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Jinx    by Margaret Wild Amazon.com order for
Jinx
by Margaret Wild
Order:  USA  Can
Pulse, 2004 (2001)
Hardcover, Paperback
* *   Reviewed by Melissa Parcel

Jen leads a fairly normal life with a few rough spots. Her parents are divorced, her father 'The Rat' has remarried, and her sister Grace has Down's Syndrome. Life is wonderful after Jen starts to date Charlie, until he commits suicide. She loses it for a while, running around and acting wild. Eventually she befriends Ben. But when he is killed, Jen renames herself Jinx, because she must be the most unlucky girl in the world. Will she ever be ordinary Jen again?

Jinx is written in verse as a series of interconnected poems, which convey the thoughts, feelings, and actions of Jen, her family, and her friends. The poems are clearly labeled as to whose point-of-view they reflect, so the reader is never confused. The plot flows quickly, carrying the story through with ease. The author writes with raw emotion, creating empathy with the characters, especially with Jen's joy and heartbreak. I recommend Jinx to you for its unique style and tone.

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