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The Secrets of Hawthorne House
Fifteen-year-old Matt Mitchell was having the worst summer imaginable. Matt's misery started when a drunk driver killed his mother, and his father moved him and his sister to a small town in rural Indiana, as far as his grieving father could get from the ocean that Matt's mother had loved. At the new high school, three bullies were determined to make Matt miserable. And to top it off, Matt learned that the recluse in the dilapidated Victorian mansion next door was none other than Old Lady Hawthorne, the town’s infamous witch and murderer. Matt’s terrible summer was turning into an awful autumn when something quite unexpected happened. Old Lady Hawthorne’s niece and her three children moved in next door, Matt met Gerallt, and his life changed forever.
422 pages, Paperback
Published September 28, 2018
34 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
About the author
Donald Firesmith
31 books363 followersDonald Firesmith is a multi-award-winning author of speculative fiction including science fiction (alien invasion), fantasy (magical wands), modern urban paranormal novels, and horror short stories and poetry.
Before retiring in 2020 to devote himself full-time to his novels, Donald Firesmith earned an international reputation as a distinguished engineer, authoring seven system/software engineering books based on his 40+ years spent developing large, complex software-intensive systems.
He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his wife Becky, his daughter Sera, and varying numbers of dogs and cats.
You can learn more about the author by visiting his personal website:
http://donaldfiresmith.com
His magical wands and autographed copies of his books are also available from the Firesmith’s Wand Shoppe at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FiresmithWa...
Before retiring in 2020 to devote himself full-time to his novels, Donald Firesmith earned an international reputation as a distinguished engineer, authoring seven system/software engineering books based on his 40+ years spent developing large, complex software-intensive systems.
He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his wife Becky, his daughter Sera, and varying numbers of dogs and cats.
You can learn more about the author by visiting his personal website:
http://donaldfiresmith.com
His magical wands and autographed copies of his books are also available from the Firesmith’s Wand Shoppe at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FiresmithWa...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
March 10, 2019
Matt is new in town, and everyone seems to be obsessed with the spooky house next door. Matt just isn’t seeing it. It’s old, creepy and has seen better days, but he doesn’t believe the lady who lives there is a witch.
The secret of Hawthorne house is a hot topic around this town. It’s the stuff of legends and spooky stories. This is the story of friendship and mystery. Every house has a story, every town has a history, and every new kid needs to experience what the town has to offer. This town is more than Matt realises. One creepy house is just the start of a historical story.
I don’t read many middle school books, but this one had an interesting plot and I enjoyed the change of scenery. I joined up to the book tour and received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4 out of 5.
The secret of Hawthorne house is a hot topic around this town. It’s the stuff of legends and spooky stories. This is the story of friendship and mystery. Every house has a story, every town has a history, and every new kid needs to experience what the town has to offer. This town is more than Matt realises. One creepy house is just the start of a historical story.
I don’t read many middle school books, but this one had an interesting plot and I enjoyed the change of scenery. I joined up to the book tour and received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4 out of 5.
October 13, 2019
3.75 stars.
It was fun reading this book and I miss reading some middle grade that I gobbled it up and finished it in two sittings! I really needed that break from YA.
The story is about Matt who moved to Hawthorne after his mother died in an accident and meets Gerallt a few days later who moved next door. They quickly become friends and eventually Gerallt tells Matt their family secret.
The book was simple and no major predicaments happen since it is a middle grade book with all the problems being conveniently solved and never reappearing. Regardless, I loved how both the families bonded with each other and found the Hawthorne's secret and lore to be interesting enough.
However, I have a few problems with some stuff in the book.
First, I can't help but feel like some conversations were too childish despite the characters involved are adults and a few conversations were unrealistic in how they went.
Second, the main characters are around 15 year olds but the way they talked and acted felt like they were thirteen. I wished the sisters had more moments too.
Lastly, I'm not a big fan of bullied having a revenge moment since it just makes them the same as the bullies in my opinion. In the chapter right after Gerallt explained that the magic powers they have is sacred, he uses said powers to pull tons of pranks on the bullies then making them go down on their knees to apologise.
Overall, the book was fun and a good break from all the drama events that happens in YAs. It wasn't as sinister as it sounded from the sypnosis but it was great nonetheless. Definitely will continue with the series when I need another break!
Thank you BookSirens for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.
It was fun reading this book and I miss reading some middle grade that I gobbled it up and finished it in two sittings! I really needed that break from YA.
The story is about Matt who moved to Hawthorne after his mother died in an accident and meets Gerallt a few days later who moved next door. They quickly become friends and eventually Gerallt tells Matt their family secret.
The book was simple and no major predicaments happen since it is a middle grade book with all the problems being conveniently solved and never reappearing. Regardless, I loved how both the families bonded with each other and found the Hawthorne's secret and lore to be interesting enough.
However, I have a few problems with some stuff in the book.
First, I can't help but feel like some conversations were too childish despite the characters involved are adults and a few conversations were unrealistic in how they went.
Second, the main characters are around 15 year olds but the way they talked and acted felt like they were thirteen. I wished the sisters had more moments too.
Lastly, I'm not a big fan of bullied having a revenge moment since it just makes them the same as the bullies in my opinion. In the chapter right after Gerallt explained that the magic powers they have is sacred, he uses said powers to pull tons of pranks on the bullies then making them go down on their knees to apologise.
Overall, the book was fun and a good break from all the drama events that happens in YAs. It wasn't as sinister as it sounded from the sypnosis but it was great nonetheless. Definitely will continue with the series when I need another break!
Thank you BookSirens for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.
July 24, 2019
4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
eBook provided by BookSirens and the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Secrets Of Hawthorne House by Donald Firesmith is a coming of age paranormal fantasy that follows fifteen-year-old Matt Mitchell after his father moves him and his sister to a small town in rural Indiana following the death of his mother who was killed in a drunk driving accident. Matt soon hears rumors that he's moved next door to the town's resident witch (Old Lady Hawthorne) who may or may not be responsible for the death of her husband and former best friend. When Old Lady Hawthorne's niece and three children move in with her- Matt makes an unexpected friend, and his life suddenly changes forever.
If you're looking for a light-hearted read about magic and friendship- this one's for you friends! This book also covers topics such as grief, and bullying! It's safe to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this one, and I honestly can't believe more people haven't read it!
I could sit here and gush about this one all day, but I'll wrap this review up by saying that there wasn't much that I didn't love about this! The writing was good, the pacing was never off, the characters were highly likable, and the plot was clearly well thought out!
eBook provided by BookSirens and the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Secrets Of Hawthorne House by Donald Firesmith is a coming of age paranormal fantasy that follows fifteen-year-old Matt Mitchell after his father moves him and his sister to a small town in rural Indiana following the death of his mother who was killed in a drunk driving accident. Matt soon hears rumors that he's moved next door to the town's resident witch (Old Lady Hawthorne) who may or may not be responsible for the death of her husband and former best friend. When Old Lady Hawthorne's niece and three children move in with her- Matt makes an unexpected friend, and his life suddenly changes forever.
If you're looking for a light-hearted read about magic and friendship- this one's for you friends! This book also covers topics such as grief, and bullying! It's safe to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this one, and I honestly can't believe more people haven't read it!
I could sit here and gush about this one all day, but I'll wrap this review up by saying that there wasn't much that I didn't love about this! The writing was good, the pacing was never off, the characters were highly likable, and the plot was clearly well thought out!
July 6, 2019
When Matt's mother dies in a car crash, his father moves him and his sister away from the Ocean to a place called Hawthorne. Little does he know that next door to him are some very magical neighbors. Can he survive his new high school, survive the bullies, and become friends with the neighbors who the town thinks live in a haunted house and are witches? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a pretty good fantasy magical middle grade story about friendship, standing up to bullies and more. If you love these types of stories, be sure to look for this book wherever ebooks are sold.
This was a pretty good fantasy magical middle grade story about friendship, standing up to bullies and more. If you love these types of stories, be sure to look for this book wherever ebooks are sold.
October 20, 2019
This was one fun book with spooky elements and mystery captured in eerie Hawthorne House filled with secrets and a buried treasure.
After the death of his mother, 15-year-old Matt and his twin sister were relocated by their father to the twin of Hawthorne. Difficult times came with the loss of a loved one, bullied in school and living next door to a supposed witch and murder added to their woes. When the niece and her children moved in with the witch, Matt made a new friend and life became an adventure.
A good book by author Donald Firesmith, where I was pulled in after the first few pages. I love any book which has a mystery in it whatever be the age of protagonist. The writing encapsulated the emotions and the vibes of the children's story in most parts. Magic weaved in, and a spirit of adventure soon gripped me as the kids found a way to their problems.
A few niggles, some parts felt too descriptive, certain things felt off. But they didn't detract anything from the main story. Acceptance of different ways of life and standing up to bullies were the main themes forming the tapestry of the story along with adventure.
Overall, friendship and fun, spooks and secrets, witches and magic made this a fun breakfast read.
After the death of his mother, 15-year-old Matt and his twin sister were relocated by their father to the twin of Hawthorne. Difficult times came with the loss of a loved one, bullied in school and living next door to a supposed witch and murder added to their woes. When the niece and her children moved in with the witch, Matt made a new friend and life became an adventure.
A good book by author Donald Firesmith, where I was pulled in after the first few pages. I love any book which has a mystery in it whatever be the age of protagonist. The writing encapsulated the emotions and the vibes of the children's story in most parts. Magic weaved in, and a spirit of adventure soon gripped me as the kids found a way to their problems.
A few niggles, some parts felt too descriptive, certain things felt off. But they didn't detract anything from the main story. Acceptance of different ways of life and standing up to bullies were the main themes forming the tapestry of the story along with adventure.
Overall, friendship and fun, spooks and secrets, witches and magic made this a fun breakfast read.
September 24, 2020
A spooky, thrilling read about a gothic manor and the strange family living within its walls. "The Secrets of Hawthorne House" by Donald Firesmith was a light-hearted novel about overcoming grief, working together as a family, and the importance of making good friends.
I truly enjoyed this novel! The friendship between Matt and Gerallt was entertaining, humorous, and full of non-stop action. They are a great example of what it means to have a true friend who always has your back, won't let any harm come your way, will fight battles by your side, and refuses to let anyone think wrongly of the other. The small town of Hawthorne, Indiana feels like a familiar place due to Firesmith's brilliant and visceral writing. It's a wonderful tiny and unassuming town to focus on mysteries, gothic structures, and a lady who may or may not be the witch the locals believe she is. Add in some fantasy elements, a few bullies who need to be put in their place, and a woman who has long been misunderstood, and Firesmith has created a journey that promises to be anything but boring!
Thank you to BookSirens for providing a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
I truly enjoyed this novel! The friendship between Matt and Gerallt was entertaining, humorous, and full of non-stop action. They are a great example of what it means to have a true friend who always has your back, won't let any harm come your way, will fight battles by your side, and refuses to let anyone think wrongly of the other. The small town of Hawthorne, Indiana feels like a familiar place due to Firesmith's brilliant and visceral writing. It's a wonderful tiny and unassuming town to focus on mysteries, gothic structures, and a lady who may or may not be the witch the locals believe she is. Add in some fantasy elements, a few bullies who need to be put in their place, and a woman who has long been misunderstood, and Firesmith has created a journey that promises to be anything but boring!
Thank you to BookSirens for providing a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
March 30, 2024
“The Secrets of Hawthorne House” is told from a 3rd person point of view, focused primarily on Matt Mitchell—the main character. Matt and his twin sister are 15-years-old when their mother dies unexpectedly. Their father then moves them to a new town several states away and they start their first year of high school, where Matt has a difficult time fitting in and becomes the target of bullies. The story takes a fascinating turn when mystery and magic are brought into Matt’s life through his eerie neighbors and their dark secrets.
"The Secrets of Hawthorne House" is a fantasy book with an interesting story concept that I somewhat enjoyed. I personally could have done without its profanity/profane expletives and its portrayal of New Age content. I also found this book to be quite wordy without much really happening, which made a lot of its content fall flat. This book also doesn't seem fitting for the kids it is intended for. That being said, I'm giving this book 2.5/5 stars.
Note: I received “The Secrets of Hawthorne House” from its author and/or publisher via BookSirens in exchange for my honest review.
"The Secrets of Hawthorne House" is a fantasy book with an interesting story concept that I somewhat enjoyed. I personally could have done without its profanity/profane expletives and its portrayal of New Age content. I also found this book to be quite wordy without much really happening, which made a lot of its content fall flat. This book also doesn't seem fitting for the kids it is intended for. That being said, I'm giving this book 2.5/5 stars.
Note: I received “The Secrets of Hawthorne House” from its author and/or publisher via BookSirens in exchange for my honest review.
April 19, 2019
A standalone paranormal fantasy novel for Young Adult readers and revolving around a pair of unlikely friends who have both recently moved to Hawthorne, Indiana. I wouldn't mind seeing this as a series...
My Take
For the first couple of paragraphs I dove in with delight, and then slowed. Firesmith was way too descriptive. Incredibly wordy! And then I slid all the way in, enjoying The Secrets of Hawthorne House with its focus on faith. And I did like Gerallt's explanation of magic!
I loved that the boys stood up to the bullies and the loyalty of each of them to the other. The costuming and lifestyle of the Hawthornes was fascinating. I did have to wonder why it was still necessary for the candles and all, but it was a pip. And I certainly got hungry reading of Vivianne's and Gwendolyn's cooking!
It's not just the bullying, but the nasty gossip that destroys people, which runs with a subtheme about ignorance and bigotry. Then there's that contrast between Matt's and Gerallt's lifestyles that provides yet more interest, and with Firesmith using third person point-of-view, we get an impersonal perspective from all sides.
A few niggles. Why would Sam think he'd actually be able to cut it as a computer programmer? I'm not too keen on Matt's self entitlement. The "accent" was annoying, and yet I do understand why Firesmith made use of it. Then there's Matt taking everyone out to dinner when he claims they're so broke.
What's with the bullies? How can teachers not know who the bullies are? It is unacceptable that these creeps are allowed to get away with it! As for their parents!?! WTF?? This is part of the problem with parents, that they refuse to listen to their children's side of things. That they simply believe whatever the other side, the teachers, tell them without understanding that there are always two sides to any issue. What an incredible disservice to their own children! Oh, sure, I can believe that a parent who truly knows their child is bad would believe the teacher over their child, but these parents??? When they've never had trouble with them before?? No.
There's plenty of conflict: the bullies, the familial losses, the money issues of all three, religious and cultural differences, fears about witches and their craft, science versus faith, and those idiotic school employees who believe they can diagnose psychological issues.
Nor is the action lacking. I've already mentioned the bullies, and there's also the assault, the treasure hunt, and Matt's arrogance.
The Story
Life is forever changed when Matt's mother is killed, and their father uproots them from everything they know.
But Matt's life will change forever when a family of druids moves into the dilapidated Victorian mansion next door.
The Characters
Fifteen-year-old Matt Mitchell is more nerd than his popular twin sister, Tina. Their dad, Sam, taught intro to programming back at Port Orford High School. Midnight is the family cat. Their artist mother was killed by a drunk driver back in Port Orford, Oregon. Uncle James.
The Hawthorne House
Vivianne Hawthorne Carter, a.k.a., Old Lady Hawthorne, has been a recluse for decades. She's the daughter of Henry and Rhiannon. Vivianne had married John Carter who ran off with Mary Collins, Vivianne's best friend. Gwendolyn Hawthorne is Vivianne's niece whose fisherman husband, Medwyn, died. Her children — Gwyneth, Gerallt, and Gareth — and her accepted Vivianne's invitation. Nightshade and Belladonna are the family cats. Nightwing is Gerallt's crow. Shadow is Gareth's squirrel.
Ezekiel Hawthorne founded the town of Hawthorne in 1826. Harold was his son who worked hard to increase the family fortune and founded the Northern Indiana Railroad Company. Henry Hubertus Hawthorne was Harold's son who married Rhiannon Llewellyn from Deer Isle. Their children were Morgan and Vivianne.
Hawthorne High School
Fellow students include the much picked-upon Sarah Duffy who runs the A/V; Harper, and Paul Stephens who had also lost his mother to a car accident. Clayton Cartwright, Dylan Jones, and Colin O'Connell are bullies. Brad O'Connell is one of Colin's cousins, and his nastiness seems to run int he family.
Marcus Thompson is the American History teacher interested in the why, Tanner is the principal, Mrs Fletcher is at the principal's front desk, Mrs McKinney teaches English, and Mr Armstrong is the gym teacher.
Modron is the great mother goddess the Hawthornes worship. The High Coven is the ruling body of all druids. George Smith is a scumbag of a handyman. Peter Henderson of Peter's Pawn Shop isn't too picky.
The Cover and Title
The cover is DARK with a cloudy yet bright deep blue sky and a full moon. The background is a dilapidated Victorian mansion with turrets on either end and a light burning in an upper window. A bare tree is to the house's left. A broken down fence separates the house from a young boy, carrying a backpack, trudging past the house on a broken sidewalk. The author's name is at the top in white. The title is in a fun gothic font in shades of yellow and orange.
The title is what it's all about, The Secrets of Hawthorne House.
My Take
For the first couple of paragraphs I dove in with delight, and then slowed. Firesmith was way too descriptive. Incredibly wordy! And then I slid all the way in, enjoying The Secrets of Hawthorne House with its focus on faith. And I did like Gerallt's explanation of magic!
I loved that the boys stood up to the bullies and the loyalty of each of them to the other. The costuming and lifestyle of the Hawthornes was fascinating. I did have to wonder why it was still necessary for the candles and all, but it was a pip. And I certainly got hungry reading of Vivianne's and Gwendolyn's cooking!
It's not just the bullying, but the nasty gossip that destroys people, which runs with a subtheme about ignorance and bigotry. Then there's that contrast between Matt's and Gerallt's lifestyles that provides yet more interest, and with Firesmith using third person point-of-view, we get an impersonal perspective from all sides.
A few niggles. Why would Sam think he'd actually be able to cut it as a computer programmer? I'm not too keen on Matt's self entitlement. The "accent" was annoying, and yet I do understand why Firesmith made use of it. Then there's Matt taking everyone out to dinner when he claims they're so broke.
What's with the bullies? How can teachers not know who the bullies are? It is unacceptable that these creeps are allowed to get away with it! As for their parents!?! WTF?? This is part of the problem with parents, that they refuse to listen to their children's side of things. That they simply believe whatever the other side, the teachers, tell them without understanding that there are always two sides to any issue. What an incredible disservice to their own children! Oh, sure, I can believe that a parent who truly knows their child is bad would believe the teacher over their child, but these parents??? When they've never had trouble with them before?? No.
There's plenty of conflict: the bullies, the familial losses, the money issues of all three, religious and cultural differences, fears about witches and their craft, science versus faith, and those idiotic school employees who believe they can diagnose psychological issues.
Nor is the action lacking. I've already mentioned the bullies, and there's also the assault, the treasure hunt, and Matt's arrogance.
The Story
Life is forever changed when Matt's mother is killed, and their father uproots them from everything they know.
But Matt's life will change forever when a family of druids moves into the dilapidated Victorian mansion next door.
The Characters
Fifteen-year-old Matt Mitchell is more nerd than his popular twin sister, Tina. Their dad, Sam, taught intro to programming back at Port Orford High School. Midnight is the family cat. Their artist mother was killed by a drunk driver back in Port Orford, Oregon. Uncle James.
The Hawthorne House
Vivianne Hawthorne Carter, a.k.a., Old Lady Hawthorne, has been a recluse for decades. She's the daughter of Henry and Rhiannon. Vivianne had married John Carter who ran off with Mary Collins, Vivianne's best friend. Gwendolyn Hawthorne is Vivianne's niece whose fisherman husband, Medwyn, died. Her children — Gwyneth, Gerallt, and Gareth — and her accepted Vivianne's invitation. Nightshade and Belladonna are the family cats. Nightwing is Gerallt's crow. Shadow is Gareth's squirrel.
