From Catholic Teen Books
eISBN 9798232509170
ASIN B0G3CR9G6R
This book is a little different. Like the earlier volume, The Christmas Lights, it was a story written in parts, serially. It is a very fun and a deeply moving story. It was sort of an experiment. We are informed that:
“A Lack of Christmas Spirits is a collective short story written sequentially in individual pieces by five Catholic Teen Books authors and originally presented aloud on Reading with Your Kids Podcast.”
And the description of the story is:
“At each other's throats since the recent contentious presidential election, Cal's youth group finally settles on a Christmas service project. If Cal can just keep his distance from Nick, maybe he can enjoy some quality time with Michaela while they're at it. But when Cal's elderly grandma goes missing, all of the youth group members, especially Cal, will be put to the test. Can they get along well enough to do some good? Maybe even save some lives?”
We are further informed in the introduction that:
“Catholic Teen Books is a collaborative website of authors who all write faith-based fiction for middle school and high school teens. In December of 2020, many of the Catholic Teen Books authors wrote a collaborative story, “The Christmas Lights,” for Christmas that was read on Jedlie’s Reading with Your Kids Podcast, on Christmas Eve.
In each subsequent year, Catholic Teen Books authors have collaborated on another Christmas story. Jed gives us a prompt, and one by one each of us write a section as the story passes from author to author. Only the final author knows the entire story until we read it for the podcast.
We’ve enjoyed these projects and want to share these fun, short stories with others. Proceeds from this e-book will be donated to Cross Catholic Outreach.
We hope you enjoy!”
The books in this series are:
The Christmas Lights
A Fowl Christmas
A Saint Nicholas Eve Carol
The Gift of the Angel Tree
A Lack of Christmas Spirits
The eBook of the story becomes available the year after it is done on the podcast. The contributors to this specific volume are:
This is a wonderful short story. It is very moving. It is a story about a youth group that is experiencing serious conflict because of political differences. The group appears ready to split into two different camps along those political lines. But when they decide on a Christmas service project things do not go as planned and soon they realize they need each other more than they could ever have imagined.
I have really enjoyed all 5 stories in this series. But this one really hit home this year. Not because of the political lines but because of the conflict and learning to see what really matters.
Help might come from the most surprising of places, or even surprising people. And maybe a miracle; as some former friends might find they still have more in common than they thought. But to find out the details you will need to read this excellent short story. I can easily recommend this book and the previous volumes in the same style from the Catholic Teen Books Authors.
Please note: This is a collective short story written sequentially in individual pieces by four Catholic Teen Books authors and originally presented aloud on Reading with Your Kids Podcast. Proceeds from this e-book will be donated to Cross Catholic Outreach.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!
Links to other reviews of books by the contributors:
Anthologies from the Catholic Teen Books Authors:
Secrets Visible & Invisible 7 Amazing Stories
Gifts Visible & Invisible 8 Christmas Stories for Teens
Treasures: Visible & Invisible 8 Stories for Teens
Other books from Catholic Teen Books:
The Gift of the Angel Tree
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