Customer Reviews

The Paper Bag Christmas

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Typically, one would find my wife and I having dissimilar tastes in what we read. She prefers to soak in the 'suspenseful heart-wrenchers', while I tend to enjoy more of the adventurous and humorous stories.

We do, however seldom, find a work of Literature that satisfies us both. "The Paper Bag Christmas" is one such gem that we discovered, love and have added to our family collection. I would highly recommend you do the same.

Milne writes in such a way that you quickly become woven into the fabric of the story, hardly able to stop reading once you have begun. The experiences of the characters become personal and you share every tear and laugh along the way.

A more appropriate recommendation would be to buy two: one for yourself, and one as a gift for a loved one. You are guaranteed to want to share it after you read it. Buying them together will save you on shipping.

The Paper Bag Christmas
By: Kevin Alan Milne

As a book reviewer I am very seldom at a loss for words. I bought this book because I love Christmas, and after reading a review, I decided to buy it. I am having a hard time finding the words to do justice to this book. It is a beautiful story of two brothers named Aaron and Molar who discover, "The best gift they never wanted for Christmas." This book has made me smile and then cry at times. I can't recommend this book enough. All that I can say is buy this book, give yourself a present, as you will not be disappointed. I wish all parents today would do what the parents in this book have done. Teach their children it is better to give then receive. Then their children will say, "The best gift I never wanted for Christmas." I would like to say to the author, "What a wonderful gift you have for writing"


Whispering Winds Book Reviews

The Paper Bag Christmas is a perfect example of the greatness of quality rather than quantity. Often it is very easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas, with all of the materialistic hype that revolves around the holidays. However, with The Paper Bag Christmas, author Kevin Alan Milne brings to light the true meaning behind this celebrated time of year. It is not what we get or even what we can give material wise, but rather what we can give of ourselves and in return receive the greatest gift of all - or rather, as stated within The Paper Bag Christmas, the gift that is "everything you've never wanted for Christmas".

Molar and his older brother Aaron, help a pediatric oncologist, Dr. Chris Ringle, by assisting as Santa's elves, in a very special hospital children's ward. Though Molar and Aaron do not voluntarily begin this task, they soon realize the happiness they can bring to the other children and develop some very special bonds with the children - especially a young girl who wears a paper bag over her head to hide her "ugliness" and a young boy whose religion does not celebrate Christmas, and who knows very little of it's true traditional meaning. Though these two children appear the least likely, they are actually the ones to forever change Molar and Aaron's lives - as well as many around them. Molar also learns the truest meaning of friendship as well as the fact that just a few kind words and gestures can mean so very much to someone.

The Paper Bag Christmas is a wonderfully beautiful and heart warming story that will bring laughter, as well as tears. It is a story that you will want to read again and again and also a story that you will want to recommend to others. There are few books that forever touch the heart, and The Paper Bag Christmas is one of those. I highly recommend this and know that it will make a beautiful addition to anyone's library.

This is one of the most beautiful Christmas stories I have ever read and I collect Christmas books! This book is suitable for both adults and children above third grade. Tears will flow and and you will also laugh with the adventures of Molar and his brother Aaron as they volunteer in the terminally ill department of a children's hospital in the weeks before Christmas. As you meet the various individuals in the terminally ill unit you will rejoice in their perseverance and cry with their discouragement. One of the patients named Katrina always wears a paperbag over her head when Molar and his brother Aaron visit because she thinks she is ugly and no one would want to see her face. Hence, the title of the book -- "The Paperbag Christmas". However the book gives much insight into several other terminally ill patients like Madhu who is Hindu, but has a great interest in Christmas. My one wish would be that each of us and our children could somehow be Molar and Aaron and actually have the experience of volunteering in this terminally ill unit that the author writes about. We would all have a deeper understanding of the true meaning of Christmas. The next best thing is to get the book and experience this Christmas journey for yourself. It is a small book and could be read in a night or two. Most people will not be able to put it down and will probably read it in one night. This is a book to be shared with everyone and would make the most meaningful Christmas gift. Someone in Hollywood or the Hallmark Film Corporation is missing the boat by not buying the production rights to this book and producing one of the most wonderful Christmas stories ever!

