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Emily Bradford #2
The Secret of the Stone House
Twelve-year-old Emily Bradford travels back in time to discover a secret about her grandmother's stone house. She also learns how to accept her parents' divorce and change her relationship with her mother. Times are hard for Emily Bradford. Her beloved Grandmother Renfrew has died and her mother can't afford to keep the family's beautiful old stone farmhouse. Emily and her mom, Kate, are driving to the house to help auction off its contents.
At the same time, Emily's parents are divorcing and Emily fears her father won't have time for her any more. And her mom's driving her crazy with her obsessively organized and bossy ways.
But Emily has a wonderful secret. She's learned to travel into the past - to the time her forebears were building the stone house. She sees her grandmother as a child and becomes friends with her great-uncle Geordie as a boy of twelve.
In the past, Emily learns to understand her mother better and discovers a powerful secret contained in the old house--a secret that will help her explore her family's roots in Scotland. And she may even have a way to keep the stone house in the family.
At the same time, Emily's parents are divorcing and Emily fears her father won't have time for her any more. And her mom's driving her crazy with her obsessively organized and bossy ways.
But Emily has a wonderful secret. She's learned to travel into the past - to the time her forebears were building the stone house. She sees her grandmother as a child and becomes friends with her great-uncle Geordie as a boy of twelve.
In the past, Emily learns to understand her mother better and discovers a powerful secret contained in the old house--a secret that will help her explore her family's roots in Scotland. And she may even have a way to keep the stone house in the family.
217 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 22, 2025
The Secret of the Stone House is a gentle, heartfelt novel that quietly works its way into your emotions and leaves a lasting impression. Judith Silverthorne has crafted a story that is both timeless and deeply personal—a tender exploration of grief, family history, and the fragile process of growing up in the midst of change.
At the heart of the novel is twelve-year-old Emily Bradford, a girl caught in the emotional crossfire of her parents’ divorce and the recent death of her beloved grandmother. From the moment Emily and her mother return to the old stone farmhouse to prepare for its auction, there is a sense of sadness and loss—but also of something magical waiting just beneath the surface.
Silverthorne’s touch with time travel is subtle and beautifully woven into the emotional narrative. Emily’s journey into the past—where she meets her grandmother as a child and befriends her great-uncle Geordie—is not just a clever plot device, but a way to explore generational memory and emotional healing. These scenes brim with warmth and authenticity, and there’s something quietly wondrous about watching Emily piece together her family’s story, even as her own present-day world feels uncertain.
One of the novel’s most moving achievements is how it gently transforms Emily’s relationship with her mother. Through glimpses into the past, she begins to see her mother not just as a frustrating adult, but as someone shaped by the same people and struggles. It’s a subtle shift, but deeply meaningful—one that young readers and parents alike will recognize with a pang of recognition.
Silverthorne’s writing is evocative without being overbearing, and her respect for the emotional intelligence of young readers shines through every chapter. The setting—an old stone farmhouse steeped in family history—becomes almost a character in its own right, a vessel of memory and hope. By the time Emily uncovers the house’s secret, we’re as invested as she is in its preservation—not just as a structure, but as a symbol of connection and belonging.
The Secret of the Stone House is a rare kind of book: one that offers quiet magic, emotional resonance, and a deep sense of place. It speaks to anyone who has ever felt the pull of family history or struggled to make sense of change. A moving, beautifully told story for thoughtful readers of all ages.
At the heart of the novel is twelve-year-old Emily Bradford, a girl caught in the emotional crossfire of her parents’ divorce and the recent death of her beloved grandmother. From the moment Emily and her mother return to the old stone farmhouse to prepare for its auction, there is a sense of sadness and loss—but also of something magical waiting just beneath the surface.
Silverthorne’s touch with time travel is subtle and beautifully woven into the emotional narrative. Emily’s journey into the past—where she meets her grandmother as a child and befriends her great-uncle Geordie—is not just a clever plot device, but a way to explore generational memory and emotional healing. These scenes brim with warmth and authenticity, and there’s something quietly wondrous about watching Emily piece together her family’s story, even as her own present-day world feels uncertain.
One of the novel’s most moving achievements is how it gently transforms Emily’s relationship with her mother. Through glimpses into the past, she begins to see her mother not just as a frustrating adult, but as someone shaped by the same people and struggles. It’s a subtle shift, but deeply meaningful—one that young readers and parents alike will recognize with a pang of recognition.
Silverthorne’s writing is evocative without being overbearing, and her respect for the emotional intelligence of young readers shines through every chapter. The setting—an old stone farmhouse steeped in family history—becomes almost a character in its own right, a vessel of memory and hope. By the time Emily uncovers the house’s secret, we’re as invested as she is in its preservation—not just as a structure, but as a symbol of connection and belonging.
The Secret of the Stone House is a rare kind of book: one that offers quiet magic, emotional resonance, and a deep sense of place. It speaks to anyone who has ever felt the pull of family history or struggled to make sense of change. A moving, beautifully told story for thoughtful readers of all ages.
June 18, 2018
My favorite part was when Emily's mother was finally considering keeping the stone house of her grandmother. My least favorite part was when Emily was caught in the past in a prairie fire, and came back all dirty and had no explanation about what happened except the truth, which they didn't believe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2024
A great local book for youth and you have adults.
January 26, 2016
I LOVE this book!! It is amazing!!!!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews