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kestock9's review
A fun connection to the original story. Will recommend to students.
karlamcclatchey's review
4.0
3.5 / 5 snowflakes for the audiobook❄
4 / 5 for the hardcopy
No story portrays the essence of Christmas better than Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. This tale by Michael Rosen is a retelling of the Dickens one, aimed at a younger audience. Perfect for introducing your 7 to 10 year olds to the text, this retelling follows Harry Gruber as he aims to take a leading part in his school production of the play. As Harry practices his part, the readers are introduced to excerpts from the screenplay. Alongside Scrooge's second chance at redemption, we are shown Harry's work obsessed father, who is never without his mobile phone in his clutches. As Harry prepares to take to the stage, he worries his dad will choose work over watching his performance. Will his dad get caught up in the message of Christmas cheer and put his family first, or get caught up at work. I adored this story, which I listened to from a Bolinda audiobook from the library. I even purchased a copy to place in my daughter's Christmas stocking. Why 3.5 stars? For me, as an adult, the 5 stars belongs to the original. Michael Rosen's adaptation for children deserves a 4. However, the audiobook was a little disappointing for me, as it had an American accent. Nothing against American accents, but for me personally I prefer the accents to reflect the origins and Dickens will always be in my mind as C19th Victorian London and Michael Rosen is also based in London. Another reason to choose the book over the audiobook on this occasion is the illustrations. Tony Ross provides the most fantastic images to accompany the story #bahhumbug #michaelrosen #tonyross #bolindaaudio #librariesni
4 / 5 for the hardcopy
No story portrays the essence of Christmas better than Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. This tale by Michael Rosen is a retelling of the Dickens one, aimed at a younger audience. Perfect for introducing your 7 to 10 year olds to the text, this retelling follows Harry Gruber as he aims to take a leading part in his school production of the play. As Harry practices his part, the readers are introduced to excerpts from the screenplay. Alongside Scrooge's second chance at redemption, we are shown Harry's work obsessed father, who is never without his mobile phone in his clutches. As Harry prepares to take to the stage, he worries his dad will choose work over watching his performance. Will his dad get caught up in the message of Christmas cheer and put his family first, or get caught up at work. I adored this story, which I listened to from a Bolinda audiobook from the library. I even purchased a copy to place in my daughter's Christmas stocking. Why 3.5 stars? For me, as an adult, the 5 stars belongs to the original. Michael Rosen's adaptation for children deserves a 4. However, the audiobook was a little disappointing for me, as it had an American accent. Nothing against American accents, but for me personally I prefer the accents to reflect the origins and Dickens will always be in my mind as C19th Victorian London and Michael Rosen is also based in London. Another reason to choose the book over the audiobook on this occasion is the illustrations. Tony Ross provides the most fantastic images to accompany the story #bahhumbug #michaelrosen #tonyross #bolindaaudio #librariesni
librarianryan's review
3.0
This book isn't bad for a younger kid to read. As an adult it was a bit blahh. Harry gets the honor of playing Scrooge in his school's production of A Christmas Carol. His dad promises to see him in the play, but he is glued to his cell phone and things going on at work. This book almost a retelling of a christmas story. You are reading the play as the kids put it on, and dad is walking in and out of play and his life imitating the story. It wasn’t a bad story but so much of it was the play that it didn’t really seem like a retelling, or of an add in. Kids will enjoy it, parents, maybe not unless read as a family project together.
aoife26935's review
5.0
A perfect Christmas story, cleverly entwining lines from A Christmas Carol into a new story, echoing the message contained in it. A child might need to know the story already - I suggest A Muppet Christmas Carol, still the best version ever - in order to get the nuances, and there's a reveal about the main character's sister that's slightly hidden until about halfway through, but overall it's a fantastic read for any time of year. Perfect.
(I was slightly unsure how old everyone was, which is not a huge concern but worth noting; I'm not even sure which sibling is older, not that it matters to the story. They're something between eight and eighteen, anyway.)
Eva thought of how angry Harry had got when a spot appeared on his face.
"It's just a spot," she had said to him.
"I hate it, I hate it, I hate it," he had shouted at the mirror.
"Maybe shouting at it will scare it away," Eva had said, which, even in the midst of his rage, had made him laugh.
...
And now, in the show, Harry was making everyone laugh with his 'pimple'.
No, not Harry, she reminded herself. Scrooge. Mr Scrooge.
(I was slightly unsure how old everyone was, which is not a huge concern but worth noting; I'm not even sure which sibling is older, not that it matters to the story. They're something between eight and eighteen, anyway.)
Eva thought of how angry Harry had got when a spot appeared on his face.
"It's just a spot," she had said to him.
"I hate it, I hate it, I hate it," he had shouted at the mirror.
"Maybe shouting at it will scare it away," Eva had said, which, even in the midst of his rage, had made him laugh.
...
And now, in the show, Harry was making everyone laugh with his 'pimple'.
No, not Harry, she reminded herself. Scrooge. Mr Scrooge.
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