Autumn Falls

Gr 7 Up—Following her father's death, Autumn Falls moves with her family to Aventura, FL, and starts at a new high school. She makes friends, but also an enemy when popular girl Reenzie targets her because cute and kind Sean shows an interest. Autumn wants to let the school authorities address the bullying, but as there is no proof that Reenzie is responsible, nothing happens on an official level. Meanwhile, Autumn's grandmother gives her a special journal left to her by her father and claims it has magical powers. Autumn begins writing letters to her father in the journal and discovers that the wishes she writes come true, though not always in expected ways. This debut novel is read by the author, teen actress Thorne, whose youthful voice lends authenticity to the first-person narration. She is less successful voicing the supporting characters—the grandmother's accent, for example, is quite inconsistent—but as Autumn she effectively conveys the ups and downs of high school life. The situations and choices Autumn faces range from ordinary to challenging, and the possibilities of the magical journal raise the stakes and present moral dilemmas that will engage listeners.