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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Ir Ziemassvētku vakars. Viss ir slikti. Amēlija - meitene, kuras cerību pilnā sirds paveica brīnumus iepriekšējos Ziemassvētkos, ir ieslodzīta darba namā. Un nav īpaši cerīgā noskaņojumā. Elfu ciemā ir iebrukuši troļļi un nopostījuši teju visas mājas. Maģijas ir atlicis pavisam maz. Kā izglābt Ziemassvētkus? Teiksim tā - Ziemassvētku vecītim nāksies krietni pasvīst.
Kā jau bieži ar turpinājumiem - autors izšauj pulveri pirmajā grāmatā un pēc tam turpina vārīt vājākus un vājākus uzlējumus. Šī grāmata nav slikta. Tā ir pavisam jauka, ātri lasās, arī tai ir brīnišķīgas ilustrācijas. Un droši vien, ja šo lasītu pirmo, viss liktos super, bet es zinu, uz ko Heigs ir spējīgs, kad viņam ir kārtīga iedvesma. Šeit pietrūka gan tā “wow” faktora, kas bija pirmajai grāmatai, gan emocionālā skaudruma (jā, jā, zinu, bērnu grāmata, bet pirmajā taču bija!). Jā, un joki arī vairs ne tik smieklīgi. Oh well. Viss labais reiz beidzas.
Kā jau bieži ar turpinājumiem - autors izšauj pulveri pirmajā grāmatā un pēc tam turpina vārīt vājākus un vājākus uzlējumus. Šī grāmata nav slikta. Tā ir pavisam jauka, ātri lasās, arī tai ir brīnišķīgas ilustrācijas. Un droši vien, ja šo lasītu pirmo, viss liktos super, bet es zinu, uz ko Heigs ir spējīgs, kad viņam ir kārtīga iedvesma. Šeit pietrūka gan tā “wow” faktora, kas bija pirmajai grāmatai, gan emocionālā skaudruma (jā, jā, zinu, bērnu grāmata, bet pirmajā taču bija!). Jā, un joki arī vairs ne tik smieklīgi. Oh well. Viss labais reiz beidzas.
Amelia has a lot of belief in Father Christmas. So much, in fact, that her hope was enough to kickstart Christmas when she was 8. But when the next year rolled around and Santa and the reindeer were getting ready to start his yearly trip around the world to deliver presents, the elves and their homes were attacked by trolls. Not only that, but the amount of hope needed for the reindeer to fly and for Santa to stop time was low. Too low.
But Father Nicholas isn't about to let the tradition of Christmas go. After rebuilding, he knows that all he needs is the help of Amelia once again. So he sets off for London with the little bit of magic he has to visit Amelia first. Only, when he gets to her home, she's not there. Amelia had been taken to a workhouse and instead of being the child with the most hope is not the child with the least. And Amelia's loss of hope could spell the end of Christmas forever...
I loved The Boy Called Christmas, so I was definitely excited to read this sequel. In the tradition of Charles Dickens, who also has a cameo in the story, we have a story about Christmas and the harshness of life in Victorian England blended with some trouble at the North Pole that could make fulfilling Christmas difficult, if not impossible.
It's hard to say much about this story without getting into spoiler territory, so I'll just say that if you enjoyed The Boy Called Christmas, then you will probably like this one. In addition, if you listened to the first one, then you will probably also enjoy listening to this one. It does have a different narrator - Carey Mulligan - since the main character, Amelia, is female, but she does just as wonderful a job, And though it's a minor part of the story, I think my favorite part was the scene with Queen Victoria and Albert, and the voices she used for the two of them. I still giggle a bit when I think about it.
But Father Nicholas isn't about to let the tradition of Christmas go. After rebuilding, he knows that all he needs is the help of Amelia once again. So he sets off for London with the little bit of magic he has to visit Amelia first. Only, when he gets to her home, she's not there. Amelia had been taken to a workhouse and instead of being the child with the most hope is not the child with the least. And Amelia's loss of hope could spell the end of Christmas forever...
I loved The Boy Called Christmas, so I was definitely excited to read this sequel. In the tradition of Charles Dickens, who also has a cameo in the story, we have a story about Christmas and the harshness of life in Victorian England blended with some trouble at the North Pole that could make fulfilling Christmas difficult, if not impossible.
It's hard to say much about this story without getting into spoiler territory, so I'll just say that if you enjoyed The Boy Called Christmas, then you will probably like this one. In addition, if you listened to the first one, then you will probably also enjoy listening to this one. It does have a different narrator - Carey Mulligan - since the main character, Amelia, is female, but she does just as wonderful a job, And though it's a minor part of the story, I think my favorite part was the scene with Queen Victoria and Albert, and the voices she used for the two of them. I still giggle a bit when I think about it.
medium-paced
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This a cute christmassy story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent
A charming story, just perfect for reading aloud at bedtime.
Haig captures perfectly the mix of humour and horror that appeals to small children (and adults who still like to think of themselves as small children). A great cast of characters and plenty of action to entertain, while sending a resounding Christmas cheer.
I have to confess to reading on ahead, and I can't wait to see what my six year old makes of some of the later events!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy.
Haig captures perfectly the mix of humour and horror that appeals to small children (and adults who still like to think of themselves as small children). A great cast of characters and plenty of action to entertain, while sending a resounding Christmas cheer.
I have to confess to reading on ahead, and I can't wait to see what my six year old makes of some of the later events!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced