A review by kailey_luminouslibro
The Christmas Doll by Elvira Woodruff, Troy Howl

emotional hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Lucy is terrified that her little sister, Glory, will die of the sickness that is infecting everyone at the orphan's home. After several children die, Lucy decides that they have to escape. It would be better to live penniless and hungry on the streets than be exposed to the sickness. In the midst of the winter cold, Lucy cheers her little sister with stories of a beautiful doll, Morning Glory, until one day they find an old doll among the trash of the river.

This was such a sweet story! I really loved the close relationship between the two sisters. They are so affectionate and generous to each other. They learn to be resilient on the streets and they are willing to do any honest work to earn a few pennies.

I felt like the plot took too much time with the scenes of the girls on the streets, and not enough time with other parts of the story. I would have appreciated a little more development with the latter portion of the story and the supporting characters that they meet later on. The connections that the girls forge with some of those characters felt a little rushed.

The writing style is enchanting! I love the little details in each scene that make the story come alive.