Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Given her nickname the day she was born, Jinx, now sixteen and temporarily living with relatives in New York, has a brief hope of creating a new personality that isn't so nameworthily awkward or accident-prone. Unfortunately, Jinx's jealous cousin, Tory, only offers one avenue for Jinx's reinvention: joining Tory's coven, which Tory formed after becoming smitten with a family rumor about a witchly heritage. She is therefore infuriated to discover that Jinx is actually the one with the powers, though Tory's everyday gift for cruelty seems to be quite a worthy match for Jinx's timid sorcery. Even while trying to keep her cousin from hurting those around her (Tory seems hell-bent on achieving greatness through destroying others), Jinx still has ample time to obsess over the gorgeous boy next door, settle in at a new school, and pursue her many talents. In fact, although Jinx is wry and clever and her coming into her own as a powerful and responsible witch is realistically arduous, in her pursuit of all things non-magical, this book falls into formulaic plots and rehashed character roles (dutiful gorgeous boyfriend, scheming shrewish girls, and oblivious but harmless parents abound). The obvious reciprocal interest of her crush in spite of Jinx's certainty that he loves another (which will be spotted by readers no later than the second chapter) is endlessly debated, rejected, and revised at the cost of other, more intriguing mysteries. In the end, however, this will be an enjoyable combination of romantic comedy and magic for readers looking for an accessible heroine and a true happy ending.