December 23, 2008

Book Review: The Paperbag Christmas

In October, I entered a giveaway at Tara's View on Books for The Paperbag Christmas. Miriam Parker, of the Hachette Book Group, saw that I entered the giveaway. She wrote me and said she would send me a copy if I would review it. I am so glad I accepted her offer. This is a jewel of a book!

Why this book felt very personal: I have a daughter with Cystic Fibrosis, a chronic illness that will require hospital stays, and I have a son with Sensory Processing Disorder. It is my prayer, and vision as a mother, to teach my daughter to gracefully deal with her disease, and to teach my son to put others before himself. It has been my experience with SPD that since Timothy is so often trying to protect his own senses that he rarely looks around to see the needs of others. Since The Paperbag Christmas is about 2 physically healthy boys visiting a pediatric cancer ward throughout the Christmas season, I couldn't help but see my two children in this story.

But that does not have to be the case for you to love this book. It is funny, warm, touching, gentle, loving, and PROFOUND. I don't want to say too much, for fear of giving anything away, but it is truly magical! I know it's only 2 days until Christmas, but it is still worth reading, and would make a wonderful present (stocking stuffer?) this year or an early present for next!

1 comment:

Stephanie Kay said...

Sounds like a sweet book.