What Parents Should Know
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 Media Review
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.

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