"The complexity and depth of The Secrets of Hawthorne House, as well as its incorporation of magical elements with realistic struggles and confrontations, create a captivating story that is hard to put down, original, and satisfyingly unique. Its lessons about different cultures and backgrounds, the process of grief and recovery, and the acceptance of ideas and realities a bit different from the norm… creates a powerful interplay of mystery, intrigue, and healing that will keep all ages thoroughly engrossed." - D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
"The author’s prose is lucid and descriptive… A satisfying tale that aptly balances teen drama with a bit of magic." - Kirkus Review
"Rudy Parfaite’s cover art is the first attractive feature of Donald Firesmith’s The Secrets of Hawthorne House. It’s beautifully done and complements the story well. Engaging readers from the start, Firesmith doesn’t rush the story development, making the narrative flow deftly. It was easy for me to immerse myself in this coming-of-age urban fantasy combined with Celtic mythology. I was invested in the characters, their successes, and predicaments. The Hawthornes’ peculiarities are instantly intriguing, especially when Matt gets to know more about them through his friendship with Gerallt. The plot is well thought out, substantiated with imperative messages to the targeted readers on dealing with life’s hardships, the loss of a parent, bullying, and financial stress. There’s also the matter of dealing with discrimination and respecting others’ beliefs. As an adult, I found The Secrets of Hawthorne House truly enjoyable even though it’s for teen readers. A commendable work from Donald Firesmith, and I look forward to the sequel." - Readers' Favorite
"There is a lovely lyrical quality to Firesmith’s prose, the authorial voice is strong, and the author has a penchant for rich description." - The BookLife Prize critic’s report
"I enjoyed reading The Secrets of Hawthorne House… I was drawn in from the beginning… There is humor, sorrow, adventure, mystery, love and realistic, relatable characters in this book. It’s a middle school YA read, but I think just about anyone would enjoy reading it!" - United Indie Book Blog
“A perfectly magical read for young teens and tweens… Beautifully written and ideal for a cozy read by the fire, this book is a delightfully poignant and fun adventure.” - author Abigail Drake
“The Secrets of Hawthorne House by Donald Firesmith is a charming ‘found family’ story that deftly illustrates how people of different cultures/ spiritual backgrounds can get along just fine. Over the course of the story, the boys confront bullies (in hysterical ways!), learn to trust that difference isn’t bad, and the strange and unusual need not be feared, and even find treasure! This story engaged me right from the start. I’m doubly grateful that Matt, and later his family, learned to at least accept the Hawthornes’ faith, even if they cannot share it, and believe there must be a different explanation. I adored that the author wrote the Hawthornes as they spoke, accents and all; I loved it! I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next in the series!” - author J. Aislynn d’Merricksson
"I love the story and the characters… This is a great, clean and entertaining story for middle grade and young adult kids who like mystery, treasure hunts, and magic. It is nicely done by Donald Firesmith. I would keep my eyes out for the next book in this series.” - author Anna del C. Dye