What do you think?
Rate this book
Magic Mayhem #1
Jinnie Wishmaker
Eleven-year-old Jinnie has a dilemma -- she can grant wishes, but she can't control the results.
When her magic is discovered, her school counselor tells Jinnie to join a group of fellow students with similar power problems. Maddy's touch makes people explode in anger. Grace can instantly turn anyone into a best friend.
But their loose use of magic attracts the attention of the Loki, a group of magic thieves and pranksters. They want to steal an open-ended wish from Jinnie, and it will take all the limited and messed-up magic that she and her friends possess to make sure their powers don't fall into the Loki's greedy hands.
Jinnie Wishmaker is the first book of the Magic Mayhem series for 9-12 year olds. It is a standalone story. The series continues with Marcus Mender.
When her magic is discovered, her school counselor tells Jinnie to join a group of fellow students with similar power problems. Maddy's touch makes people explode in anger. Grace can instantly turn anyone into a best friend.
But their loose use of magic attracts the attention of the Loki, a group of magic thieves and pranksters. They want to steal an open-ended wish from Jinnie, and it will take all the limited and messed-up magic that she and her friends possess to make sure their powers don't fall into the Loki's greedy hands.
Jinnie Wishmaker is the first book of the Magic Mayhem series for 9-12 year olds. It is a standalone story. The series continues with Marcus Mender.
- GenresMiddle GradeMagic
174 pages, Hardcover
First published November 28, 2011
3 people are currently reading
505 people want to read
About the author
Deanna Roy
40 books681 followersDeanna Roy is the six-time USA Today bestselling author of women's fiction. She is a fierce advocate for all the children in her care, biological, fostered, and adopted, and the mothers, who like her, lost babies to miscarriage.
She writes books under four names:
Deanna Roy with three-hanky reads in the Forever series:
JJ Knight with her romantic comedy Pickleverse:
Abby Tyler with sweet small-town romance, including the Applebottom series:
Annie Winters with romantic suspense serials, including The Vigilante's Lover:
You can follow Deanna and read pre-release sneak peeks and free ebooks on her private list. Subscribe!
Deanna also writes a series of books for middle grade readers, including JINNIE WISHMAKER, MARCUS MENDER, and ELEKTRA CHAOS.
She's pretty easy to spot on Facebook and Instagram.
She writes books under four names:
Deanna Roy with three-hanky reads in the Forever series:
JJ Knight with her romantic comedy Pickleverse:
Abby Tyler with sweet small-town romance, including the Applebottom series:
Annie Winters with romantic suspense serials, including The Vigilante's Lover:
You can follow Deanna and read pre-release sneak peeks and free ebooks on her private list. Subscribe!
Deanna also writes a series of books for middle grade readers, including JINNIE WISHMAKER, MARCUS MENDER, and ELEKTRA CHAOS.
She's pretty easy to spot on Facebook and Instagram.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 10, 2011
This is a story about belonging, special gifts, responsibility, and doing the right thing.
As a person "of a certain age" (qualified for senior discounts), it's obvious I don't read many books written for young people. What's not obvious (and which I would be remiss in not revealing) is that I know the author personally. Combine those two facts and it's easy to conclude that this is a fabricated review. Think that if you will, but you'd be wrong.
What should a book for youngsters do? Entertain? Teach? Promote values and principles that encourage rapidly changing personalities to embrace values other than those of an increasingly narcissistic society and culture? I suggest that all of the above represent positive ingredients, and Jinnie Wishmaker has them.
The story begins with a traumatic event that jeopardizes a child's most elementary need, to be grounded in a safe, secure, and loving environment. Although Jinnie's aunt and uncle are family, they serve as poor substitutes for her parents, who have gone missing in a foreign country.
Think for a moment what it would be like at Jinnie's age to lose your parents, be removed from your home, and immediately be shoved into advanced reading classes at your new school by an aunt who is clueless about your dyslexia. And with no friends, surrounded by strangers primed to ridicule any perceived inability to keep up with the crowd, suddenly you learn of a special gift that can only isolate you even more.
