way, he joins paths with Reven and Elfwyn, two others who have also been cursed in some way and who seek out help from the Bonemaster, an evil wizard known for his power.  

The book is split into two parts; the first focuses more on Jinx and his internal conflict as he decides whether he should trust Simon or not. The themes include trust and finding a home after not fitting in for a while. The second part focuses more on the quest with his new companions as he ventures out into the world, leaving the safety of Simon’s house behind. Author Sage Blackwood does an excellent job with the world-building, immersing readers into Urwald with all the magic and creatures. While the world is dark, Jinx’s kind-hearted, intelligent, and daring traits balance out the tone. The plot is exciting and moves at a good pace to keep young readers engaged. The themes covered in this book include abandonment, trust, self-discovery, and friendship.  
 
This is a great selection for older readers from 9-12 because it is a longer work with multiple long chapters. Readers of fantasy, fans of magic, or those who feel they don't fit in would really resonate with this book. The true standout feature of this work is Blackwood’s world-building and the character development. The author has a way of making the audience invest in the trio, rooting for their success. And this is only the beginning of the series! 

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