welcome to
 Aussiereviews.com

Google Custom Search
 
  Reviewing the best of Australian books, films, music websites and more.

Home
See All Reviews
Free update
Links
Feedback
Link to us

see all...





Fishpond



www.fishpond.com.au

Aussie Authors
Links to Australian authors on the net.
Picture Books
See all reviews for children's picture books.
Children's Books
See all reviews of children's novels and chapter books.
Young Adult Fiction
See all reviews of young adult titles.
Fiction
See all reviews of adult fiction.
Nonfiction
See all reviews of non-fiction titles.
DVD and Video
See all video and DVD reviews.
Music and Software
See all music and software reviews.
Educational texts
See all reviews of educational texts.
Audiobooks
See all reviews of audiobook titles.

  

Children's Book Review: Jinxed, by Jill McDougall
Reviewed by Sally Murphy

Part of the new Lightning Strikes series from Walker Books.



Thelma and Louise aren’t anything like I imagined. What do you think of when I say the words Siamese mice? Be honest now. Do you think of long slinky coats and almond-shaped eyes and exotic whiskers?
Wrong, wrong and wrong.
Thelma and Louise have brown fur, long tails and bat ears. They aren’t a bit interested in learning tricks. And they have a major problem with sleeping. For the past week, they’ve spent every entire night scratching and chewing and running on their plastic wheel. Like, haven’t they heard of coffee breaks.

Jinx loves jokes, but sometimes her efforts are unappreciated – and sometimes they land her in trouble. When she accidentally breaks a pet python’s glass box, she has to pay for it –which means she needs money fast.
Dad wants Jinx to come and work in his bakery, but Jinx can’t think of anything worse. She tries everything to make some quick cash. Then when she sees two mice being offered a free home, she sees a money-making opportunity. Can she teach the mice some tricks – or is the joke on her?

Jinxed is a humorous novel for upper primary aged readers, with interest enough to carry through to lower secondary readers. The short length and fast paced action will keep even reluctant readers engaged, and the mix of mice, pythons, jokes and multi-text types including lists, emails and jokes means there is plenty happening.

An excellent read and an attractively packaged book.

Jinxed, by Jill McDougall
Walker Books, 2008

 Sponsored by:

The Floatingest Frog, by Sally Murphy, illustrated by Simon Bosch
Available now from Fishpond


Pemberthy Bear, by Sally Murphy, illustrated by Jacqui Grantford
Available online from Dymocks

New! Pemberthy Bear is now a blogging bear. You can read his thoughts online at Pemberthy's Ponderings.