As promised last week, this week’s Brainstorm has some Christmas reading ideas for you. You can also check out Brainstorm 160 when I shared Christmas reads in 2018. Those are still great reading options for this season too! Whether you want a read that gets you back to focusing on the reason for the season, or you want a cozy Christmas mystery, or a feel good holiday story, I’ve got reading ideas for all today. Click on the titles to see my full reviews plus any content notes/trigger warnings. This is an extra long Brainstorm today because I wanted to share several reading ideas for every interest level.
Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock
Finn thinks he's just out for a normal day of taxi driving when he gets a call to pick up an old lady at her house. He takes her to her doctor, but during the drive he realizes her memory is not great. She's very sweet, but not always with it. He is torn between needing to drive to get money and making sure she gets seen by the doctor and home ok. In the end his conscience won't let him just let her go, and he goes back to check on her at the doctors. Which opens the door to him chauffeuring her around the city the rest of the week and making sure she is taken care of. This old lady shouldn't be by herself so much. Where is the granddaughter she talks about?
Sydney is fresh out of law school in her first job. As they start laying off people she knows she has to be the hardest working person on staff if she wants to keep her job. But they have her assigned to the stupidest case in the history of man, she knows her grandmother isn't doing well and feels guilty about letting her go to the doctor by herself, but work demands her presence.
Mrs Callie may be old, and her memory may be going, but she is with it enough to be plotting to make sure her granddaughter is not alone after she's gone. She's on a husband hunt for her Sydney with a goal of having a date lined up for her by Christmas.
Target Readers:
Hallmark Christmas Movie Fans, Clean Romance Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Feel Good Christmas Story Fans, Adult Readers (though totally fine for YA too)
Christmas Is Coming! by Tama Fortner, ill. by Wazza Pink
Starting from Genesis then moving on to the Prophets, Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, and others this looks at how people were anticipating Christmas coming for years, and just what that means to all of us.
I like how this book shows how the Old Testament stories pointed to Jesus’ birth and the longing for a savior.
Target Readers:
Christian Readers, Bible Story Fans, Board Book Fans, Picture Book Readers
The Christmas Promise (Tales That Tell the Truth) by Alison Mitchell, ill. by Catalina Echeverri
A retelling of the Biblical Christmas story focusing on how the birth of Jesus fulfilled prophecies and promises of a rescuer king, a forever king coming to save the world.
Like the previous picture book, this one also shows how the Old Testament stories connect to the Nativity, and then goes deeper to show why Jesus was born in a way kids can easily grasp.
Target Readers:
Christian Readers, Bible Story Fans, Picture Book Readers
The Christmas Surprise (Little Me, Big God) by Steph Williams
A simple retelling of Jesus' birth for kids that highlights the main points and why Jesus' birth was important.
This one is perfect for kids with short attention spans, and I think it contains possibly the most accurate (and hilarious) portrayal of Mary’s talk with the angel.
Target Readers:
Christian Readers, Bible Story Fans, Readers with Short Attention Spans, Humor Fans, Picture Book Readers
Cold-Blooded Myrtle (Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries, #3) by Elizabeth C. Bunce
When the village mercantile's Christmas shop window replica of the village is opened for the season, there's an odd addition to the scene - a black well and olives. And the replica's creator is found dead and staged to mimic Socrates in his final moments. Myrtle is, of course, inordinately intrigued by such circumstances. Even moreso when she finds a picture of the deceased in his professor years with her mother and other college students in it. She then learns of a decades old mystery of Olivia Blackwell who everyone saw fall/jump from the bell tower at the local college but whose body was never recovered. As other classical figures get added to the replica display and more people in the village die, Myrtle and Ms. Judson and others find it more pressing to find who is posing as Olivia Blackwell (or could it be her) and why?
A Christmas time mystery adventure with the precocious Myrtle, her equally curious governess Ms. Judson, and the ever-present cat companion Peony that will keep readers guessing.
