When Steven Connors dies suddenly on Christmas morning, six-year-old David has not only lost his father, but Christmas, too. Little does he know that his father isn't far, and will be stopping by to visit from time to time. Or that with each visit, he will look--and sound--more and more like a certain jolly old gentleman in whom David has stopped believing.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6. A jumble of half-baked ideas and cliched story lines. When Steven Connors dies on Christmas morning while assembling a bicycle for his son, six-year-old David must deal with this tragedy as well as the realization that Santa does not exist. As the years pass, the boy is forced to grow up quickly, assisting his mother who works to support them. When David tries to teach himself to paint and gives up in frustration, the ghost of his father magically appears to offer advice. The visits continue as the ghost helps David through difficult situations, such as his mother's remarriage and the birth of his stepbrother. Each time, Steven Connors is described as looking a little older and heavier, appearing more and more like?you guessed it?Santa Claus. Readers follow David for 10 years before he finally comes to terms with Christmas and his father's death. The only true emotion glimmers through in the scenes between David and an elderly neighbor who becomes the boy's mentor and friend. Too bad this relationship gets buried beneath the derivative plot lines and sitcom sarcasm. Wish this one away.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
A little stocking-stuffer of a book about a boy coming to terms with his father's death. David Connor's father, screwdriver in hand, dies abruptly before dawn on Christmas morning while assembling David's new bike. David trashes the shiny green bike, his belief in Santa Claus, and his six-year-old's love of Christmas in the fury of his grief. It takes ten years, the steady presence of Mr. Paul--an elderly neighbor who is a surrogate grandfather for David--his mother's remarriage, the birth of a half-brother, and several secret visits from David's departed dad (who is grayer, fatter, and fuzzier each time he materializes, until by book's end he bears a startling resemblance to the defrocked Saint Nick) for David to transcend his anger, grief, and fear of being disloyal to his father's memory. In a debut that seems aimed at the silver screen, or at least toward an annual December showing on television, Hutchinson never milks the sentiment inherent in the plot; the writing is crisp and matter-of-fact, and he has created some truly endearing characters, particularly Mr. Paul, whose boyhood encounter with Teddy Roosevelt was the defining moment of his life. Written as a reminiscence, the book has more appeal for adults than for children--not exactly The Christmas Box audience, but those who enjoy miracle stories with more literary value and fewer tearstains. (Fiction. 10-13) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a favorite indeed!,
By
This review is from: The Christmas Wish (Hardcover)
Death came early that christmas morning...but the book, I never quite have forgotten. I loved it the first time I read it and each time since. Although small and, yes, perfect to get stuffed in a christmas stocking, it should not be forgotten or dismissed as a sad and sappy christmas novel.
In the holiday season we are supposed to remember that great things come in small packages, which is very true with The Christmas Wish.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect for Christmas!,
By
This review is from: The Christmas Wish (Hardcover)
I have been looking for a book that is inspiring and maybe will help me get in the Christmas mood. This book is it. It's a perfect size gift to put in someone's stocking ~~ and it's a perfect reminder of what Christmas is really about.
This little story starts off with six-year-old David finding his father dead on Christmas day. Understandably, he would never celebrate Christmas day for a long time till he has a little brother who came along and wanted to celebrate Christmas. Not only is this a story about Christmas, it is a story about life and death. It is about friendships and love, how even when loved ones pass on, they are still within our hearts. It is a beautiful little reminder of joy and peace ~~ and a must-read for every reader, who longs to remember what Christmas is about. 12-5-07
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
