But Jinx is different than any other baku she's ever seen.He seems real.Īs Lacey settles into life at school, competing with the best students in a battle of the bakus that tests her abilities, she learns that Jinx is part of a dangerous secret. After she repairs it, the cat-shaped baku she calls Jinx opens its eyes and somehow gets her into her dream school. One night, Lacey comes across the broken form of a highly advanced baku. But when Lacey is rejected by the elite academy that promises that future, she's crushed.

Lacey Chu has always dreamed of working as an engineer for MONCHA, the biggest tech firm in the world and the company behind the 'baku'―a customizable 'pet' with all the capabilities of a smartphone. 'McCulloch effectively strikes a balance between worldbuilding and action…A solid series starter for tinkerers and adventurers alike.The Golden Compass for the digital age! When a coding star enters an elite technology academy, she discovers a world of competition, intrigue, and family secrets―plus a robotic companion that isn't what it seems. ' vividly imagined Toronto-set middle grade series opener intertwines smartphone technology with the hallmarks of classic science fiction via a fun, insightful narrative and bright voice.With a sharp eye toward the rising awareness of device addiction and a keen sense of wonder, McCulloch's tale is a feast for the imagination that celebrates women in STEM fields.'- Publishers Weekly (STARRED REVIEW) summer reading chapter book for kids 9-12.middle grade book for girls who are passionate about coding Amy McCulloch is a Chinese-White author, born in the UK, raised in Ottawa, Canada, now based in London, UK.But can she take on the biggest tech company in North America armed with only a level 1 robot beetle and her friends at her side? Lacey must use all her skills if she has a chance of stopping MONCHA from carrying out their plans. When Lacey is expelled and her mom starts acting strangely after the latest update from MONCHA, Lacey and her friends work together to get to the bottom of it and discover a sinister plot at the heart of the corporation. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application. However, the pace of the novel is at the cost of developing those characters and key scenes. The characters are diverse and the plot concept is intriguing. When Lacey Chu wakes up in a hospital room with no memory of how she got there, she knows something went really wrong. Jinxed by Amy McCulloch is an action packed middle grades novel with good intentions. The Golden Compass for the digital age in this action-packed sequel to Jinxed. And with her cat baku, Jinx, missing in action and MONCHA, the company behind the invention of the robot pet, threatening her family, she isn't sure who to turn to for answers. Sourcebooks, Inc., Juvenile Fiction - 352 pages. When Lacey Chu wakes up in a hospital room with no memory of how she got there, she knows something went really wrong.

Jinxed book 3 amy mcculloch