The Demon Notebook

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 9%E2%80%9312. (June)