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Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
Josh has a surprise package awaiting him after school. It’s from his Granddad. He unwraps it carefully and discovers a strange, blue stone inside. He studies it closely, but he doesn’t know what its significance is. In Mary Ann Hake’s Just a Piece of Stone, Josh learns from his Granddad that the stone has been in the Goldberg family for many years. As Josh and his family settle in to hear the story, they’re enthralled to learn how the family has survived many troubled times, including the Holocaust and even further back to the Middle Ages, where castles, knights, and battles plagued the family. They seemed to always be on the run, refugees from a land that wanted nothing to do with the Jewish people. The story teaches Josh about history as well as a fascinating mystery and magic surrounding this very special stone.
Mary Ann Hake’s middle grade novel, Just a Piece of Stone, is an intense and fascinating read that combines mystery, fantasy, and history. The plot evolves beginning in the present day, then gradually progresses back in time to trace the origin of this mysterious stone and how it came to be a treasured possession of one Jewish family. As each chapter introduces a new character, era, and setting, the chapter headings help readers keep track of the who’s who of the story. The plot is rich in history, allowing young readers to learn about the past along with Josh from the present-day part of the story. The descriptive narrative is well constructed and presents a believable setting. Dialogue is used effectively to help develop the characters. Young readers will instantly be engrossed in the mystery and intrigue, as well as the history.