Ezekiel Hawthorne founded the town of Hawthorne in 1826. Harold was his son who worked hard to increase the family fortune and founded the Northern Indiana Railroad Company. Henry Hubertus Hawthorne was Harold's son who married Rhiannon Llewellyn from Deer Isle. Their children were Morgan and Vivianne.
Hawthorne High School
Fellow students include the much picked-upon Sarah Duffy who runs the A/V; Harper, and Paul Stephens who had also lost his mother to a car accident. Clayton Cartwright, Dylan Jones, and Colin O'Connell are bullies. Brad O'Connell is one of Colin's cousins, and his nastiness seems to run int he family.
Marcus Thompson is the American History teacher interested in the why, Tanner is the principal, Mrs Fletcher is at the principal's front desk, Mrs McKinney teaches English, and Mr Armstrong is the gym teacher.
Modron is the great mother goddess the Hawthornes worship. The High Coven is the ruling body of all druids. George Smith is a scumbag of a handyman. Peter Henderson of Peter's Pawn Shop isn't too picky.
The Cover and Title
The cover is DARK with a cloudy yet bright deep blue sky and a full moon. The background is a dilapidated Victorian mansion with turrets on either end and a light burning in an upper window. A bare tree is to the house's left. A broken down fence separates the house from a young boy, carrying a backpack, trudging past the house on a broken sidewalk. The author's name is at the top in white. The title is in a fun gothic font in shades of yellow and orange.
The title is what it's all about, The Secrets of Hawthorne House.
May 20, 2019
I loved this book and never took my eyes off the pages! How Gerallt used his magic to defend himself from the bullies was hilarious and I found myself frequently laughing out loud! The plotline was extremely creative and I loved how it kept constantly changing and evolving into new issues. Every chapter was a new adventure. The theme of acceptance is very clear and the bullying extremely realistic. I'm not typically a fan of male protagonists, but Matt has such a kind heart that he is impossible to dislike! Read more of my review at https://pagesforthoughts.blogspot.com...
September 28, 2019
Read this book!
Excellent, amazing, fantastic! What begins as a sad, almost horror story turns into a refreshing story of friendship, love, and family. Beautifully written with enough little twists to keep the mysteries going, the characters are fully realized and genuinely interesting. I can't wait for more of the Hawthornes.
Excellent, amazing, fantastic! What begins as a sad, almost horror story turns into a refreshing story of friendship, love, and family. Beautifully written with enough little twists to keep the mysteries going, the characters are fully realized and genuinely interesting. I can't wait for more of the Hawthornes.
July 30, 2019
3.5 Stars
I did enjoy this book, I did. However I am not really sure where it is going and it seems to be a bit of a mish mash of ideas and genres. It does deal with everything well and reads almost like you are a fly on the wall of the families concerned (the mysterious Hawthorne family and the far more regular Mitchell family). This does mean that there is a lot of the minutiae of life to wade through - actually this was no bad thing as it helps you submerge yourself in the fictional world that the author has created and it makes the characters feel very real. The down side to this is that I never really understood where the author was intending to take the tale and, indeed, nothing is ever really resolved and there is no natural segue in to a second book to explore the paranormal theme that is touted as the genre the book is lodged in. In actual fact, I found that the paranormal aspect was maybe a tenth of the tale and got lost amongst the themes of dealing with the death of a parent, moving to new town, being a new kid at school and just trying to get through being a teenager.
The main thing that annoyed me was the Hawthorne family's speech. We get it, they are from Maine and have a specific accent. However, I found it entirely unnecessary to litter the text with "ah's" to show their speech patterns. In fact, each time I picked the book up it grated afresh to see "heah" or "fathah". A few pages in each reading session and I did find I could overlook it as I was enjoying the rather work-a-day storylines but it was a constant annoyance and I felt it was completely unnecessary and was a distraction from the story being told.
I also had issues with the paranormal element of the story. Supposedly the Hawthornes are descended from Ancient Britons, specifically Druids, and worship an obscure Goddess (Modrun) who has imbued them with powers via artifacts gifted to their ancestors and subsequently passed down through innumerable generations. The whole clutching your amulet or wand and praying in pidgeon Latin to the Goddess to get what you want made me feel ever so slightly uncomfortable. I get that it is a fairly unique take on where Power comes from but I think I would have preferred it if they just had Power and used the artifacts to concentrate their mind to achieve their aims instead of some hokey pseudo-religious aspect to it all.
The characters themselves are pretty good and do come alive on the page. You expect Gerallt, Gareth and Gwyneth to be fairly naive and almost other-worldly after being raised in almost total isolation at Deer Isle within a like-minded community. What you don't expect is for Matt Mitchell to be as naive as they are, for a 21st Century 15 year old he does seem particularly "young" with an outlook that felt more like a 10 year old than his purported age. We don't learn much about his fraternal twin Tina but she does seem to be more akin to a modern teenager.
On the whole this is a gentle tale, told at a lilting pace that deceptively sucks you in to the lives of these two transplanted families. There is a lot to enjoy here and enjoy it I did; despite the issues raised above.
THIS IS AN HONEST REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK KINDLY SUPPLIED BY THE AUTHOR.
I did enjoy this book, I did. However I am not really sure where it is going and it seems to be a bit of a mish mash of ideas and genres. It does deal with everything well and reads almost like you are a fly on the wall of the families concerned (the mysterious Hawthorne family and the far more regular Mitchell family). This does mean that there is a lot of the minutiae of life to wade through - actually this was no bad thing as it helps you submerge yourself in the fictional world that the author has created and it makes the characters feel very real. The down side to this is that I never really understood where the author was intending to take the tale and, indeed, nothing is ever really resolved and there is no natural segue in to a second book to explore the paranormal theme that is touted as the genre the book is lodged in. In actual fact, I found that the paranormal aspect was maybe a tenth of the tale and got lost amongst the themes of dealing with the death of a parent, moving to new town, being a new kid at school and just trying to get through being a teenager.
The main thing that annoyed me was the Hawthorne family's speech. We get it, they are from Maine and have a specific accent. However, I found it entirely unnecessary to litter the text with "ah's" to show their speech patterns. In fact, each time I picked the book up it grated afresh to see "heah" or "fathah". A few pages in each reading session and I did find I could overlook it as I was enjoying the rather work-a-day storylines but it was a constant annoyance and I felt it was completely unnecessary and was a distraction from the story being told.
I also had issues with the paranormal element of the story. Supposedly the Hawthornes are descended from Ancient Britons, specifically Druids, and worship an obscure Goddess (Modrun) who has imbued them with powers via artifacts gifted to their ancestors and subsequently passed down through innumerable generations. The whole clutching your amulet or wand and praying in pidgeon Latin to the Goddess to get what you want made me feel ever so slightly uncomfortable. I get that it is a fairly unique take on where Power comes from but I think I would have preferred it if they just had Power and used the artifacts to concentrate their mind to achieve their aims instead of some hokey pseudo-religious aspect to it all.
The characters themselves are pretty good and do come alive on the page. You expect Gerallt, Gareth and Gwyneth to be fairly naive and almost other-worldly after being raised in almost total isolation at Deer Isle within a like-minded community. What you don't expect is for Matt Mitchell to be as naive as they are, for a 21st Century 15 year old he does seem particularly "young" with an outlook that felt more like a 10 year old than his purported age. We don't learn much about his fraternal twin Tina but she does seem to be more akin to a modern teenager.
On the whole this is a gentle tale, told at a lilting pace that deceptively sucks you in to the lives of these two transplanted families. There is a lot to enjoy here and enjoy it I did; despite the issues raised above.
THIS IS AN HONEST REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK KINDLY SUPPLIED BY THE AUTHOR.
August 25, 2019
This delightful middle-grade novel is about two 15 year old boys each with different backgrounds, but a shared grief. Matt recently lost his mother, Garellt lost his father, and both ended up moving next door to each other in Hawthorne, Indiana. The twist is Garellt moved into the infamous Hawthorne House with his Great Aunt and everyone is town is convinced the place is haunted or that a witch lives there. Of course, it doesn't help when Gerallt's family (mother, older sister, and younger brother) dress in black all the time. Nevertheless, the two boys become great friends and learn to deal with bullies and teenage life together.
A few quibbles... the slice-of-life scenes tended to run long and slowed the pace of the book considerably. Also, the dialogue of the Hawthornes did become a tad tedious at times and I'm not sure it was necessary. Using different syntax or vocabulary might have worked though I do understand what the author was trying to do.
What this book does well is teach tolerance. The boys come from very different backgrounds and both learn how to be open-minded enough to understand nothing is absolute. It also touches on recovering from grief and how it affects people in different ways. I'd recommend this book for readers younger than 13 and perhaps something that parents and kids read together.
A few quibbles... the slice-of-life scenes tended to run long and slowed the pace of the book considerably. Also, the dialogue of the Hawthornes did become a tad tedious at times and I'm not sure it was necessary. Using different syntax or vocabulary might have worked though I do understand what the author was trying to do.
What this book does well is teach tolerance. The boys come from very different backgrounds and both learn how to be open-minded enough to understand nothing is absolute. It also touches on recovering from grief and how it affects people in different ways. I'd recommend this book for readers younger than 13 and perhaps something that parents and kids read together.
July 2, 2019
Wildly imaginative! Wonderful characters. Interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. Simply a GREAT read!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
April 10, 2019
The Secret of Hawthorne House by Donald Firesmith
The Secret of Hawthorne House turned out to be just the book I needed. I have been reading a lot of Urban Fantasy and Dark existential books so I needed something light, spooky and yet a story that is soulful for a change. TSoHH did good on that account.
The book did creep me out at time because who mentions scary murder story to a stranger on a school bus? But then again, I let many instances skip because middle school kids and their curiosities are something I am familiar with.
I really liked Matt’s character because he is like any other average kid that does not have any biases and is not easily influenced by rumours. I appreciate these kinds of characters because they really teach good values. But that won’t change the fact that his life was really hellish. Losing his mother, being bullied and then on the constant verge of confusion regarding the secret of the Hawthorne house? Poor kid.
Moving to a place to forget the memories, father’s dwindling finances, being the new kid and the only friend being a strange boy whose friendship gets you bullied more? Poor kid.
“That’s what happens to people who side with a Hawthorne,” Colin hissed in Matt’s ear.
The worse I felt for Matt, the more I enjoyed the story though. Because the writing is just that good and meant to keep a reader engaged. That is something I love about most middle-grade books. Kids don’t usually have a good attention span so unless the writing is alluring, the attention wavers off. That didn’t happen with this book. I read half the book in one go, flipping pages, enjoying the contradictory behaviours of Matt and his twin Tina, seeing Matt develop a sort of friendship with the mystery kid next door Gerralt. The plot of the book is also exciting if not unique. But I enjoyed the added mysticism of Wiccan beliefs and magic.
One thing I thought was that at the beginning of the book, the chapters seemed to be rushing in giving information, regarding the characters, the place and it was more telling the story than narrating it. After a couple of chapters, though, the narration smoothened out. As we got to know more about the Hawthorne House, its history and Matt & Gerralt developed a bond of friendship, the flow of the book settled down.
Without spoiling the actual mystery, I would just say that the book is good enough to be read until the end. It is equal parts spooky and equally heart-warming; quite an easy read.
The Secret of Hawthorne House turned out to be just the book I needed. I have been reading a lot of Urban Fantasy and Dark existential books so I needed something light, spooky and yet a story that is soulful for a change. TSoHH did good on that account.
The book did creep me out at time because who mentions scary murder story to a stranger on a school bus? But then again, I let many instances skip because middle school kids and their curiosities are something I am familiar with.
I really liked Matt’s character because he is like any other average kid that does not have any biases and is not easily influenced by rumours. I appreciate these kinds of characters because they really teach good values. But that won’t change the fact that his life was really hellish. Losing his mother, being bullied and then on the constant verge of confusion regarding the secret of the Hawthorne house? Poor kid.
Moving to a place to forget the memories, father’s dwindling finances, being the new kid and the only friend being a strange boy whose friendship gets you bullied more? Poor kid.
“That’s what happens to people who side with a Hawthorne,” Colin hissed in Matt’s ear.
The worse I felt for Matt, the more I enjoyed the story though. Because the writing is just that good and meant to keep a reader engaged. That is something I love about most middle-grade books. Kids don’t usually have a good attention span so unless the writing is alluring, the attention wavers off. That didn’t happen with this book. I read half the book in one go, flipping pages, enjoying the contradictory behaviours of Matt and his twin Tina, seeing Matt develop a sort of friendship with the mystery kid next door Gerralt. The plot of the book is also exciting if not unique. But I enjoyed the added mysticism of Wiccan beliefs and magic.
One thing I thought was that at the beginning of the book, the chapters seemed to be rushing in giving information, regarding the characters, the place and it was more telling the story than narrating it. After a couple of chapters, though, the narration smoothened out. As we got to know more about the Hawthorne House, its history and Matt & Gerralt developed a bond of friendship, the flow of the book settled down.
Without spoiling the actual mystery, I would just say that the book is good enough to be read until the end. It is equal parts spooky and equally heart-warming; quite an easy read.
