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Stolen Diary
Stolen Diary explores the challenges a gifted child, who is also on the autism spectrum, must face growing up with a disengaged mother who cannot relate to her, and a doting grandfather who encourages her genius.
Unable to deal with her mother’s rejection, Jasmin escapes into a world of science and music. When she discovers that her family is hiding secrets from her, she steals her mother’s diary to uncover the family mysteries. Not finding the answers she seeks, she hides the diary, creating her own secret.
When a kidnapping threat against her family becomes a reality, Jasmin must deal with the upheaval that alters her life yet provides clues to unravel her family secrets.
Unable to deal with her mother’s rejection, Jasmin escapes into a world of science and music. When she discovers that her family is hiding secrets from her, she steals her mother’s diary to uncover the family mysteries. Not finding the answers she seeks, she hides the diary, creating her own secret.
When a kidnapping threat against her family becomes a reality, Jasmin must deal with the upheaval that alters her life yet provides clues to unravel her family secrets.
332 pages, Paperback
Published January 16, 2023
About the author
Kathryn Lane
10 books340 followersKathryn Lane writes mystery and suspense novels usually set in foreign countries. In her award-winning Nikki Garcia Mystery Series, her protagonist is a private investigator based in Miami who travels extensively to investigate crime cases. Her latest novel, Murder in Monte Carlo, is set in Italy and Monaco.
Her stand-alone novel, Stolen Diary, is an award-winning coming-of-age novel about Jasmin, a socially awkward math genius.
Kathryn’s short story collection, Backyard Volcano and Other Mysteries of the Heart, is also an award-winner. It relates stories set in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico.
Kathryn and her husband, Bob Hurt, reside in Texas. They often travel for Kathryn to gather information and to do research for her novels.
Her stand-alone novel, Stolen Diary, is an award-winning coming-of-age novel about Jasmin, a socially awkward math genius.
Kathryn’s short story collection, Backyard Volcano and Other Mysteries of the Heart, is also an award-winner. It relates stories set in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico.
Kathryn and her husband, Bob Hurt, reside in Texas. They often travel for Kathryn to gather information and to do research for her novels.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 24, 2023
by Barbara Kelley
"Stolen Diary" is a novel that was superbly written by Kathryn Lane. The research and mathematical, scientific, and musical genius of a young girl from the ages of 4 through adulthood was technically perfect. This book took me a few extra days to read because it was written with a lot of details. For instance, I have heard of Fibonacci but didn't know what the Fibonacci Sequence referred to until I read this book: adding the previous 2 numbers together to figure out what the next sequential number would be, such as 0+1, 1+1, 2+2, 4+4, 8+8, and so on, up through an infinitely large number. When you'd Jasmin was 4 years old, her maternal grandmother died. On her deathbed, she warned her daughter, Leticia, not to trust the child, but she didn't say why the child shouldn't be trusted. I think Grandma thought Jasmin was a witch because she could speak to animals, such as her new pony, and calm her down, calming down both child and animal. When Jazmin was 6 years, she went into town with her father, and while her dad was conducting business, Jasmin witnessed a kidnapping and her own near kidnapping when the kidnapper saw Jasmin father coming toward her. At the tender age of six, she gave her father a full account of both the girl who was kidnapped and the kidnapper, including sight and smell. When she became nervous, she would begin the Fibonacci Sequence, but she wouldn't start all over again. She started with the last number she left off with, even if that starting number was in the thousands. Another method she used in later years, when her grandfather was teaching her how to play the piano, was humming Beethoven's 9th Symphony, "Ode to Joy". She'd even sing all the words that were written by another composer many years later of "Ode to Joy". Since she loved math and physics, her grandfather hired a couple of tutors for Jasmin. He also hired a teacher for her to learn everything she needed to know about taking care of her pony. After the kidnapping incident, her grandfather hired a governess/teacher for her to always have somebody near her. I believe this woman was also a bodyguard. From the time Jasmin was 10 to 14, she build a robot alarm with a facial recognition device of all trusted family, staff, and teachers. By the time she was 14, she had also built, with the help of her grandfather's money and her math and physics teachers, a one person spaceship. Jasmin was destined for higher learning. Two more kidnapping attempts were thwarted when Jasmin robot sounded the alarm. One of her teachers, her math teacher told Jasmin's mother and grandfather that she was already completing a college level in both math and science, as well as certain literary works. Her mother didn't want to send her to the university because Jasmin couldn't get along with kids her own age, but was later convinced into letting her go to a big university in Mexico City, as long as her father, Jasmin grandfather accompanied her. Her governess/bodyguard also went with her. Jasmin was sad to leave her horse and her cats, but her grandfather agreed to take the cats with them. But she still missed her horse. All of this happened in Part I of the book. This book is written in three parts: Part I is from ages 4 to 14; Part II is her college life, starting at age 14; and Part III is her adjusting to Princeton University and learning about secrets from her grandfather's past. This was an excellently written book that I would recommend as required reading for high school and college students. I gave this book a 5 star rating and will be reading more books by this author in the future.