Target Readers:
Historical Fiction Fans, Mystery Fans, British Setting Fans, Precocious Character Fans, Upper Middle Grade Readers
The Girl Who Ruined Christmas by Cindy Callaghan
Brady has gone with her dad and mom to the boondocks of upper New York state just before Christmas while her dad tries to land a real estate deal. It turns out that the tiny town is NOT happy about the Christmas tree farm there going out of business and being replaced by a factory. They are even less happy when Brady takes a selfie that spooks some horses carrying the possible salvation of the tree farm, a tree bought by the White House, that results in a massive disaster. The farm-saving tree goes up in flames, and Brady is hauled off to the local jail despite protests from her parents and the fact that it was an accident. She is sentenced to work at the tree farm for the rest of the Christmas season to make it up to the town. Her parents both have work to get back to in SoCal, so she is left in the care of the Bed & Breakfast couple they were staying with. The other teens who work at the Christmas tree farm are determined to make her pay for her crimes, and Brady feels doomed to a rotten Christmas this year. But will it be so bad?
This is a lighthearted, whimsical Christmas story that starts off goofily and wild, has a believable middle, and ends all feel-goody and warm for all.
Target Readers:
Contemporary Fiction Fans, Feel Good Christmas Story Fans, Humor Fans, Hallmark Christmas Movie Fans, Upper New York Setting Fans, Middle Grade/YA Readers
Happy Narwhalidays (Narwhal & Jelly, #5) by Ben Clanton
It's winter and Narwhal is feeling festive. Narwhal is convinced this is the season when the Merry Mermicorn comes. Jelly isn't so sure, but they do enjoy a tale about a grouchy jelly bean who finds a friend to sled with, and they exchange presents (and Jelly finds it hard to find a present for Narwhal).
A cute reimagining of festive activities put underwater.
Target Readers:
Graphic Novel Fans, Animal Fiction Fans, Pun Lovers, Fun Christmas Story Fans, Lower Grade Readers
Heaven and Nature Sing: 25 Advent Reflections to Bring Joy to the World by Hannah Anderson, ill. by Nathan Anderson
In 25 devotionals, Hannah Anderson invites readers to reread the advent stories of the Bible with new eyes. To take these stories out of the realm of repeated same old and really sit with them, to dig deeper, and ask why certain details are included. She reexamines the stories of angel visits, gifts of magi, and messages to shepherds while weaving in stories and examples from her own life. The goal is to help uncover the ongoing relevance for our lives today, and just why the coming of Jesus was so special and is so worthy of celebration and a pause from the ordinary routine.
A refreshing and revitalizing read to bring in the Christmas season.
Target Readers:
Christian Readers, Devotional Fans, Advent Readers, Those Needing a Fresh Take on Scripture, Nonfiction Fans, Adult Readers
Keeping Christmas: 25 Advent Reflections on A Christmas Carol by Allison Pittman
Pittman puts on her English teacher hat and takes readers through Dickens' A Christmas Carol, highlighting elements of Scrooge's redemption that can have spiritual parallels about a life being renewed and redeemed by the Holy Spirit and the implications thereof.
I found this a fantastic Advent read, focusing on the powerful work of God in a life to transform and make you new, which points to the whole purpose of Christmas, as well as reminding readers how God can use redeemed people to powerfully work in others' lives too.
Target Readers:
Advent Readers, Devotional Fans, Christian Readers, A Christmas Carol Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Adult Readers (though approachable to YA)
A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson
Vera Swanson downsized and moved to be closer to her daughter and her family in Eastern Oregon, only to have them move after her son-in-law got a new job 6 months later in California. They’ve begged her to move down and join them, but Vera isn’t sure she’s ready for California. Her son lives far away and is spending the holidays with his wife’s family, so Vera finds herself alone for the holidays for the first time. She is understandably feeling a bit down when a little neighbor girl knocks on her door one day asking her to help because her mama is sick. What follows is a whirlwind that sees Vera quickly jumping in to help the newly relocated Irish/American family as the mother has to have an emergency appendicitis while the father is out of town and 2 elementary age children in addition to 4 year old little Fiona rely on Vera to help out while their mother is in the hospital and then recovering. While spending time with Vera, Fiona sees the beautiful quilts Vera has made and commandeers Vera’s help to make a patchwork quilt for her mama for Christmas. There are only a few weeks until Christmas and Vera doesn’t know anyone in town who could help her quilt. Vera isn’t hopeful, but she also can see Fiona’s family is having a hard time. Pushed by a determined 4 year old, and with some obvious divine providence, Vera manages to find 3 other women in the area interested in learning how to quilt and helping make Fiona’s wish for her mama come true. There’s Tasha, an artsy young woman who helps her aunt out at the florist shop in town and is interested in quilting as an artform, there’s Beverly a bubbly middle age woman whose grandmother was a quilter but passed on before she could teach her, and there’s Eleanor a prickly, retired therapist who needs something quiet to help fill her days since retirement. The group is off to a rough start thanks to Eleanor’s icy personality and the fact that they agreed to meet at her house before they realized what an ordeal that would be. Vera isn’t sure they will meet the Christmas deadline, or if this quilting project will be a blessing or disaster for those involved.
This is a heartwarmingly sweet Christmas story about how acts of kindness benefit not only the helped but the helpers.
Target Readers:
Contemporary Fiction Fans, Feel Good Christmas Story Fans, Christmas Carol-Inspired Story Fans, Adult Readers (though totally approachable to YA and even MG readers)
Santa Bruce (Mother Bruce, #4) Ryan T. Higgins
Bruce wants to hibernate for the winter, but his family has other plans. They want to celebrate Christmas. And when Bruce gets mistaken for Santa, the mice capitalize on it. Much to Bruce's chagrin.
Despite all Bruce’s protests, he makes the whole forest happy during Christmas, and makes this a feel good Christmas read.
Target Readers:
Bruce Fans, Animal Fiction Fans, Humor Fans, Feel Good Christmas Story Fans, Picture Book Readers
A Star of Mystery (Luke and Bandit, #3) by Paul Regnier
Crystal Falls has been invaded by a movie production cast and crew shooting a Christmas romance. Luke thinks those Christmas romance movies are a joke, but his Mom and best friend Kenny are thrilled. They are big fans of the director and stars of the movie, and Kenny thinks he's about to make it big when they hire him to do drone shots for the production. But when the leading man's assistant suffers a bear attack, someone drugs the leading man, a giant candy cane almost crushes the stars, and the prop director is found dead, things aren't feeling so festive. Who could be behind the attacks and why? The Crystal Clear Detective Agency (the private investigation group made up of Luke, Kenny, Luke's mom, and Luke’s telepathically talking dog Bandit) are hired by the leading man to find whoever is out to get him. And of course police officer Brooke is also on the case, but is willing to work with the CCDA now that they are a bit more official.
This is a fun and funny cozy mystery read with lots of Christmas elements and movie behind the scenes set in a small mountain village.
Target Readers:
Cozy Mystery Fans, Humor Fans, Dog Lovers, Movie Behind the Scenes Fans, Adult Readers (though approachable to YA)
A Surprise for Christmas and other seasonal mysteries compiled/edited by Martin Edwards
A collection of short mystery stories from the Golden Age of mysteries set around Christmas time.
Short story collections can be a mixed bag, but I enjoy almost all of the Christmas mysteries in this book.
Target Readers:
Cozy Mystery Fans, Christmas Short Story Fans, Classic Mystery Fans, Historical Fiction Fans, Adult Readers
A Very Mercy Christmas (Mercy Watson Picture Books) by Kate DiCamillo, ill. by Chris Van Dusen
Stella wants to go caroling but no one in the neighborhood seems to want to join her except Mercy, Maybelline, and General Washington. Will they spread joy, like Stella hopes?
A delightful, sweet Christmas read with the Deckawoo Drive community.
Target Readers:
Mercy Watson Fans, Community Christmas Story Fans, Christmas Caroling Fans, Animal Lovers, Humor Fans, Feel Good Christmas Story Fans, Picture Book Readers
No comments:
Post a Comment
Polite and respectful comments are welcome.