The Demon Notebook

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