Autumn's Kiss

September 15, 2015
Teen actor Thorne follows her first novel in the Autumn's Fall series with this installment, set during the titular Cuban-American character's junior year at her new high school in Florida. Relationship drama is the name of the game, and it's well-balanced by the breezy, comic tone. Autumn is disappointed to find that the magic diary bestowed upon her by her beloved, recently deceased father seems to have stopped working. She's therefore delighted when she discovers a map that instantly transports her to whatever destination she writes on it. She uses this mainly to make matches among her friends and gets into the kind of situational jams that might be expected, with her dyslexia at times contributing to these. Autumn's funny firecracker of a grandmother assures her that the indigenous Caribbean Taino people, to whom the magic is attributed, work in ways that are "a mystery." This treatment of culture as vague plot device also occurs when Reenzie, Autumn's frenemy and rival for football quarterback Sean, starts a petition to change the team's name from the "Indians" in order to look good on her college applications. This light-as-air read will appeal mostly to young teens, who will appreciate all the roller-coaster romance, Autumn's tightknit family, and her recurring run-ins with a fictional young heartthrob named Kyler Leeds. (Romance. 12-16)

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October 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-This second installment in a planned trilogy picks up where Autumn Falls (Delacorte, 2014) left off. Autumn, a teen from Aventura, FL, had a journal that grants any wish. Unfortunately, it's no longer working. However, the teen soon discovers an object that has the ability to transport her to any place she wants. As savvy readers may guess, the magical transportation proves to be trouble for Autumn. Along with the heavy dose of magical adventure, this flirty read offers lots of romantic drama (and melodrama). There are a few lessons learned about the tough price paid for meddling in the lives of others and the importance of being careful what you wish for. VERDICT With a mix of gentle romance, teen drama, and light fantasy, this is a light and breezy read perfect for young teens not quite ready for steamier fare.-Jesten Ray, Seattle Public Library, WA

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