January 12, 2020
"If you have a question about how something works, you have to run the experiment and see what the universe answers"
The book is set at a location called Hawthorne, a small town in northeastern Indiana. The Mitchell family has to shift to this place after they lose a beloved member of their family and runs out of money in making every endeavour to keep her. Matt Mitchell, a 15-year-old finds it tough to recognise that her mother is no more and is troubled by her remembrances until he confronts the Old lady Hawthorne i.e. Aunt Vivianne one day and asks her to help her with her yard as he needs to make some money. He finds Aunt Vivianne's tone to be unusual and the lady was even weirdest as she always kept herself behind the doors and not let anyone see inside her house. Things become all unusual when new members arrive at the mansion and Matt becomes friends with Gerallt, one amongst them. Their friendship grew to a length that Gerallt stakes the hidden Hawthorne's family secret with him in exchange of a promise that he would never utter a word about it to anyone. Together they squabble the bullies in the school and soon they become inseparable. Meanwhile, Matt's father Sam and Gerallt's mother Gwendolyn fall for each other but Sam is not knowledgeable of the biggest unknown of her life. What is the secret grounded in the house? Why is their family matrilineal? Why do they say Goddess and not God?🙄 Will Sam be able to digest all of it? Will Matt be able to know how he was able to do the same things that Gerallt was worthy of? Grab this book today for its the Readers' Favourite Silver medal book which has also been nominated for the 2020 Top Shelf magazine Book awards😍
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I really enjoyed the story and could feel like moving back to the days when I used to read Goosebumps👻 a lot( though it's a higher version of it). It has such an exquisite writing style and the detailing by the author made it more and more enjoyable. I was completely hooked till the very last. Loved all the characters and their beautiful names😍 The best part was the information at the end about everything in the book which sounds different. A lot of things have made me more curious about the next part which holds a lot more disclosures.
The book is set at a location called Hawthorne, a small town in northeastern Indiana. The Mitchell family has to shift to this place after they lose a beloved member of their family and runs out of money in making every endeavour to keep her. Matt Mitchell, a 15-year-old finds it tough to recognise that her mother is no more and is troubled by her remembrances until he confronts the Old lady Hawthorne i.e. Aunt Vivianne one day and asks her to help her with her yard as he needs to make some money. He finds Aunt Vivianne's tone to be unusual and the lady was even weirdest as she always kept herself behind the doors and not let anyone see inside her house. Things become all unusual when new members arrive at the mansion and Matt becomes friends with Gerallt, one amongst them. Their friendship grew to a length that Gerallt stakes the hidden Hawthorne's family secret with him in exchange of a promise that he would never utter a word about it to anyone. Together they squabble the bullies in the school and soon they become inseparable. Meanwhile, Matt's father Sam and Gerallt's mother Gwendolyn fall for each other but Sam is not knowledgeable of the biggest unknown of her life. What is the secret grounded in the house? Why is their family matrilineal? Why do they say Goddess and not God?🙄 Will Sam be able to digest all of it? Will Matt be able to know how he was able to do the same things that Gerallt was worthy of? Grab this book today for its the Readers' Favourite Silver medal book which has also been nominated for the 2020 Top Shelf magazine Book awards😍
.
I really enjoyed the story and could feel like moving back to the days when I used to read Goosebumps👻 a lot( though it's a higher version of it). It has such an exquisite writing style and the detailing by the author made it more and more enjoyable. I was completely hooked till the very last. Loved all the characters and their beautiful names😍 The best part was the information at the end about everything in the book which sounds different. A lot of things have made me more curious about the next part which holds a lot more disclosures.
July 3, 2019
The Druid Nextdoor
Just finished The Secrets of Hawthorne House by Donald Firesmith. I understand there is a sequel on the way. Very happy about that! All I can say is that I want to be adopted by these lovely folks.
After Matt's mother is killed in an auto accident, his father moves him and his sister to a small mid-western town. Matt does not feel like he fits in with kids his age and immediately becomes a target for three mean bullies in his class.
His new home is nextdoor to a huge dilapidated mansion inhabited a woman other kids say is a witch. Short of cash and with no allowance currently available, his father encourages him to find work in the neighborhood, suggesting that he check with the lady nextdoor to see if he can mow the long overgrown lawn. He works hard for her and a relationship begins to build. When school starts, Matt finds that he is in the same grade with her great nephew Gerallt who has come to live in the mansion. As time passes, they become best friends.
The bullies target them both, but odd things begin to happen to the three bullies. In one incident when the bullies are about to beat up on Matt, Gerallt shows up and so does a flock of sea gulls who poopon the heads of the bullies until they run away. Of course, that makes things even worse as you might imagine. Chaos follows. But having a best friend who seems to know magic really helps. Matt eventually gets Gerallt to tell him about it. He explains it is not magic, but the answer to his prayers to The Goddess of Celtic lore. And there is so much more to this intriguing story.
This is a very entertaining book and quite original. Just waiting for the sequel now.
Just finished The Secrets of Hawthorne House by Donald Firesmith. I understand there is a sequel on the way. Very happy about that! All I can say is that I want to be adopted by these lovely folks.
After Matt's mother is killed in an auto accident, his father moves him and his sister to a small mid-western town. Matt does not feel like he fits in with kids his age and immediately becomes a target for three mean bullies in his class.
His new home is nextdoor to a huge dilapidated mansion inhabited a woman other kids say is a witch. Short of cash and with no allowance currently available, his father encourages him to find work in the neighborhood, suggesting that he check with the lady nextdoor to see if he can mow the long overgrown lawn. He works hard for her and a relationship begins to build. When school starts, Matt finds that he is in the same grade with her great nephew Gerallt who has come to live in the mansion. As time passes, they become best friends.
The bullies target them both, but odd things begin to happen to the three bullies. In one incident when the bullies are about to beat up on Matt, Gerallt shows up and so does a flock of sea gulls who poopon the heads of the bullies until they run away. Of course, that makes things even worse as you might imagine. Chaos follows. But having a best friend who seems to know magic really helps. Matt eventually gets Gerallt to tell him about it. He explains it is not magic, but the answer to his prayers to The Goddess of Celtic lore. And there is so much more to this intriguing story.
This is a very entertaining book and quite original. Just waiting for the sequel now.
August 30, 2019
Matt Mitchell has had a rough year. His mother died in a car accident and his father has moved him and his sister to a small town of Hawthorne in Indiana. Because Matt is the new kid there are a group of guys that have decided that they are going to bully him and make his life even more difficult. Then Matt learns that he lives next to the Old Lady Hawthorne, the towns witch. But when the woman’s niece and children move into the house Matt learns about their story. He makes a new friend and starts looking into the story of Hawthorne.
This is a great story. Matt is a great kid and just had his world turned upside down with the loss of his mother. Of course the sadness felt by everyone is just heartbreaking and I understand why his father moves them. Unfortunately this is not going to give the now new kid in town an easy time with other boys his age.
Gerallt is a great guy and the perfect friend for Matt. Add in a little magic and this book just keeps getting better and better. The rich history of Hawthorne also adds to this story. I love how the story goes into bullies, rumors, family, and magic. I recommend it to any child and adult that would like a little magic added to their world.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
This is a great story. Matt is a great kid and just had his world turned upside down with the loss of his mother. Of course the sadness felt by everyone is just heartbreaking and I understand why his father moves them. Unfortunately this is not going to give the now new kid in town an easy time with other boys his age.
Gerallt is a great guy and the perfect friend for Matt. Add in a little magic and this book just keeps getting better and better. The rich history of Hawthorne also adds to this story. I love how the story goes into bullies, rumors, family, and magic. I recommend it to any child and adult that would like a little magic added to their world.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
October 29, 2018
5 Cranky Stars
Firstly I am a big Harry Potter fan so this book was an excellent book for me. That is where the similarities stop!!!
After Sam's wife died in an accident he uprooted himself and his children Matt and Tina to back to his home town. Their new home was next door to Hawthorne house, which was very run down. The rumours were that it was haunted and the old lady was a witch. Sam did not believe this and encouraged his young son to go there and offer his services to clean the yard for her.
Old Mrs Hawthorne's niece and three children moved in with her when the niece Gwendolyn lost her husband in an accident.
Matt soon makes friends with Gerallt and after being bullied at school, strange things kept happening. This is when the fun began. There is a lot packed into this well written excellent book, there is so much more to this book and of course a happy ending.
Firstly I am a big Harry Potter fan so this book was an excellent book for me. That is where the similarities stop!!!
After Sam's wife died in an accident he uprooted himself and his children Matt and Tina to back to his home town. Their new home was next door to Hawthorne house, which was very run down. The rumours were that it was haunted and the old lady was a witch. Sam did not believe this and encouraged his young son to go there and offer his services to clean the yard for her.
Old Mrs Hawthorne's niece and three children moved in with her when the niece Gwendolyn lost her husband in an accident.
Matt soon makes friends with Gerallt and after being bullied at school, strange things kept happening. This is when the fun began. There is a lot packed into this well written excellent book, there is so much more to this book and of course a happy ending.
August 18, 2019
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book reminded me of the books I used to read when I was young. Those detective, adventure kind of type of books. These adventures has an extra element, not so common element into the natural way of the Goddess.
Matt moves with his sister and dad to a town far away from the coast, after his mother's death. Worse off, actually a question of how to look at it against the whole story. His father is an atheist and Matt and his sister Tina believes in science. It goes even worse when Matt attracts the attention of the three school bullies.
Then one day, the Hawthorne house has new 4 occupants, Matt didn't see any moving truck stopping by. They soon getting acquainted with the 3 Hawthorne children ,they dress and act and talk funny. During this time, Matt becomes good friends with Gerallt and uncovers their secret. Will this secret be the downfall of the Hawthorne's? Is Sam, the father of Matt falling for the Mother the 3 Hawthorne children?
As for Matt and Gerallt will they outwit the school bullies? And what about the lost Hawthorne's treasure? Is it true?
This is a nice adventure read for the whole family, and an easy read. I loved it very much.
This book reminded me of the books I used to read when I was young. Those detective, adventure kind of type of books. These adventures has an extra element, not so common element into the natural way of the Goddess.
Matt moves with his sister and dad to a town far away from the coast, after his mother's death. Worse off, actually a question of how to look at it against the whole story. His father is an atheist and Matt and his sister Tina believes in science. It goes even worse when Matt attracts the attention of the three school bullies.
Then one day, the Hawthorne house has new 4 occupants, Matt didn't see any moving truck stopping by. They soon getting acquainted with the 3 Hawthorne children ,they dress and act and talk funny. During this time, Matt becomes good friends with Gerallt and uncovers their secret. Will this secret be the downfall of the Hawthorne's? Is Sam, the father of Matt falling for the Mother the 3 Hawthorne children?
As for Matt and Gerallt will they outwit the school bullies? And what about the lost Hawthorne's treasure? Is it true?
This is a nice adventure read for the whole family, and an easy read. I loved it very much.
October 29, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, geared at teens I can see my oldest son enjoying this book. Also it was a perfect read for upcoming Halloween. Matt has just moved to Hawthorne after the death of his mother forced the family (his twin sister and father) to have to move. Matt and his twin Tina start at a the local high school and whilst Tina settles in ok Matt becomes a target for bullies. The have moved next door to infamous Hawthorne House yet Matt he doesn't believe the stories so starts working on the house doing odd job for the owner - who it turns out the town believe to be a murder and a witch. Matt finds her odd but soon her family move in with her and Matt makes an unlikely friend in Garellt her nephew. Garellt has lost his father so the two bond over losing a parent. The Hawthorne family do have some paranormal traits, I liked the idea of the amulets and incantations, and the whole witchy other-worldly feel they had.
Over all this was a good read and there seems to be a mash genres in this book but Firesmith somehow makes them work together making this an interesting read for any teen who may be interested in the paranormal aspects.
Over all this was a good read and there seems to be a mash genres in this book but Firesmith somehow makes them work together making this an interesting read for any teen who may be interested in the paranormal aspects.
December 9, 2019
This was a different genre to what I would normally read but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It did take me a while to get into but when I got started I did want to continue reading. The part that did put me off was the way the Hawthorne's spoke as it made it difficult to read and as the spells were in Latin, they were also hard to read. I did like the part at the end of the book which shows how to pronounce the words that were being spoken. I would of loved to have this at the beginning of the book.
I did feel sorry for the 2 main characters when everything was going wrong and they were not believed but I wanted to tell Gerralt to stop at certain points, so I felt for the characters.
The story was better than the blurb but the blurb was enough to grip/intrigue me.
I would definitely read the next book(s).
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
I did feel sorry for the 2 main characters when everything was going wrong and they were not believed but I wanted to tell Gerralt to stop at certain points, so I felt for the characters.
The story was better than the blurb but the blurb was enough to grip/intrigue me.
I would definitely read the next book(s).
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
March 15, 2021
3.5 / 5 stars
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I haven't read a middle grade novel is forever. This one took me down memory lane - reading Famous Fives and Secret Seven mysteries back in the day. I won't talk about the plot since that's been covered in several other reviews. I'll just get down to my comments:
I really enjoyed the easy language of the book and the introduction of Celtic heritage/names and places. That certainly added to the 'lore' element of the story. The characters are all likeable and fun. I enjoyed Matt and Geralt's friendly adventures and the other folks in the story were also relatable.
