When the publisher offered me a early chance to read the sequel Unleashed, via NetGalley, I jumped at the chance. Either way, I'm hoping to see more from this pair!Īmy McCulloch's middle grade novel Jinxed absolutely charmed me when I read a galley late last year. Or perhaps I just didn't like the smaller amount of time with Jinx. It's fun and well-paced, but has less depth than the first book. The company which makes baku are up to no good (shockingly unrealistic for a tech giant, am I right?!) but thankfully the Scoobies (or this book's version) are ready to step in to take them on.

Things were hanging in the balance for Jinx and his human, Lucy, at the end of the novel and this picks up soon after. Yes, take a moment to imagine the thrill of having a futuristic feline friend.

In the last book we met Jinx, a cat baku. Which sounds kinda fun, but until you have read the book you have NO IDEA just how amazing they are. Basically they are 'a customisable smart pet that functions as a phone but makes the perfect companion too'. Now, in case you're not up to speed, these are tech 'pets' that were designed to replace smartphones. Jinxed was one of my favourite children's books of the last few years, largely thanks to the fantastically realised baku. 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? Praise for Jinxed : ' 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) 'McCulloch effectively strikes a balance between worldbuilding and action…A solid series starter for tinkerers and adventurers alike.'― Kirkus Reviews 'A little bit Golden Compass, a little bit Hunger Games, and all adventure!'― New York Times bestselling author Amie Kaufman 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. 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. When Lacey Chu wakes up in a hospital room with no memory of how she got there, she knows something went really wrong.

The Golden Compass for the digital age in this action-packed sequel to Jinxed.

Unleashed amy mcculloch