If you’ve ever wished to escape to simpler times when villagers gathered in the town square on Christmas Eve for celebration and companionship then The Christmas Village is the book for you. Combining traditional storytelling with the excitement and suspense of a sci-fi parallel universe, Melissa Ann Goodwin provides a children’s book the entire family can enjoy.
After his father abandons them, 12 year-old Jamie Reynolds and his mother leave home to visit his grandmother in Bell’s Crossing for Christmas. The town only provides minimal respite as the terrible rumors about his father follow him there.
One night, Jamie’s mother shares the story of his grandmother’s Christmas Village; a town named Canterbury where it is 1932. Later alone, Jamie is drawn to the village when he hears voices coming from it. He is soon catapulted into the village where he must face trials and the dangers of both nature and men.
Goodwin creatively fills the reader’s senses with the heartwarming sights, sounds and smells of a traditional Christmas; pine trees, burning wood in the fire place and apple pie. These are later replaced with disturbing images from a musty, dark, cold warehouse where danger waits.
A surprise ending left me satisfied and smiling. I highly recommend this book and look forward to other tales by this talented author.
5 comments:
Great review. And that "surprise ending" teases my curiosity. :)
Nice review.
Hi Sylvia .. Melissa sounds like she's created an interesting story .. and that surprise ending is a good tease to know more. Especially if it's a children's book for the whole family too ...
Good to know about - thank you - Hilary
This sounds like fun! And I'm intrigued by the "surprise ending" too!
Oh it sounds like a great seasonal read!
Post a Comment