Reviewed by Jill Hart
Two Christmas Stories You Can Believe In
I love Christmas. I love the lights, the tree, even the hustle and
bustle. But, one of my most favorite things about Christmas is treating
myself to a cup of cocoa and a good Christmas story. Some years I'm
drawn back to the old standbys like A Christmas Carol or even How The Grinch Stole Christmas. But, this year I have two new Christmas favorites.
The first book, Engaging Father Christmas, is actually the second book in a series by Robin Jones Gunn. (The first book is Finding Father Christmas - my last year's favorite.)
Gunn's novellas are cozy. Set in London, they have everything I need for a heartwarming Christmastime read - love, intrigue and, of course, a happy ending. The books each stand alone, but my recommendation would be to read them together.
In Engaging Father Christmas, the main character, Miranda
Carson, is headed to see her boyfriend whom she met the prior
Christmas. She's unsure of exactly where they stand and running into a
old flame at the train station makes things even more complicated.
She's also in town to see her step-mother - a woman who hasn't been
able (or willing) to accept her as a true member of the family. She's
hoping this trip she'll be able to win her approval and finally have a
real family. But, a serious of events casts a doubtful shadow over
Miranda's trip and she's not sure she'll ever find a family to belong
to.
The second story is My Mother's Wish: An American Christmas Carol by Jerry Camery-Hoggatt. The US is joining the ranks of the Christmas Carol producers and this YA novella is a sweet example. Ellee, a frustrated teenage girl, just doesn't see things the way the rest of the world does. Her controlling mother won't give her a break, even refusing to refer to her as anything but Eleanor (her grandmother and namesake) and comparing her every move to that of her perfect sister.
Ellee finally gets fed up and decides that running away from home is the only way to escape her mother's disappointment in her. She gets more than she bargained for when she finds herself at the Comeback Cafe with no money, no ride and not a friend in site. Lives interwoven is the theme of this book and it's a beautiful picture of how each of us can have an effect on those around us.
Rating: 4/5
