AUTUMN FALLS

A magic diary handed down to a teen girl following her father’s death eases and complicates her transition to a new school.

Sophomore Autumn Falls, so named because it was her dad’s favorite season, quickly connects with a group of quirky classmates when she starts at Florida's Aventura High. Unfortunately, when clever, kind, gorgeous Sean takes notice of her, she unknowingly incites the wrath of Reenzie, his childhood best friend, who's in love with him. Some truly wicked bullying follows, and once Autumn begins to understand that her dad's old diary seems to make her wishes come true, it becomes hard for her to resist using it to fight back. This light read by teen actress Thorne mixes realistic drama with the vague paranormal power of the diary, explained by Autumn’s grandmother as having to do with the zemi on its cover, an icon believed by the ancient Taino people of Cuba to house spirits. There are other references throughout to Bella's Cuban heritage, so while it’s not completely out of context, more development of this concept would have strengthened the story. Bella’s moral quandaries about the diary are believable though too easily resolved at times.

A somewhat open ending suggests there is more to come. Fans of teen romance will be glad of it.