At first, it happens accidentally. Talk about being out of control, and lost, and not knowing where you fit in your universe. A deer in trouble giving birth asks her to grant a wish, the gift of life to a fawn. Another wish results in the rescue of a duckling. Then Jinnie realizes that her exceptional power extends to people.
The first time it happens is all about personal gratification, a friend's desire for ice cream. Why not? What can it hurt? Jinnie finds out quickly enough when Marcus gets violently ill after eating it. Maybe special gifts should be used only for special reasons, and the ability to alter the lives of others carries a deeper responsibility.
But that's not all. Jinnie soon discovers "sisters in magic." Maddy can make people burst into anger, but fortunately for the Troubled Tweens, Grace can calm them. And while this story thread centers around the lives and activities of youngsters, Jinnie's relationship with her uncle involves far more significant issues.
He is one of those land developers whose unbridled greed sees only the profit to be made while ignoring the devastation caused by their rush for the dollar. Her uncle buys an old house right across the street to level it and cut down all the beautiful trees to make room for a hideous McMansion. The blight on the land is bad enough, but the potential destruction of wildlife habitat involves Jinnie's gift when a mother bird shows Jinnie her nest of fledglings. They will never get the chance to take flight for a life of their own unless Jinnie intervenes.
And so arrives the opportunity for Jinnie to use her gift in a totally unselfish way. In league with her brother Bryan, she sets out to change her uncle's attitude by chaining them both to the nesting tree. She even manages to enlist the help of her very formal and fussy aunt, who ends up climbing the tree on the morning the baby birds prepare for their first flight into a life of freedom and independence.
Jinnie is still struggling with what her powers really mean and how best to use them when Bryan makes the ultimate wish: can she bring their parents home?
This is a wonderful story with a combination of deeper themes that carry a positive message. If you have children of the appropriate age, I encourage you to consider Jinnie Wishmaker well worth the cost of admission into the life of a young protagonist seeking her own identity and still able to place the welfare of others above that of her own.
As a person "of a certain age" (qualified for senior discounts), it's obvious I don't read many books written for young people. What's not obvious (and which I would be remiss in not revealing) is that I know the author personally. Combine those two facts and it's easy to conclude that this is a fabricated review. Think that if you will, but you'd be wrong.
What should a book for youngsters do? Entertain? Teach? Promote values and principles that encourage rapidly changing personalities to embrace values other than those of an increasingly narcissistic society and culture? I suggest that all of the above represent positive ingredients, and Jinnie Wishmaker has them.
The story begins with a traumatic event that jeopardizes a child's most elementary need, to be grounded in a safe, secure, and loving environment. Although Jinnie's aunt and uncle are family, they serve as poor substitutes for her parents, who have gone missing in a foreign country.
Think for a moment what it would be like at Jinnie's age to lose your parents, be removed from your home, and immediately be shoved into advanced reading classes at your new school by an aunt who is clueless about your dyslexia. And with no friends, surrounded by strangers primed to ridicule any perceived inability to keep up with the crowd, suddenly you learn of a special gift that can only isolate you even more.
At first, it happens accidentally. Talk about being out of control, and lost, and not knowing where you fit in your universe. A deer in trouble giving birth asks her to grant a wish, the gift of life to a fawn. Another wish results in the rescue of a duckling. Then Jinnie realizes that her exceptional power extends to people.
The first time it happens is all about personal gratification, a friend's desire for ice cream. Why not? What can it hurt? Jinnie finds out quickly enough when Marcus gets violently ill after eating it. Maybe special gifts should be used only for special reasons, and the ability to alter the lives of others carries a deeper responsibility.
But that's not all. Jinnie soon discovers "sisters in magic." Maddy can make people burst into anger, but fortunately for the Troubled Tweens, Grace can calm them. And while this story thread centers around the lives and activities of youngsters, Jinnie's relationship with her uncle involves far more significant issues.
He is one of those land developers whose unbridled greed sees only the profit to be made while ignoring the devastation caused by their rush for the dollar. Her uncle buys an old house right across the street to level it and cut down all the beautiful trees to make room for a hideous McMansion. The blight on the land is bad enough, but the potential destruction of wildlife habitat involves Jinnie's gift when a mother bird shows Jinnie her nest of fledglings. They will never get the chance to take flight for a life of their own unless Jinnie intervenes.
And so arrives the opportunity for Jinnie to use her gift in a totally unselfish way. In league with her brother Bryan, she sets out to change her uncle's attitude by chaining them both to the nesting tree. She even manages to enlist the help of her very formal and fussy aunt, who ends up climbing the tree on the morning the baby birds prepare for their first flight into a life of freedom and independence.
Jinnie is still struggling with what her powers really mean and how best to use them when Bryan makes the ultimate wish: can she bring their parents home?
This is a wonderful story with a combination of deeper themes that carry a positive message. If you have children of the appropriate age, I encourage you to consider Jinnie Wishmaker well worth the cost of admission into the life of a young protagonist seeking her own identity and still able to place the welfare of others above that of her own.
Read
May 3, 2016Thank you for all your support on this series! The books are being re-released through Spellbound River Press. Marcus Mender arrives Fall 2016 and the final book Elektra Chaos will be out Spring 2017!
Deanna (DD)
Deanna (DD)
March 9, 2017
Highly recommend
Absolutely wonderful story. Highly recommend for any teen or even an adult that likes to read YA stories. Beside having the magical element it also has the "I don't fit in" element that all teens go through. Well written and very entertaining to read.
Absolutely wonderful story. Highly recommend for any teen or even an adult that likes to read YA stories. Beside having the magical element it also has the "I don't fit in" element that all teens go through. Well written and very entertaining to read.
June 25, 2012
This book is intended for middle graders but I read it and enjoyed it myself. This book had enough supernatural and suspense to keep both the pre teen reader and adult entertained. The author’s writing is easy understandable by any reader. I am not a parent myself but I have a nephew who try to encourage to read. I would give him this book to read. It is fun and energetic plus it also has purpose.
There are different things going on in this story. You have Jinnie and Bryan who are brother and sister. They are dealing with living with their aunt and uncle. While the world believes that their parents are dead, Jinnie and Bryan hold out hope that they are alive and refuse to believe otherwise. I like the spirit the kids have. They are basically saying to the adults I don’t believe you until you can show proof.
The superpowers that the kids have can be interpreted different ways. For those who don’t want their kids reading books like this can say that it is more about the power of suggestion. That everyone has their wish come true because of coincidence. That Grace makes everyone calm because her calming emotion is so strong that you can not help be be calm in her presence. That Maddy makes people angry because anger is a strong emotion and everyone around it tends to be angry too. Or you can look at it as all these things happen because of magic. All the kids in the book have super powers. They use them for good rather than evil.
The villains of this story are a few different people. One being the bully Brucilla. I think she is a victim as much as a bully. You find out her home life is the reason why she is the way she is. I like that it is discussed in the book seeing how bullying is in the forefront of the news right now. You kind of get to see the perspective of the one being bullied and the one who is bullying.
I won’t lie, I liked this book. It could just be the kid in me but I think that it was because it was well written. The author did a great job in writing a book that will keep any reader interested. I recommend this book.
Reviewed as a parted of the Jinnie Wishmaker Tour presented by Goddess Fish Promotions.
There are different things going on in this story. You have Jinnie and Bryan who are brother and sister. They are dealing with living with their aunt and uncle. While the world believes that their parents are dead, Jinnie and Bryan hold out hope that they are alive and refuse to believe otherwise. I like the spirit the kids have. They are basically saying to the adults I don’t believe you until you can show proof.
The superpowers that the kids have can be interpreted different ways. For those who don’t want their kids reading books like this can say that it is more about the power of suggestion. That everyone has their wish come true because of coincidence. That Grace makes everyone calm because her calming emotion is so strong that you can not help be be calm in her presence. That Maddy makes people angry because anger is a strong emotion and everyone around it tends to be angry too. Or you can look at it as all these things happen because of magic. All the kids in the book have super powers. They use them for good rather than evil.
The villains of this story are a few different people. One being the bully Brucilla. I think she is a victim as much as a bully. You find out her home life is the reason why she is the way she is. I like that it is discussed in the book seeing how bullying is in the forefront of the news right now. You kind of get to see the perspective of the one being bullied and the one who is bullying.