At Christmas time in 2009 I received The Paper Bag Christmas as a gift. As an English Lit major in college followed my education with a teaching career in High School English " and became immersed in the action, the characters and the subject matter that flowed gracefully from one subject to another. I forgot to critique and simply allowed myself to enjoy the book. I was so pleased I decided that "the Paper Bag Christmas" would be my gift to the many members of my family who are all grown and married and in their respective vocations.
I am the 8th in a family of 13. As you can imagine I have many siblings. My oldest living sister is the mother of 8 who are all married and away living their lives, while my youngest sister the mother of 7, all of whom are now married and away livng their lives and raising their families. From the youngest to the oldest there are many, many, more. Waht does this have to do with the Paper Bag Christmas??? Very easy to explain. When I send a Christmas Book it needs to be able to satisfy the youngest (born in 43) and her children and her children's children and the oldest living (born in 1926) and her children and her children's children. And all the others inbetween. The Paper Bag Christmas has done that. So it is a book for all ages and all walks of life.
It would be a great movie for TV. Maybe by Hallmark. Several of the family members all share that opinion. Many read it aloud to the children. If a book can keep a listener's attention it is a great testimonial.

JAL

Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne is a short, charming story about how one child came to understand the real meaning of Christmas and the depth of God's love. Mo and his older brother are recruited by Dr. Christopher Ringle to volunteer at the children's ward in the weeks leading up to Christmas by promising them that they will get the best Christmas present they never asked for in their time there. The two boys make their way through the unit making friends until it comes to a young girl, Katrina, who wears a paper bag over her head to hide the damage that her treatment has done to her face and a boy who doesn't believe in Jesus so doesn't expect anything from Santa. The kids put together a Christmas program that will change everyone who attends and all of the children as well. Milne captures the inherent cruelty and kindness that children bear so easily. Mo is utterly charming in his willingness to do whatever it takes to make Katrina a part of the group. The tragic ending is uplifting in the way only God can work things. It's the perfect book to help get you in the mood for the holidays.

I read this novel last year and I really enjoyed it. I usually read several Christmas stories a year, this was the best one I read last year. I ended up buying a copy to read again this year, I had borrowed a copy from the library. I seldom read a fictional story more then once, but I look forward to reading it again this year.

It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it makes you remember the true meaning of Christmas. I enjoyed this little book immensely. I think we will give it as a gift to people who need to hear its message. I know i did.

I bought the kindle edition of this book mainly because of the $1.99 price. I was wanting some Christmas books to read but really didn't have much "book budget" so was seeing what I could find for free or cheap prices. I did not realize that I would be getting one of the most touching, most heart moving books I have ever read! This book was just that! I loved this book and can't remember the last time I was so touched by a book! I was almost afraid I was going to harm my kindle I was crying so hard and was afraid I was going to get it wet - LOL!! This is so very much a worth read!! I just don't feel like I can find the adequate words for this book! You are just going to have to read it for yourself!

At just 150 pages, this is a quick read, but one that will stay with you long after the book is closed. If you don't believe in Santa or Christmas miracles, you may change your mind after reading this! I laughed, I cried, my heart hurt and was filled with joy! This is just a sweet little story about how one boy's life was changed, Christmas when he was 9. Not only did his life change, but the lives of those around him were changed as well. A boy learned about Christmas, a girl learned that beauty is on the inside, and families came together, with the help of one doctor, or Santa Clause, you decide!

It's amazing how one event can change your life. Maybe one little book could change yours...this could be the one! Whether you read it now, at Christmas, or at any other time during the year, I hope you will take the time. It's truly moving! May you keep Christmas in your heart and never get to old to believe.