The Girl Who Saved Christmas

by Matt Haig

[Jo]

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.