I won’t lie, I liked this book. It could just be the kid in me but I think that it was because it was well written. The author did a great job in writing a book that will keep any reader interested. I recommend this book.
Reviewed as a parted of the Jinnie Wishmaker Tour presented by Goddess Fish Promotions.
June 6, 2012
Jinnie and her brother Bryan have been living with their grandmother since their parents went missing after a protest in South America. But their grandma is not in the best of health, and they learn they must move in with their hoity toity rich aunt and uncle. In addition, Jinnie will be going to fifth grade in a fancy private school, which she is not too excited about.
Things get worse when Jinnie angers the school bully and is sent to a group for Troubled Tweens. It is there she discovers her power--she can grant wishes, but not always with the desired effect that the wisher actually wanted. Jinnie must learn how to control her powers, and decide what is worth standing up for.
I thought this was a nice little story, if a bit fast paced. Keep in mind that at 26 years old I am probably not the intended audience for this book :)
Jinnie is a pretty cool character. She takes everything that comes at her pretty easily, including the fact that she has powers, and that so many others in her school do as well. Maybe she was so happy to make friends that she really didn't question why things were.
The funniest characters were Jinnie's aunt and uncle. The uncle was pretty much only wrapped up in money and work, and the aunt was comically afraid of getting dirty. She even wore a tiara to dinner once. Dinner in their own home. Though they were hilarious, you could tell that they really did want the best for Jinnie and Bryan.
The events at the end seemed to happen way too quickly and out of the blue for me, and it seemed like the author just tried to wrap up the plot in a bow. That led me to my three star rating.
I would be interested to learn more about the other kids in the Troubled Tweens group, and it seems that is what Ms. Roy will be writing about next.
Things get worse when Jinnie angers the school bully and is sent to a group for Troubled Tweens. It is there she discovers her power--she can grant wishes, but not always with the desired effect that the wisher actually wanted. Jinnie must learn how to control her powers, and decide what is worth standing up for.
I thought this was a nice little story, if a bit fast paced. Keep in mind that at 26 years old I am probably not the intended audience for this book :)
Jinnie is a pretty cool character. She takes everything that comes at her pretty easily, including the fact that she has powers, and that so many others in her school do as well. Maybe she was so happy to make friends that she really didn't question why things were.
The funniest characters were Jinnie's aunt and uncle. The uncle was pretty much only wrapped up in money and work, and the aunt was comically afraid of getting dirty. She even wore a tiara to dinner once. Dinner in their own home. Though they were hilarious, you could tell that they really did want the best for Jinnie and Bryan.
The events at the end seemed to happen way too quickly and out of the blue for me, and it seemed like the author just tried to wrap up the plot in a bow. That led me to my three star rating.
I would be interested to learn more about the other kids in the Troubled Tweens group, and it seems that is what Ms. Roy will be writing about next.
July 10, 2012
A thorougly enjoyable novel for a young girl (I know, because I am one!).
Jinnie and Bryan (her brilliant brother) go to live with their Aunt and Uncle and have no clue what life will be like. Then Jinnie discovers she can grant a person's one true wish, but doesn't have any control over her power.
She joins a group called The Troubled Tweens and tries to learn how to use her power to help fight evil. Her brother helps as much as he can to keep the group secret and to keep the evil forces at bay. But one question remains: where are Jinnie and Bryan's parents?
I really enjoyed reading about how the different people in Jinnie's school learn to work together to defend Jinnie from the evil forces trying to steal her power. It really showed how friendship and teamwork should be. The unique group of people who made up The Troubled Tweens was interesting and I can't wait to see what happens to them next.
I especially liked that Jinnie helped animals in need. She had a caring heart for those who were being hurt.
Really, there wasn't much I didn't like about this book. It was a little slow for me, without the frantic conflict so many books have, and I would have liked to have seen more fighting against evil or more time searching for their lost parents. Still, it didn't keep me from enjoying this book.
I'd recommend this for younger girls who like to read, especially to those who love animals!
Jinnie and Bryan (her brilliant brother) go to live with their Aunt and Uncle and have no clue what life will be like. Then Jinnie discovers she can grant a person's one true wish, but doesn't have any control over her power.
She joins a group called The Troubled Tweens and tries to learn how to use her power to help fight evil. Her brother helps as much as he can to keep the group secret and to keep the evil forces at bay. But one question remains: where are Jinnie and Bryan's parents?
I really enjoyed reading about how the different people in Jinnie's school learn to work together to defend Jinnie from the evil forces trying to steal her power. It really showed how friendship and teamwork should be. The unique group of people who made up The Troubled Tweens was interesting and I can't wait to see what happens to them next.
I especially liked that Jinnie helped animals in need. She had a caring heart for those who were being hurt.
Really, there wasn't much I didn't like about this book. It was a little slow for me, without the frantic conflict so many books have, and I would have liked to have seen more fighting against evil or more time searching for their lost parents. Still, it didn't keep me from enjoying this book.
I'd recommend this for younger girls who like to read, especially to those who love animals!
July 11, 2013
4 STARS
This starts out with Jinnie and her brother Bryan are going to runaway from their Grandmas home. Their parents are missing in South America. Their Uncle and Aunt want them to come live with them in their big house. They want to find their parents but know they cant do that. They are got and their Grandma takes away their shoes.
Jinnie and Bryan are kind of out of their element. So are their aunt and Uncle. They want to be good for jinnie and Bryan.
Bryan is smart and makes lots of gadgets that work sort of Like James Bond' Q. Jinnie starts to notice that she is understanding animals wishes.
She gets into a fight and has to try Troubled Teems group and finds out they all have talents. The world for them is really starts to change.
It is a fun, quick read. Where the children are the ones trying to figure out the problems and the answers to the problems.
The next book Marcus Mender sounds good to. It is a series that all ages could read and enjoy. Be careful what you wish for the way you receive your wish might not be the answer you want. It has some good life lessons in it too.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it when finished by NetGalley and Casey Shay Press.
06/01/2012 PUB Casey Shay Press ISBN 9781938150043 196 pages
This starts out with Jinnie and her brother Bryan are going to runaway from their Grandmas home. Their parents are missing in South America. Their Uncle and Aunt want them to come live with them in their big house. They want to find their parents but know they cant do that. They are got and their Grandma takes away their shoes.
Jinnie and Bryan are kind of out of their element. So are their aunt and Uncle. They want to be good for jinnie and Bryan.
Bryan is smart and makes lots of gadgets that work sort of Like James Bond' Q. Jinnie starts to notice that she is understanding animals wishes.
She gets into a fight and has to try Troubled Teems group and finds out they all have talents. The world for them is really starts to change.
It is a fun, quick read. Where the children are the ones trying to figure out the problems and the answers to the problems.
The next book Marcus Mender sounds good to. It is a series that all ages could read and enjoy. Be careful what you wish for the way you receive your wish might not be the answer you want. It has some good life lessons in it too.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it when finished by NetGalley and Casey Shay Press.
06/01/2012 PUB Casey Shay Press ISBN 9781938150043 196 pages
Read
August 5, 2013When Jinnie's parents go missing and her grandmother gets hurt, she and her brother are forced to go live with their rich and snooty aunt and uncle. She discovers that she can grant wishes, but can't control the results. The school counselor tells Jinnie to join the Troubled Tweens, a group of kids with similar power problems. But their loose use of magic attracts the attention of the Loki, a group of magic thieves and pranksters, who want to steal an open-ended wish from Jinnie.
I really enjoyed this book. It's a super-cute, read-in-an-afternoon kind of story full of magic, family and friendship.
Although the magical elements are strong, the story is so much more than just another "I just discovered that I have magical powers" book. Jinnie is dealing with some real issues - more than the development of her powers. She's dealing with family issues, a new school, and new friends. Even without the fun, magical elements, this would be a great story. I especially loved the relationship between Jinnie and her brother, Bryan, and the way they work so well together. Even though Bryan isn't magical, and isn't part of the Troubled Tweens group, Jinnie and her friends need his help to win the fight against the Loki.
I really enjoyed this book. It's a super-cute, read-in-an-afternoon kind of story full of magic, family and friendship.
