September 1, 2026 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Almost eleven year old Stevie loves Christmas and doesn't understand why the rest of her family doesn't. Her parents are divorced, and her father tours with a rock band. When he does come to town, the girls stay with him at the family hotel that his brother, Uncle Harvey, runs in Magic Lake, Saskatchewan, which doesn't feel like home. Their mother is in charge of a local community center, and is especially busy during the holiday season. Stevie wants to have a Christmas tree in their house, and have her father stay with them instead of at the hotel. She ropes her twin Jordan in to trying to manipulate her parents into providing her with the sort of Christmas she envisions. This involves getting a tree out of the garage and working with their neighbor and friend Newt to locate greenery and decorations. Their father, who is afraid of dogs, is not happy that Harvey is hosting a large number of rescue dogs at the Golden Sheaf, and doesn't want to stay there. There are some hurt feelings, especially since the girls' cousin Trish is an only child and likes to have them stay at the hotel. There are plenty of miscommunications and arguing, and Stevie and Jordan are both torn that their father has been offered a job touring with one of his favorite bands, Sour Hearts. Employment is good, but it means he will be away from them, and the girls don't necessarily react in helpful ways. They aren't trying to get their parents back together, but they do want them both around. Will they be able to get their parents to support their dreams?
Strengths: Books about Christmas are hugely popular in my library, and readers who enjoyed the Quin sisters' Junior High graphic novels will like seeing more from half of this duo. The Saskatchewan setting is interesting, and I loved the vibrant community center. There are plenty of hijinks and lots of humor, as well as two cats.
Weaknesses: The girls are a bit young; there is some discussion that they are not entirely willing to give up on the idea of Santa Claus, which seems like something most children do at 8. (I even asked a passing 7th grader to confirm.) The writing was a bit repetitive. Also, the father's decision seemed unlikely, but does set the cast of characters up for book two.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked Burt's The Twelve Dares of Christa, McKeiran's 12 Strays of Christmas, or Garland's The Twelve Pets of Christmas.
Strengths: Books about Christmas are hugely popular in my library, and readers who enjoyed the Quin sisters' Junior High graphic novels will like seeing more from half of this duo. The Saskatchewan setting is interesting, and I loved the vibrant community center. There are plenty of hijinks and lots of humor, as well as two cats.
Weaknesses: The girls are a bit young; there is some discussion that they are not entirely willing to give up on the idea of Santa Claus, which seems like something most children do at 8. (I even asked a passing 7th grader to confirm.) The writing was a bit repetitive. Also, the father's decision seemed unlikely, but does set the cast of characters up for book two.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked Burt's The Twelve Dares of Christa, McKeiran's 12 Strays of Christmas, or Garland's The Twelve Pets of Christmas.
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