North Pole Reform School

by Jaimie Admans

[Angie]

I think my small heart grew three sizes today thanks to North Pole Reform School. It's an adorably hilarious tale bursting with Christmas cheer. I will admit that I have quite the dislike for the actual Christmas holiday, but I'm not a complete Scrooge. I absolutely adore Christmas movies and stories, and this one is no different! Well, it's completely different than anything I've ever read before, but it still gave me those fuzzy holiday feelings. There were also plenty of laugh out loud moments!

It all starts with a purple moose whisking Mistletoe Bell away to the North Pole in the middle of the night. Of course, Misty thinks she's dreaming, but soon enough she realizes it's all real. She, and four others, have been brought to the North Pole Reform School because they've ruined Christmas for someone else. Mistletoe, Luke, Joe, Emily, and Hugo all hate Christmas for various reasons and have done some despicable things to others during what is suppose to be the jolliest time of the year. Now the elves are prepared to show them what Christmas is all about and how much it means to those they've hurt. Needless to say, there are tons of heartwarming moments as these trouble makers get reformed.

For being such a short book, North Pole Reform School has an amazing amount of world building. It's clear that the author put a lot of thought into what her version of the North Pole and the inner workings of Christmas would be like. It seems like she thought of everything from how they survive the weather, to their food, even how the reindeer fly! I loved the reindeer, especially the babies! My favorite part though? The zombies! Yes, there are zombies. It's a totally bizarre addition, but it oddly works. The undead wandering about made for quite the interesting twist at the end. I never saw that coming. In fact, it's so strange I don't think anyone could see it coming.

If you're looking for an utterly unique Christmas story, or just a really cute one, North Pole Reform School is it! I want this to be a movie! I have no idea what studio could possibly pick it up and do it justice, but I think this would make such a fun holiday film. As a book though, I flew threw it and I smiled the whole the way. There are some darker bits, but it's nothing too heavy to take away from the overall fluffiness of it.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.