Secrets of Hawthorne House by Donald Firesmith

Secrets of Hawthorne House is the first book in a middle grade and YA fantasy series about a family of magical Druids. This book was sent to me by the author. After a drunk driver kills his mother, fifteen-year-old Matt, his twin sister, and their father move to a small town in Indiana. It just so happens that they move next door to the famous Hawthorne house, rumored to house a witch. Matt doesn't believe in such fairy tales, but when he becomes best friends with Old Lady Hawthorne's nephew, Gerallt, he finds a whole new world.

I loved this book and never took my eyes off the pages! I've never heard of the Goddess Modron or the Druids before, but I certainly know a lot about them now. Magic intertwining with religion and history is fascinating! 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. This book was like the game Wack-A-Mole but I was surprised at how everything was still blended together evenly.

Mythology aside, I loved the real life message of being friends with people regardless of how they look or the reputation that they have. 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. I enjoyed the journey of these two families coming together in the hardest of times.

I cannot wait to read the next book in this series! I highly recommend this book!

Title: Secrets of Hawthorne House
Author: Donald Firesmith
Publisher: Donald Firesmith
Pages: 411
Series: Yes, Book 1
Rating: 5 Stars
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