If there was one thing, I was expecting the story to be spookier with more role of Vivian Hawthorne. But in the end, I get it if it's targeted as a middle grade novel. Deducting a few stars just because my expectations upon reading the blurb did not quite match the actual storyline. However, overall a well-written and fun story for all ages.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I haven't read a middle grade novel is forever. This one took me down memory lane - reading Famous Fives and Secret Seven mysteries back in the day. I won't talk about the plot since that's been covered in several other reviews. I'll just get down to my comments:
I really enjoyed the easy language of the book and the introduction of Celtic heritage/names and places. That certainly added to the 'lore' element of the story. The characters are all likeable and fun. I enjoyed Matt and Geralt's friendly adventures and the other folks in the story were also relatable.
If there was one thing, I was expecting the story to be spookier with more role of Vivian Hawthorne. But in the end, I get it if it's targeted as a middle grade novel. Deducting a few stars just because my expectations upon reading the blurb did not quite match the actual storyline. However, overall a well-written and fun story for all ages.
July 15, 2019
I loved this book. Donald Firesmith built a heartwarming story around the friendship of two 15 year old boys whose shared pain of loosing a parent, being the new kids in town and becoming the targets of bullies secures the development of a very strong friendship. Not since ‘Harry and Ron’ have a read a book that celebrates the friendship of two boys so successfully.
I would highly recommended this book and will definitely keep Donald Firesmith in my authors to read and follow list. There are a lot of Young Adult books that I would not recommend to younger readers because of content; this is not one. This would be a great read for younger readers wanting to sink their teeth into something more meaty.
I would highly recommended this book and will definitely keep Donald Firesmith in my authors to read and follow list. There are a lot of Young Adult books that I would not recommend to younger readers because of content; this is not one. This would be a great read for younger readers wanting to sink their teeth into something more meaty.
November 20, 2019
*I received a free copy of this book from the author via voracious readers only in exchange for an honest review* I instantly fell in love with this book, the friendship between Matt and Gerallt is so pure and wholesome it went straight to my heart. They are both a bit cheeky and prone to rule breaking but they’ve got good hearts and the best intentions which makes them both such likeable characters. The story was really well paced and weaved together that it never felt rushed and it kept me hooked at all times. In a way the supernatural elements came second to the relationships forming between all the characters but it was so well done that I didn’t mind. I won’t write anything about the story as I really believe you need to experience it for yourself but I will say that if you enjoy heartwarming relationships coupled with magic and adventure you should definitely read this book.
December 1, 2019
I really enjoyed this tale. At first I thought it was going to be about Nathaniel Hawthorne, and I was a bit disappointed when the story had nothing to do with the venerable writer. But, I kept reading. This magical narrative so reminded me of the books I enjoyed speeding through in Junior High and High School. Adventure. Druids. Supernatural spells. Secrets buried in the house. Witches. Goddesses. Even a rich history of the family going back thousands of years. And as a coming of age tale, I love the idea Matt and his friend Gerallt have the ability to cast spells on bullies and get them into all sorts of trouble. I think this is perfect fun for a 15 or 16 year old, and I highly recommend it to young readers.
September 7, 2020
This book was really good and I really liked it, it was a bit typical in it's plot lines, a kids mother dies in an accident, father then moves the kids to another town, fresh start etc, kids don't fit in and get bullied and then of course the next door neighbour of the new house might be a witch, so everything is pretty difficult in this new and changed life for Matt and his sister.
I love the fact that despite all of this, after being encouraged to find a job, he then makes a friend with the lady whom he begins to work for, strangely enough though magic weaves its way into the book and of course things are then more interesting and intrigue. Though the plot is largely predictable, the book is a little slow and though I felt the dialog could be a little bit dull.
I rather enjoyed it, some great writing from Firesmith, the characters are well fleshed out in this book and even so there are some good backing characters too. Another good thing that I liked was how Firesmith touched on grief and though, Matt and his family moved away, it is still obviously present and that having a friend and good people around you allows you to have a good support system and recover from the grief that has been festering. It also demonstrates the differences in people and teaches the reader to be open minded or be aware of open mindedness. I really like that and recommend this book to preteen and teenagers.
I received this advanced review copy for free from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2018
A great book for readers of all ages. Middle school and high school students will enjoy the humiliation of the school bullies. Adults will connect with the families trying to cope after death strikes. Two families from opposite sides of the country join to fight what seem to be insurmountable obstacles. But one group is hiding a secret that threatens to end the friendship. Donald Firesmith created a story that has humor, sadness, love and realistic characters. All this combines for a spectacular reading experience.
August 8, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book! The author has a way with words that made the story come alive. This book is very well written, moving along at a good pace. I found myself looking forward to what was going to happen next. The characters are well developed. I actually liked the main characters and looked forward to the nasty characters getting their comeuppance. I like the storytelling ability that the author has, the stories within the story were enjoyable to read, for example, when the history teacher told the class about the history of the town of Hawthorne or when Gerallt told Matt the story of his ancestors and Modron. I look forward to reading more about the Mitchell and Hawthorne families and I'm curious what will happen next! I received this book from the author for a fair review through Voracious Readers Only.
October 14, 2019
The struggles of Matt Mitchell on moving to a new town & new school, dealing with bullies & rumours of a Witch & murderer next door at Hawthorne House.
Matt finds a best friend in Gerallt Hawthorne who just moved into Hawthorne house & the two of them with the help of Gerallt's secret abilities will leave you chuckling as those bullies get some payback dished to them.
Matt & Gerallt get to discover the secrets of Hawthorne house & Matt learns the secrets of the Hawthorne family & some of the reasons behind the rumours about his unusual neighbours.
I really enjoyed this book & look forward to reading more about Matt & Gerallt & their families.
A great read I'd recommend for anyone still young at heart!
Matt finds a best friend in Gerallt Hawthorne who just moved into Hawthorne house & the two of them with the help of Gerallt's secret abilities will leave you chuckling as those bullies get some payback dished to them.
Matt & Gerallt get to discover the secrets of Hawthorne house & Matt learns the secrets of the Hawthorne family & some of the reasons behind the rumours about his unusual neighbours.
I really enjoyed this book & look forward to reading more about Matt & Gerallt & their families.
A great read I'd recommend for anyone still young at heart!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2019
A perfectly magical read for young teens and tweens. Matt, a nerdy outsider, moves back to his father's hometown after his mother is tragically killed by a drunk driver. The house next door is creepy, and Matt is convinced its owner, Old Lady Hawthorne, is some kind of witch. He gets bullied at school, and things are bad, but they get better when Gerallt, the great nephew of Old Lady Hawthorne moves in and they become unlikely friends. Beautifully written, and ideal for a cozy night by the fire, this book is a delightfully poignant and fun adventure.
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