Although the magical elements are strong, the story is so much more than just another "I just discovered that I have magical powers" book. Jinnie is dealing with some real issues - more than the development of her powers. She's dealing with family issues, a new school, and new friends. Even without the fun, magical elements, this would be a great story. I especially loved the relationship between Jinnie and her brother, Bryan, and the way they work so well together. Even though Bryan isn't magical, and isn't part of the Troubled Tweens group, Jinnie and her friends need his help to win the fight against the Loki.
June 25, 2012
My review:
Jinnie Wishmaker by D.D. Roy was a wonderful and warm book! It was well-written, filled with magic and awesome characters!
Regarding the plot:
11-years old Jinnie is a girl with special skills, she can grant wishes. She joins the Troubled Tweens which is a group of kids who all have special abilities. Troubled Tweens faces a challenge in a form of devious Loki, who would like to possess the magic Jinnie and her friends can perform.
I loved this story! I think author did a wonderful job with capturing the age of the kids! It was humorous, filled with magic and it was on spot for the kids of 9-11 years of age. It touched the fight between the good and the evil and Jinnie's story was a very good start for the series!
Jinnie is awesome character who takes the challenges quite easily. She has no problems with her ability and that helps her to fight Loki. I really enjoyed her. I also liked the fact that she can grant wishes, but she has no control over if the result of her magic will be desired. Be careful what you wish for!
Definitely a very good book for kids!
Jinnie Wishmaker by D.D. Roy was a wonderful and warm book! It was well-written, filled with magic and awesome characters!
Regarding the plot:
11-years old Jinnie is a girl with special skills, she can grant wishes. She joins the Troubled Tweens which is a group of kids who all have special abilities. Troubled Tweens faces a challenge in a form of devious Loki, who would like to possess the magic Jinnie and her friends can perform.
I loved this story! I think author did a wonderful job with capturing the age of the kids! It was humorous, filled with magic and it was on spot for the kids of 9-11 years of age. It touched the fight between the good and the evil and Jinnie's story was a very good start for the series!
Jinnie is awesome character who takes the challenges quite easily. She has no problems with her ability and that helps her to fight Loki. I really enjoyed her. I also liked the fact that she can grant wishes, but she has no control over if the result of her magic will be desired. Be careful what you wish for!
Definitely a very good book for kids!
September 2, 2013
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book for my honest review.
This book was a fun and quick read that I really enjoyed. I think it is a great start to a series I will continue to read. Not only does it entertain the reader but also teaches responsibility and values. I also like the magical aspect of this book it kept me interested. I also like the fact that Jinnie is just discovering her magical gift and learning how to use them. As a reader it made me understand her fear and worries about her new gift. I love this book for the family values it instills in the children by the end, and how the adults in the book work with the kids to learn from them too. I have already bought a copy for my daughter to read and I am recommending it to all parent with children 8-12.
This book was a fun and quick read that I really enjoyed. I think it is a great start to a series I will continue to read. Not only does it entertain the reader but also teaches responsibility and values. I also like the magical aspect of this book it kept me interested. I also like the fact that Jinnie is just discovering her magical gift and learning how to use them. As a reader it made me understand her fear and worries about her new gift. I love this book for the family values it instills in the children by the end, and how the adults in the book work with the kids to learn from them too. I have already bought a copy for my daughter to read and I am recommending it to all parent with children 8-12.
August 24, 2015
A Magical Coming of Age Story
In this first Magic Mayhem book, we are introduced to Jinnie, a young girl whose parents are missing. She and her brother are forced to move in with her aunt and uncle. Immediately Jinnie finds herself in hot water with the local bully and is assigned to attend a group of Troubled Tweens. But nothing is as it seems and within this group of Tweens, Jinnie finds answers, friends, and new adventures. A fun, fast read middle graders will love.
In this first Magic Mayhem book, we are introduced to Jinnie, a young girl whose parents are missing. She and her brother are forced to move in with her aunt and uncle. Immediately Jinnie finds herself in hot water with the local bully and is assigned to attend a group of Troubled Tweens. But nothing is as it seems and within this group of Tweens, Jinnie finds answers, friends, and new adventures. A fun, fast read middle graders will love.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews