The Secrets of Hawthorne House

By: Donald Firesmith

Narrated by: Gary Tredwell

From Grief to Wonder: A Journey of Magic and Friendship. Dive into the enchanting world of The Secrets of Hawthorne House, a multi-award-winning young adult paranormal fantasy that masterfully addresses themes of grief, fitting in, bullying, financial hardship, and respecting others’ beliefs and cultures. And it does so while weaving a spellbinding narrative of adventure, friendship, mystery, and ancient magic.

After the tragic death of his mother, Matt Mitchell’s grieving father moves him and his twin sister away from the sea they love to the small Midwest town of Hawthorne, Indiana. As a new out-of-towner at the local high school, Matt’s despair and anger grow when he becomes the target of relentless bullying. He is soon warned that Old Lady Hawthorn, the secretive recluse who lives in the dilapidated Victorian mansion next door, is a witch who murdered her husband. But once Matt starts working for her, he discovers she is something altogether different.

When the old lady’s niece and her three children move into the mansion, Matt’s dreary world takes an extraordinary turn. Matt meets Gerallt, and their unexpected friendship changes Matt’s life forever. As they become best friends, Matt discovers a world brimming with secret magic and an ancient Celtic god, challenging everything he thought he knew.

Together, the two boys confront the school bullies with a blend of cunning and magical mischief, embark on a thrilling quest for lost treasure, and uncover the profound secrets hidden within Hawthorne House.

Winner of eleven book awards, The Secrets of Hawthorne House is more than a story of friendship; it is a journey into a world where magic is real, cultures clash, and a lost treasure waits to be found. This meticulously crafted coming-of-age story balances the real with the fantastical, weaving a rich tapestry from elements of urban fantasy and Celtic mythology.

©2018 Donald Firesmith (P)2024 Donald Firesmith