I received an advanced readers copy and have posted my honest review voluntarily.
"Stolen Diary" is a novel that was superbly written by Kathryn Lane. The research and mathematical, scientific, and musical genius of a young girl from the ages of 4 through adulthood was technically perfect. This book took me a few extra days to read because it was written with a lot of details. For instance, I have heard of Fibonacci but didn't know what the Fibonacci Sequence referred to until I read this book: adding the previous 2 numbers together to figure out what the next sequential number would be, such as 0+1, 1+1, 2+2, 4+4, 8+8, and so on, up through an infinitely large number. When you'd Jasmin was 4 years old, her maternal grandmother died. On her deathbed, she warned her daughter, Leticia, not to trust the child, but she didn't say why the child shouldn't be trusted. I think Grandma thought Jasmin was a witch because she could speak to animals, such as her new pony, and calm her down, calming down both child and animal. When Jazmin was 6 years, she went into town with her father, and while her dad was conducting business, Jasmin witnessed a kidnapping and her own near kidnapping when the kidnapper saw Jasmin father coming toward her. At the tender age of six, she gave her father a full account of both the girl who was kidnapped and the kidnapper, including sight and smell. When she became nervous, she would begin the Fibonacci Sequence, but she wouldn't start all over again. She started with the last number she left off with, even if that starting number was in the thousands. Another method she used in later years, when her grandfather was teaching her how to play the piano, was humming Beethoven's 9th Symphony, "Ode to Joy". She'd even sing all the words that were written by another composer many years later of "Ode to Joy". Since she loved math and physics, her grandfather hired a couple of tutors for Jasmin. He also hired a teacher for her to learn everything she needed to know about taking care of her pony. After the kidnapping incident, her grandfather hired a governess/teacher for her to always have somebody near her. I believe this woman was also a bodyguard. From the time Jasmin was 10 to 14, she build a robot alarm with a facial recognition device of all trusted family, staff, and teachers. By the time she was 14, she had also built, with the help of her grandfather's money and her math and physics teachers, a one person spaceship. Jasmin was destined for higher learning. Two more kidnapping attempts were thwarted when Jasmin robot sounded the alarm. One of her teachers, her math teacher told Jasmin's mother and grandfather that she was already completing a college level in both math and science, as well as certain literary works. Her mother didn't want to send her to the university because Jasmin couldn't get along with kids her own age, but was later convinced into letting her go to a big university in Mexico City, as long as her father, Jasmin grandfather accompanied her. Her governess/bodyguard also went with her. Jasmin was sad to leave her horse and her cats, but her grandfather agreed to take the cats with them. But she still missed her horse. All of this happened in Part I of the book. This book is written in three parts: Part I is from ages 4 to 14; Part II is her college life, starting at age 14; and Part III is her adjusting to Princeton University and learning about secrets from her grandfather's past. This was an excellently written book that I would recommend as required reading for high school and college students. I gave this book a 5 star rating and will be reading more books by this author in the future.
I received an advanced readers copy and have posted my honest review voluntarily.
November 22, 2025
Stolen Diary follows Jasmin, a gifted young girl raised in a tightly controlled world shaped by family secrets, emotional distance, and the heavy weight of expectations. As she uncovers the truth behind her mother’s mysterious diary, Jasmin begins a long journey of self-discovery that stretches across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The story blends coming-of-age tension with gentle mystery. It frames the inner life of a brilliant child who wants love, clarity, and a sense of place.
I found myself pulled in by the writing. The sentences feel smooth, simple, and clear. The author lets the scenes breathe, and I could feel Jasmin’s loneliness and her fierce desire to understand the world. Some moments hit me hard. The quiet pain in the family home, the mix of fear and longing, the strange way adults try to protect kids while also hurting them. I felt frustrated for her sometimes. I also felt proud when she found her own footing. The slower parts gave me time to sit with her thoughts, and that made the story feel honest.
The ideas in the book stayed with me. The balance between intellect and emotion. The pressure placed on children who shine in ways adults do not understand. The way trauma hides inside ordinary routines. I liked how the author handled these themes with gentle hands. Nothing felt forced. Sometimes I wanted sharper edges or more confrontation, yet the softer tone works for Jasmin’s world. It made the big emotional moments land with more force. I kept thinking about how families try hard yet still end up wounding each other.
I would recommend Stolen Diary to readers who enjoy intimate stories about growing up, especially those who like character-driven novels set against rich cultural backgrounds. It is a good fit for people who appreciate slow-building emotional journeys and mysteries that unfold quietly rather than loudly. If you want a thoughtful, heartfelt read that lingers in your mind, this book should suit you well.
I found myself pulled in by the writing. The sentences feel smooth, simple, and clear. The author lets the scenes breathe, and I could feel Jasmin’s loneliness and her fierce desire to understand the world. Some moments hit me hard. The quiet pain in the family home, the mix of fear and longing, the strange way adults try to protect kids while also hurting them. I felt frustrated for her sometimes. I also felt proud when she found her own footing. The slower parts gave me time to sit with her thoughts, and that made the story feel honest.
The ideas in the book stayed with me. The balance between intellect and emotion. The pressure placed on children who shine in ways adults do not understand. The way trauma hides inside ordinary routines. I liked how the author handled these themes with gentle hands. Nothing felt forced. Sometimes I wanted sharper edges or more confrontation, yet the softer tone works for Jasmin’s world. It made the big emotional moments land with more force. I kept thinking about how families try hard yet still end up wounding each other.
I would recommend Stolen Diary to readers who enjoy intimate stories about growing up, especially those who like character-driven novels set against rich cultural backgrounds. It is a good fit for people who appreciate slow-building emotional journeys and mysteries that unfold quietly rather than loudly. If you want a thoughtful, heartfelt read that lingers in your mind, this book should suit you well.
January 23, 2026
Stolen Diary by Kathryn Lane
That Tore A Family Apart
A suspenseful, character-driven journey of identity in a family where secrets tear them apart.
In this emotionally rich work of contemporary women’s fiction, Stolen Diary explores the fragile threads of family, motherhood, and self-discovery through the eyes of Jasmin—a socially withdrawn child prodigy whose brilliance in science and music cannot shield her from the pain of maternal rejection.
Raised by a disengaged mother and a doting grandfather, Jasmin seeks refuge in her imagination to escape her family’s web of secrets and unresolved relationships.
Driven by the need for answers, Jasmin steals her mother’s diary—a bold act that sets her on a suspenseful coming-of-age path of personal growth, resilience, and empowerment.
Stolen Diary is a literary exploration of strong female characters, the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, and the quiet power of self-esteem and emotional strength.
Stolen Diary by Kathryn Lane is a 3-star book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.
That Tore A Family Apart
A suspenseful, character-driven journey of identity in a family where secrets tear them apart.
In this emotionally rich work of contemporary women’s fiction, Stolen Diary explores the fragile threads of family, motherhood, and self-discovery through the eyes of Jasmin—a socially withdrawn child prodigy whose brilliance in science and music cannot shield her from the pain of maternal rejection.
Raised by a disengaged mother and a doting grandfather, Jasmin seeks refuge in her imagination to escape her family’s web of secrets and unresolved relationships.
Driven by the need for answers, Jasmin steals her mother’s diary—a bold act that sets her on a suspenseful coming-of-age path of personal growth, resilience, and empowerment.
Stolen Diary is a literary exploration of strong female characters, the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, and the quiet power of self-esteem and emotional strength.
Stolen Diary by Kathryn Lane is a 3-star book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.
July 8, 2025
Stolen Diary is a deeply moving story about Jasmin, a brilliant young girl caught in a tangle of family secrets, emotional distance, and a longing for her mother’s love. Her curiosity leads her to a stolen diary and a truth that changes everything. I was completely drawn in by Jasmin’s determination and emotional honesty—there’s something universally powerful about a child just wanting to be seen and loved. This book hit me right in the heart, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it after I finished. If you enjoy character-driven stories about family and personal discovery, this one’s worth the read.
October 2, 2025
Interesting storyline
Stolen Diary weaves the tale of a young genius growing up in a family of secrets. Jasmin, a young girl with a genius-level aptitude for science and math, has a close relationship with her grandfather and father. She struggles to understand why her mother dislikes her so much. The plot is an interplay of relationships: between Jasmin and grandfather, Jasmin and private instructors, demons from the past, and coming of age. The diary and Leticia, Jasmin's mother, are minor to the plot but are important devices as the present collides with the past. Rich cultural details further enhance this story.
Stolen Diary weaves the tale of a young genius growing up in a family of secrets. Jasmin, a young girl with a genius-level aptitude for science and math, has a close relationship with her grandfather and father. She struggles to understand why her mother dislikes her so much. The plot is an interplay of relationships: between Jasmin and grandfather, Jasmin and private instructors, demons from the past, and coming of age. The diary and Leticia, Jasmin's mother, are minor to the plot but are important devices as the present collides with the past. Rich cultural details further enhance this story.
January 29, 2026
Secretos Robados: Secretos Que Desgarraron A Una Familia de Kathryn Lane Terrazas es una historia emotiva y profundamente humana sobre identidad, verdad y sanación emocional. A través de Jasmín, una niña prodigio en matemáticas y música, la novela explora el peso del silencio familiar y el impacto de los secretos no revelados. El descubrimiento del diario de su madre desencadena un viaje de autoconocimiento lleno de sensibilidad, resiliencia y crecimiento interior. Es una lectura conmovedora para quienes disfrutan de dramas familiares, ficción femenina contemporánea y relatos centrados en la complejidad del vínculo entre madre e hija.
July 21, 2025
The Stolen Diary by Kathryn Lane had an intriguing premise, exploring the life of a young girl with a brilliant mind but a tumultuous emotional landscape.
While the writing style didn't quite resonate with me, the story itself was easy to follow, and the protagonist was likable and relatable. The book was emotional and heartwarming, but ultimately, it wasn't for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tortuga Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.
While the writing style didn't quite resonate with me, the story itself was easy to follow, and the protagonist was likable and relatable. The book was emotional and heartwarming, but ultimately, it wasn't for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tortuga Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 27, 2025
This is a very good book. This book takes place in modern day Mexico. The main character, Jasmin, is a young girl that is a mathematical genius. Her grandfather realizes this when she is very young and employs tutors for her throughout the book. Her mother and grandmother dislike Jasmin very much, and there seems to be quite a bit of jealousy on their part. The story runs from age four to about fifteen, when Jasmin has questions about the family secrets and finally gets answers.
July 7, 2025
Hold onto your diaries, folks—Stolen Diary is a wild ride through genius brains, secret pain, and family DRAMA. 🧠💥 I mean, Jasmin’s out here trying to launch a spaceship and decode her mom’s cold vibes? Yes, please! I devoured this story because it gave me feels, twists, and serious “What would I do?” moments. So good. So juicy. So NOT skippable. 🚀✨📖
January 28, 2023
A good read
This is an excellent mystery. So many twists and turns ,just when I thought I had it figured it out,another turn. The only objection was too many technical parts that I had to skip over to get back to the plot. Highly recommend this book and others by Kathryn Lane
This is an excellent mystery. So many twists and turns ,just when I thought I had it figured it out,another turn. The only objection was too many technical parts that I had to skip over to get back to the plot. Highly recommend this book and others by Kathryn Lane
July 3, 2025
Diary Unlocked, Secrets Unleashed!
Stolen Diary is an emotionally-charged rollercoaster of genius-level dreams, mother-daughter drama, and gut-punch revelations that had me flipping pages like I was chasing secrets myself.
Stolen Diary is an emotionally-charged rollercoaster of genius-level dreams, mother-daughter drama, and gut-punch revelations that had me flipping pages like I was chasing secrets myself.
November 6, 2025
This is the story of a supremely gifted young Mexican girl from a wealthy family. Her lack of social skills combined with the family's over protection produce an awkward although brilliant young woman. Her complicated family history exacerbates matters. Set in Puebla near Mexico City.
February 19, 2023
stolen diary
This author has a way words and story characters that will keep you turning the pages. I would recommend this book.
This author has a way words and story characters that will keep you turning the pages. I would recommend this book.
October 28, 2023
Excellent FunBook
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this - it was fun, with a bit of mystery and most of all it totally captured my attention.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this - it was fun, with a bit of mystery and most of all it totally captured my attention.
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March 27, 2026Fome 😐
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews