Getting children to read a book can be quite a challenge, especially when they make that step up from picture books to early readers and chapter books. But chapter books are the perfect bridge for those young readers stepping up. With their short chapters they help to build confidence in reading, their bite-sized narratives keep attention and their lively tone and fast-pacing sparks imaginations, all helping to garner a love of reading. All it takes is finding the right book or book series. And when humour and relatable characters join forces, kids can’t help being engrossed and turn page after page. Which is where Jesper Jinx comes in, it delivers this blend by the bucket load – showing that an ordinary 11-year-old prankster can create extraordinary reading fun.
Jesper Jinx is 11 years old and lives with his Mum, Dad, 12 year old sister Melinda and Snowy the cat in Puffington Hill on the South Coast of England. He is a born prankster (although all his pranks ultimately fail), he has an extremely vivid imagination and he just hates being bored. Sidekick Oliver Oliverson joins the mischief, but even his best pal can’t save Jesper from his own slip-ups. Jesper is a prankster with a perpetual jinx and arguably the world’s unluckiest prankster. Every scheme he dreams up, no matter how cleverly hatched, ends in hilarious chaos.
This is the book one in the wonderfully wicked Jesper Jinx series. This volume is a collection of stories involving some of Jesper’s pranks that inevitably go wrong. With some great characters (my personal favourite being the headteacher, Mr Llawandorder, I love the name which is perfect for a headteacher) it is fun reading about Jesper’s escapades that never grow boring.
Each short story spotlights a new calamity, starting with a tale about the energy drink that isn’t:
- Jesper Jinx and the Colourful Cat: The family cat turns scarlet after Jesper mistakes it for a crafty prank prop.
- The Great Escape from the Kitchen (by Snowy the Cat): Witness the great feline jailbreak from Jesper’s clutches.
- Jesper Jinx and the Spanish Shenanigans: Jesper’s boredom-breaker meets an unexpected twist when a new classmate arrives.
- BONUS: Jesper’s Ridiculously Short Nighty-Night Tale: A bedtime story spins out of control in classic Jesper-style mischief.
Each vignette stands alone yet threads together the chaos of Jesper’s life, making it easy to dip in and out – or gobble the whole book in one sitting.
Overall, I found Jesper Jinx to be an excellent character and his stories are extremely humorous. It has easy to read format with its short chapters/stories that children will adore (especially their slightly naughtier sides). Young page turners will be drawn into the stories.
Once readers crack open the cover and are introduced the Jesper and his pranks, before they can go any further they become a conspirator in the story – they MUST sign a Secrecy Agreement. Marko Kitti, the author, has written this book about Jesper’s mishaps, but he does not have Jesper’s permission to make the information public (but it’s too good not to), therefore Jesper is not allowed to know about the existence of this book as Marko doesn’t want to break his confidence! Hence the signing of the Secrecy Agreement. This playful gimmick will draw kids into the stories and engage them with the book as it offers a sense of insider status, unleashing the giggles before the first prank even starts.
Young page turners (and secretly grown-ups) will love it. It hits that sweet spot between silliness and sincerity. Its brisk pacing and punchy chapter breaks keep readers and reluctant readers turning pages, while parents will appreciate:
- Relatable family dynamics and sibling rivalry
- Non-scary, age-appropriate humour
- A vivid, prank-filled world that echoes childhood curiosity
- The way disaster always rebounds into fun
The witty narration and the cheeky premise ensure each mishap feels fresh, not repetitive. The short, engaging chapters are perfect for emerging readers with their giggle-inducing, kid-friendly humour. The Secrecy Agreement adds in a fun twist that immediately gets children involved with the story. And the universal themes of boredom and sibling antics are relatable and will appeal to youngsters.
Jesper Jinx is a fun collection of humorous short stories that children from the age of 7 (and fun-loving adults up to the age of 100+) will enjoy and will be able to relate to. What child has never pulled a prank of some sort, and even had it backfire?
This is a great collection of stories that will spark a child’s interest in reading and provide them with a lot of laughs with its blend of laugh-out-loud gags and approachable chapter book format. Whether you’re chasing reluctant readers or simply seeking a light-hearted read, Jesper’s disastrous escapades will have you, and young bookworms, howling with laughter.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £5.99 (Paperback) / £2.99 (Kindle)
For more information, visit jesperjinx.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
