4.02 AVERAGE


This is an entertaining, juvenile aged holiday book. I love the spirit and story. I recommend this book for your holiday collection.

I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. It is quite wonderful. I read it out loud to my 9yo daughter over Christmas time, and she loved it. She would yell in agony whenever we finished reading for the night - she would beg for just one more chapter! She especially loved the character of Amelia. But this is a story that adults can enjoy too. There is something here for everyone - even my teenaged sons were wanting me to read it!

3.5 stars

Quite a bit darker than the first book. Looking forward to reading the third one to see how this trilogy is wrapped up.

Dnf 50%

I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed it. It picks up not long after the first book A boy called Christmas and is more action packed than the first in my opinion. Some twists were obvious to me but then I'm not really the target audience. I'm looking forward to recommending them to my nephews and I even went and got book 3 to read too :)

Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

I absolutely loved A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig when I read it two years ago. Not only did I love it, but my Mum did, too. So for Christmas last year, I bought her the sequel, The Girl Who Saved Christmas, and borrowed it from her this year. And I'm happy to say it's just as enchanting as the first book!

The very first time Father Christmas delivered presents to children all over the world, there was a young girl, Amelia Wishart, who made it happen. She believed so much in magic, her hope and belief created the magic that got Father Christmas' sleigh off the ground. The second year, however, isn't a great year for Amelia. She's working as a chimney sweep, as her mum is too ill to work any more. She is very, very sick, and all Amelia wants from Father Christmas this year is to make her mum better. But there are problems at Elfhelm; trolls have invaded, and they're destroying everything - to the point that Father Christmas is unable to leave! There are no presents that year. Amelia's hope dwindles as Father Christmas didn't come, and has a terrible, terrible year. After a year of building everything back up, Father Christmas is ready by the third Christmas to deliver presents again, but there's barely any hope left. Father Christmas knows he needs to bring hope and magic back to Amelia's life if he's going to be able to deliver any presents this year. He needs Amelia to believe - he needs Amelia to save Christmas.

I do have to say, plot wise, it wasn't quite as good as the last book. There's not a huge amount that actually happens in this book, not until near the end at least. But even so, there's still so much magic in the storytelling, it completely captures your imagination and fills you with such a sense of wonder. I am a sucker for all things Christmas, and even now, the thought of Father Christmas still fills me with joy, so a story like this is just right up my street. It would have been cool to have seen Father Christmas actually deliver presents - working out who was naughty or nice, see what he gave to specific children, what he thought of the food and drink left out for him - but it was pretty awesome getting to see him crash into the window of Queen Victoria's bedroom. That whole part of the book was just hilarious! And Charles Dickens even makes an appearance!

The Girl Who Saved Christmas is a lovely, wonderful, charming story! And I'm really looking forward to reading the third book in the series, Father Christmas and Me.
adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
Strong character development: Yes

Absolutely loved this, the second book in the Christmas series. It's full of adventure and hope. A fantastic cast of characters and a great way to get in the Christmas Spirit. Perfect for kids and lots of fun for adults too.

Enjoyed reading this nightly to my 2nd grade son. Although a story about Father Christmas, aka Santa Clause, caused lots of room for discussions. Last year I read the 1st book in this trilogy.

I really enjoy this series, and am convinced this one contains a great Brexit metaphor.