Carol Matas's Blog, page 2

Praise for A Storm Unleashed

Available now at Indigo and McNally Robinson Booksellers

"A Storm Unleashed is an important book for our time. Mia is a 12-year-old girl in Berlin in 1935. She and her dog Max have grown up surrounded by love. But with Hitler’s rise to power, all she sees, and feels, now is hate. And when a member of the Hitler Youth threatens to take Max away, Mia realizes that the country she once knew and felt safe in is changing.

In this book, Carol Matas brilliantly sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of Hitler’s power – his army of 200,000 dogs. Matas centres the story on Mia’s lived experience - her love for her dog Max, her caring relationship with her Jewish veterinarian father, as well as with her non-Jewish grandparents and aunt on her mother’s side. When Mia can no longer ignore the antisemitism she’s experiencing in school, she realizes she has to pay attention to what’s going on in her country and to the people (and dog) she loves.

A Storm Unleashed not only tells a moving and accessible story leading up to World War II and the Holocaust, but shows young readers the importance of being engaged during turbulent times, while also leaning into hope and love." — Sidura Ludwig, author of  Rising
"Gripping, revealing, heart-pounding and hopeful, this meticulously researched novel breaks new ground and is an outstanding addition to Holocaust literature. This masterfully written novel should be utilized in classrooms everywhere." — Liza Wiemer, Sydney Taylor Notable Book Award-winning author of The Assignment
"A powerful story about tragedy, terror and survival. We can learn of a dark past to create a brighter future." — Eric Walters, author of King of Jam Sandwiches
"A Storm Unleashed is a powerful and, at times, raw and terrifying fictionalized, but no less harrowing, story of one girl’s account in Nazi Germany. Despite this book being set in 1935, during the rise of Hitler, so much of what Mia experiences could easily be written about today’s rise in disinformation, propaganda, and antisemitism: “It is an odd feeling knowing a large portion of the country believes things that are simply not true. I can’t help but wonder if I also believe things that aren’t true. If so, how would I know?” A relatable, if difficult read that will keep kids turning the page to find out what happens to Mia and her beloved dog, Max, while sneakily teaching them about history, democracy, a little philosophy, and what could come again if we aren’t careful." — Joanne Levy, author of All the Things We Found .

Book Birthday for A Storm Unleashed!

September 16 is pub day for A Storm Unleashed. Available for order at Indigo, which named it as one of Indigo's Most Anticipated Canadian Books. Also available at McNally Robinson Booksellers.
Twelve-year-old Mia lives in Berlin with her veterinarian father and beloved dog, Max. It's 1935, and life in Germany has changed radically — especially for Jewish families like Mia's. She tries to focus on things she loves: her best friend Frieda, training Max, birdwatching, and visiting her grandparents' farm ... but storm clouds are gathering.
Under Hitler's rule, antisemitism is now official state policy. Jewish people are quickly losing their rights and protection and are subject to random violence. Mia is vilified and treated cruelly by her teachers and fellow students. And a girl from the Nazi Youth has decided to take Max for herself. Meanwhile, Mia and father find themselves caught up in Hitler's plot to create an army of dogs.
Can Mia navigate this new reality and find a way to keep her loved ones safe? Even if she does, what will be the cost?

Kai and the Golem first review!

Kirkus has reviewed Kai and the Golem!

 "...the sense of repetition (in particular, Kai’s refrain “That’s not what I want!”) is soothing, and caregivers seeking a way to help little ones navigate the absence of a loved one will find guidance here...heartfelt..."

The book will be published on November 4th!

Kai's Bubbe is in hospital and nothing seems right with the world. Could a wrecker be behind all the bad things happening? A wrecker Kai decides to call Golem? Or can Kai find a way to make things better, Golem or no Golem? 

A Storm Unleashed has been sold To Australia!

 Kids in Australia and New Zealand will soon be reading A Storm Unleashed. 
This is the announcement made by my agent Amy Tompkins:

"Andrew Berkhut at Scholastic Australia has acquired Carol Matas's middle grade novel, A Storm Unleashed. Scholastic Australia's edition will be published in early 2026. Maral Maclagan at Scholastic Canada handled the deal for English rights in Australia and New Zealand. Carol Matas is represented by Amy Tompkins at Transatlantic Agency, who is representing translation rights."

Zevi Takes the Spotlight chosen by PJ Library to be a PJ Our Way Selection!

ZEVI TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT has been chosen by PJ Library as a PJ Our Way Selection.

And I have been honoured, too, and awarded the PJ Our Way Grinspoon Jewish Story Award! I am delighted that Zevi will be sent to Jewish families all over North America — for free! From The Harold Grinspoon Foundation. It's an incredible initiative that I am so proud to be part of.

Zevi is a Jewish teen who has one dream — to become an actor. But he has an unwanted talent. He's psychic! And being psychic keeps getting in the way of his acting career. This is especially true since the famous Jewish actor Robert Lemon has come to Vancouver to film a new movie — part of it in Zevi's house! But when "accidents" start to happen, Zevi and his best friend Nir must save Robert Lemon from a murderer.

A Storm Unleashed — Coming this Fall!

My new middle grade novel, A Storm Unleashed, will be out this fall with Scholastic Canada. Set in 1933-35 Berlin, it is the story of Mia and her beloved dog Max . It chronicles Germany’s rapid descent into fascism from democracy and the unleashing of a rising storm of hatred against the Jews and Hitler’s “enemies.” Mia, Max, her family and her friends find themselves in a terrifying reality.
The novel also explores the little-known story of Hitler's dog army, which he created as part of his preparation for war and in order to subdue the groups he was rounding up and sending to concentration camps. 

Kai and the Golem Cover Reveal!

 Kai and the Golem, my second picture book, is slated for release on November 4, 2025. And we have a cover! Who knew a Golem could look so cute? But Kai doesn't think the wrecker he calls Golem is all that adorable. In fact, Kai wonders if it is Golem that is ruining things for him on a daily basis. Or, could it be, as his Dad suggests, that Kai really misses his Bubbe, who is recovering in hospital? Maybe it's time for Kai to think about things differently, which might include a mitzvah for his Bubbe. 

Click here to preorder 

Two new book deals for publication this year!

Transatlantic Agency has just announced two book deals! And, I'm thrilled that both these new books will be published in 2025. Kar-Ben has acquired my picture book, Kai and the Golem, illustrated by Elisa Vavouri, for publication in the spring of 2025. In Kai and the Golem, nothing seems to be going right for Kai: it’s raining every day, he doesn’t get what he wants for breakfast, and he misses his Bubbe, who’s in the hospital. He doesn’t know what’s going on, but he begins to wonder if a golem is to blame! 
Scholastic Canada has acquired my next middle grade Holocaust novel, Mia & Max, for publication in fall of 2025. In Mia & Max, a Jewish girl and her beloved dog are both in danger as the Nazis rise to power in 1930s Berlin.

The Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens, 2024

 Yay! Zevi Takes the Spotlight has been included in the CCBC's Best Books for Kids and Teens, Fall 2024 in the Hi-Lo Middle Years Fiction category .

Winnipeg launch of three middle grade novels

What a wonderful evening at McNally Robinson booksellers where I joined Sidura Ludwig, author of Swan and Rising, and Colleen Nelson, author of Mystery at the Biltmore and The Umbrella House. We read from our books - mine being Zevi Takes the Spotlight - and we had a conversation about writing for middle grade readers. My special guest was my twelve-year-old grandson who read with me.