Who would ever guess that the beloved legend of Santa Claus involves an often-untold tale of faith and friendship between two men? Long, long ago Santa Claus had an African partner named Pete, who assisted with the Christmas rounds.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
This fictional story based on a young African American boy in New York City is grounded in history (co-writer Christopher Moore is the Commissioner of New York City Landmarks) and decorated with the whimsy of imagination and magic. When Terrence was seven years old, he was forced to spend Saturdays riding alongside his grandfather, a Metro bus driver, through the streets of the city. At first Terrence is resentful, but then he begins to listen to his grandfather's stories--the stories of the settling of New York, how the city belongs to all people of all races. Driving down St. Nicholas Avenue, his grandfather begins the story of "Santa & Pete." He tells how St. Nicholas was imprisoned as a spy during the Inquisition, but was eventually rescued by Pete, a former slave in Spain under the Moors. The duo found their way to New York and began the long-standing tradition of giving gifts to the needy. When Terrence eventually discovers his connection to Pete, the story suggests that all who celebrate Christmas can be the rescuers and helpers of St. Nicholas. --Gail Hudson
From Publishers Weekly
This heartwarming holiday story is a welcome addition to the small roster of tales that relate an ethnically based story for a general readership. Welcome, too, is the strong prose and sure craftsmanship that keeps sentimentality at arm's length while spinning an absorbing narrative. The African American narrator, Terence, looks back on the winter of 1959, when he was a boy and accompanied his grandfather, a bus driver, on his Saturday route, receiving from the old gentleman a capsule history of old New York and an introduction to his African American heritage. Harkening back to the time when the city was New Amsterdam, grandfather tells the story of Pete, born a slave in Spain and a worker in a Seville prison during the Inquisition, when the real St. Nicholas, a Christian bishop, was imprisoned there. According to grandfather, Pete became Santa's sidekick and they sailed for the New World. The story of their adventures, delivered with humor and easily assimilated historical details, is inspirational in the best sense, grounded in truths of human nature and ethical conduct. In a genre where a blatant tug on the heartstrings often takes the place of substance, this affecting and illuminating story is a standout.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
105 of 126 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Santa & Pete: A Novel of Christmas Present and Past,
By Mary B. Reynolds (Prescott, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Santa & Pete: A Novel Of Christmas Present And Past (Hardcover)
I ordered this book when placing an order for Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore. I ordered Santa and Pete thinking it was written by the same Christopher Moore who wrote Practical Demon Keeping, Blood Sucking Fiends, Coyote Blue, etc. I've never been so disappointed just opening a box - in fact, Santa and Pete is still in the box. Santa and Pete is written by a different Christopher Moore. I feel very mislead by ..... as this book was suggested along with all of the above mentioned books by Christopher Moore (I do own all of the previous books by Christopher and truly believed I was getting a Christmas story he was involved in writing). Bad marketing ..... - misleading and dishonest - really helped shake the confidence I had in you. You might like to research your authors more before pulling a stunt like this - doesn't do much for your good-will.......
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Wonderful Christmas Story!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Santa & Pete: A Novel Of Christmas Present And Past (Hardcover)
What a treasure! Finally, there is a book that tells the "true" story of Saint Nicholas. I had long known that St. Nick was a real person, born in Turkey and who lived at the time of the 4th century Nicene Council, which decreed the Divinity of Christ through the Holy Trinity. St. Nick also lived at the time the Christian church first established December 25th as the annual celebration of the Festival of the Nativity. Reportedly seen even after his death, St. Nick became the universal symbol of the Advent of the Christmas season. That he was joined a few hundred years later by Pete the Moor to spread the message of Christ's birth and coming resurrection, is a wonderful story that circulated throughout Holland, Belgium and many other European countries. Though even in Europe the meaningful story of the St. Nick, Pete, and the Nativity have been commercialized beyond recognition. It is truly marvelous that in 1999 we have rediscovered this dynamic duo. Congratulations to Moore and Johnson! The television movie, based on the book, which aired December 5th on CBS was also delightful, but I look forward to reading the book every Christmas season. Telling the Christmas story with a brilliant and historic American spin that includes Dutch, Africans and Native Americans makes this book a Christmas treasure for all Americans. How proud can all of our children be to know we are all part of a great celebration.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Really Great Find,
By A Customer
This review is from: Santa & Pete: A Novel Of Christmas Present And Past (Hardcover)
Santa and Pete is a wonderful story that reminded me of the true meaning of Christmas. Bags of coal to the reviewer who felt St. Nick was diminished. And two bags of coal to the reviewer who would keep such a great story from black children. I will repeat what others have said, this book is a Christmas gift in the best sense of the word. It is almost unforgiveable what our culture has done to the incredible story of the real St. Nicholas. Sinterklaas and Piet the Moor is the story we should be telling all of our children each and every year. I would recommend this delightful book to everyone. And my deepest thanks to the dear friends who gave their 30 year old friend this precious little book for Christmas.
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