Title: 12 New Christmas Stories: An Anthology
Author: Lee Allen Hill, Diane Kenel-Truelove, Terry Broxson, Ann Mullen-Martin, Jay Squires
Publisher:
Atmosphere Press
Pages:
112
My
GoodReads Rating: ⭐⭐
This was a sweet collection of tales, some nicer than the others.
‘Jesus
and Donkey’ by Lee Allen Hill was a sweet tale. A little boy, Jesus, who has
recently lost his father, lives with his mother and Donkey, his dog. He wants
to get his mother a turkey for Christmas, but the money that he has saved is
only sufficient to buy a chicken. And then Jesus loses the chicken.
There is a smattering of Spanish strewn through this story, which I enjoyed. The author has some interesting things to say on the subject of dogs. Dogs, born without pockets, have little interest in trade and commerce.
I also loved Mr Epstein’s thoughts about Christmas. Christians celebrate a Jew . . . The best of us should be celebrated ecumenically.
The
stories by Lee Allen Hill were my favourites.
‘The
Magic of Santa’s Christmas Box’ by Diane Kenel-Truelove was a sweet true story
about a child’s belief in Santa Claus, and how the sense of wonder stays with
her.
‘A
Christmas Gift’ by Ann Mullen-Martin is a sweet story about an elderly
childless widow who takes in a foster child she grows to love. When her
application to adopt the child is approved, it is a Christmas gift for both of
them.
‘Bring
Back the Carolers’ by Jay Squires was describe as Non-fiction in the Contents,
but appeared to be fictional as the narrator was addressed as Junie by her
mother. This narrator mourns the disappearance of carolers over several decades
and remembers a time when the carolers used ot come to their door.
‘The
Christmas Tree’ by Terry Broxson: This story could have stood by itself. It
didn’t need to be narrated by a cat. Some of the stories felt forced, and this
was one of them.
‘The
Million-dollar Christmas’ by Lee Allen Hill: The father of our seven-year-old
narrator wins a lottery of million dollars. The banter between the family
members was a hoot; the father especially had some of the best lines. I smiled
as I read this one. This tale was a true expression of the Christmas spirit.
‘A
Touch of Christmas Cash’ by Ann Mullen-Martin seemed like fiction. The
protagonist was called Olevia. This charming story reminded us that if we have
enough, we should think of others.
‘That
Year Was Different’ by Ann Mullen-Martin was a continuation of the previous
story, written a year after the Christmas of the previous year. This October,
Olevia, now 13, has lost her mother.
‘Tis
the Season’ by Diane Kenel-Truelove: The author is accused of shoplifting while
she is shopping for Christmas gifts at her favourite department store.
‘Is
Santa Claus real?’ by Terry Broxson wasn’t much of a tale; it was more like an
anecdote.
‘Of
Evergreens, and a Flash of Red' by Diane Kenel-Truelove was about a gift box
that mysteriously disappears, then shows up again.
‘JoJo’s
Turkey’ by Lee Allen Hill takes us into the life of little John Joseph
Jorgenson ‘JoJo’, newly turned nine, who now sees himself as the man of the
family. His dad is in prison and his mom works hard as a firefighter. On
Christmas Day, his mom is busy, saving lives, while his aunt is busy and drunk
in front of the television. Little JoJo makes arrangements for a turkey dinner
for his hero mother.
(I
read this book on NetGalley. Thank you to the author, the publisher and
NetGalley.)
