Everyone loves a Christmas story and this really is a packed one! It tells the story of Jill and Edward who find themselves, a little like Hansel and Gretel, lost and heading to a cottage in the woods. This is where the story differs as Aphrodite, the lady of the house is a welcoming, kind and very colourful character. As the story unfolds more characters are introduced and the 'Grumps', the mischievous elves, are continually referred to. Whilst Jill absorbs the atmosphere, the snow and the Christmas jumpers, Edward remains an aloof little boy who does not like Christmas.
The story is told through an advent calendar, where each date and door reveals a new character and a new adventure. As the characters appear, everyone from the Little Drummer boy and the elves to the abominable snowman, the adventure unfolds.
This story is deceptive. On the surface it appears to be a typical Christmas story with all the traditional characters, but in fact, it is much deeper. The vocabulary is quite sophisticated and the characters and plot are complex. The descriptions are wonderfully vivid and in some cases, amusing. It is also quite a long story that needs a certain level of concentration and reading fluency.
The true meaning of the story is not revealed until the last chapter, when all the seemingly unrelated storylines and characters come together in a wonderfully warm and magical ending. A true Christmas story.
Rosie Watch, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
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| Primary Genre | Indie Author Books |
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