I was thrilled to present A Storm Unleashed to teachers at the Manitoba Social Sciences Association Conference on October 24. We had two sold out sessions. I was so fortunate to do the sessions with Kelly Hiebert, a Holocaust education scholar. Here I am preparing for the session. And here we are right after the sessions were over. Lots of great questions. Many attendees had already read the book and told me they loved it.
After losing her mother as a young girl, twelve-year-old Mia is living in Berlin with her veterinarian father and beloved German shepherd, Max. Mia tries to focus on her hobbies, her studies and her trips to her grandparents’ farm where she cares for the animals she loves. But it’s 1935, and life has changed radically for Mia and her Jewish father over the last two years. Antisemitism is now official state policy. At school, Mia is vilified and treated cruelly by her teachers and fellow students. Outside of school, she witnesses violence against her friends and family. And then suddenly a girl from the Nazi Youth tries to take Max. From that moment on, life becomes more and more dangerous for Mia and her father — who is now being forced to help the Nazis train Hitler’s army of dogs. Mia and her best friend, Frieda, must come up with a plan to navigate this new reality. But could it cost Mia more than she realizes?
"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.
"...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?
"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."
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.
Many thanks to Deborah Kalb for her blog interview about my two latest books: Zevi Takes the Spotlight for middle grades.
"I wanted to write a fun book but a book that would get kids thinking about what fame really is. I started noticing that young people have gone from wanting to become scientists, or vets, or firefighters, to YouTube influencers. It seemed to me that fame had become the goal, not the result of hard work or inspiration. So, something to mull over."
Zevi Takes the Spotlight has been chosen by School Library Journal as one of 42 Stellar Middle Grade books for 2024.
What a wonderful review from the Association Of Jewish Libraries (AJL).Plus: School Library Journal has included Zevi Takes the Spotlight in their Top Trends in SLJ's Starred Books/ The 2024 Stars issue!“Prolific Canadian author Carol Matas has another winner with this fun middle-grade novel that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, Jewishness, friendship, and the extraordinary…The plot is entertaining, the portrayals of family and friendships are positive and the inclusion of Jewish practices and values are few, but important, especially at the conclusion of the book, set at the family Shabbat dinner table.”—Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL)
Zevi Takes the Spotlight is out! Here it is on the shelf at my very favourite bookstore, McNally Robinson, in Winnipeg!
Zevi Takes the Spotlight is my first HI/LO novel, for readers with high interest but low vocabulary—so it's accessible for older readers who might need a quick and easy read, great readers who also like books that are fast paced and short, or even younger readers. Aimed at grades 4-6. Personally, I love short books that are also fast paced and exciting so in this case I was writing what I love to read.
I came to love Zevi who has been saddled with the "gift" of psychic abilities, which he doesn't want at all. He wants a simple life. Don't we all? And yet Zevi manages to always at least try to do the right thing and to help. But what to do when people don't want your help and won't listen to you? That's happened to us all at some point. Well, Zevi refuses to give up. And he has a best friend, and his family, who stick by him and help him through.
I decided to make all the main characters Jewish in this book so that the Judaism is just there, naturally, as part of their lives, but not the topic of the book. I liked that choice as well.
It was also the fun writing about acting and the world of film. I was an actor before I became a writer and it was great to dive back into this world that I love and respect so much.
And finally, what's the whole psychic thing about? Well, I've had some pretty startling experiences with psychic predications so I know there is something to it even if I can't explain how it works. Check out this post where I explore this topic further.
Hope you like the book!
“Action-packed, with danger and adventure in every chapter…the story delves into Zevi’s Jewish heritage and culture in a natural way that is enlightening and interesting for readers. Highly Recommended.”
⭐️ Zevi Takes the Spotlight:
“Zevi is Jewish, and this important part of his identity is skillfully woven throughout the narrative. This hi-lo title excels in the genre, packaging an accessible, dyslexia-friendly text with a compelling plot and likeable protagonist whose journey readers will happily follow."Highly recommended
Ready for preorder now:
McNally Robinson Booksellers in Winnpeg, Manitoba
