A
Boy Called Christmas showed up at my door one day. I
didn’t order it, nor was I familiar with author Matt
Haig. I thought "what the heck" and decided to add
a little Christmas cheer to my day. A Boy Called Christmas
is far from cheery, in fact, the beginning is pretty
gloomy, which makes the ending so wonderul. Despite Eleven-year-old
Nikolas’ sad beginning, I found myself chuckling at
the author's wit and delivery. When Aunt Carlotta arrived
I grumbled, hoping she’d get her just desserts. It was
sad to see Nikolas’ father leave him, but they needed
money. His father joins an expedition to find Elfhelm. Nikolas
and his cheese-dreaming mouse Miika follow suit and head Far
North, as well. On the way, Nikolas’ life takes a magical
turn after he meets a flying reindeer, elves Father Topo &
Little Noosh, and when he receives a little dose of drimwick
(a hope spell). The storyline then takes readers through the
best part, the creation and transition of Father Christmas.
It’s truly a matchless, memorable Christmas story.
Young
readers will enjoy Haig’s unique version of the North
Pole, Elves, and how Father Christmas came to be. Haig’s
wicked humor is something readers of Lemony Snicket will understand.
I think tweeners and teens will get Haig's tongue-in-cheek
humor as they cheer Nikolas on.
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