The Demon Notebook

May 26, 2014
Seventh-grader Grace and her four best friends are wannabe witches, casting spells that never work and recording them in Grace's notebook. But after the girls use a Ouija Board, Una, one of the five, starts acting oddly, and the spells in the notebook begin to come true, one by one. This has the girls in a panic because the last spell on the list could result in the death of their bullying classmate Tracy. The girls race against the clock to save Tracy, turning to "local crazy person" Mrs. Quinlan, who explains that the girls have opened a portal, that a demon has possessed Una, and that it must be banished. The plot in this debut from first-time author McGann (originally published in Ireland) is set on high speed, with events piling up fast and furious, leading to a satisfying, if overly neat climax. While the girls don't always stand out as distinct characters, their bond is genuine; readers will worry just enough for their safety in this fun and lightly spooky story. Ages 9â12.

May 15, 2014
Wouldn't it be great if magic spells worked? Maybe...not.Grace, Jenny, Rachel, Adie and Una have been dabbling in magic. They have tried spell after spell from The Great Book of the Occult, but none have worked. Andrew didn't pee his pants in French class. Mr. McQuaid never talked gobbledygook in history class. They're complete failures as witches...until they try the Ouija board in school on the night of the full moon. The board works, starting a Latin phrase, and the pages of their notebook of failed spells magically flip back and forth. Scary, but no big deal-until their spells start working, from the most recent on back. It turns out that magic is not that much fun when you do get exactly what you ask for, particularly considering the first spell they cast was a wish that the school bully would be hit by a bus. Now it's a race against time to stop the magic and save Una from the demon that's possessed her. Thankfully, they have a crazy, old cat lady to help them out. Irish author McGann's debut is funny, a bit scary and surprisingly realistic, given the premise; she nails the relationships among the kids with ease. Preteens will enjoy the easy read, identify with the characters and ask for more.Here's hoping the sequel jumps the pond soon. (Fantasy. 9-14)

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July 1, 2014

Gr 5-8-Una has had enough of being bullied by Tracy Murphy, a professional football player packed into a schoolgirl's body. Grace is sure that perfect, popular James O'Connor will never notice her. Jenny is fed up with helping to take care of her baby sister. Rachel wishes she could know what it feels like to be the star athlete for once. Adie wants to be fluent in French long enough to get her language teacher off her back. Together, these five best friends turn to witchcraft to transform their wishes into reality. The girls perform 10 magic spells from The Great Book of the Occult but become frustrated when none of them seems to be working. Then one night, after a Ouija board session gone terribly awry, everything changes, and the things that they wished for finally begin to come true. Obnoxious Andrew Wallace pees his pants in class. A freak snowstorm results in an unexpected snow day. James O'Connor asks Grace out on a date. Soon, however, the girls learn that everything comes with a price. And in this case, the cost could be deadly. With wisdom, humor, and just enough spookiness, McGann weaves a charming cautionary tale about the importance of being careful of what you wish for. While demons, ghosts, and spirit channeling will undoubtedly hook readers, relatable main characters and situations will keep them turning the pages.-Liz Overberg, Darlington School, Rome, GA

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