From Catholic Teen Books
eISBN 9798231114870
ASIN B0G3B8BV64
I somehow missed this volume when it released a year ago. That was my loss. Do not make my mistake pick it up and give it a read. This book is a little different. Like the earlier volume, The Christmas Lights, it was a story written in parts, serially. It is a deeply moving story. And the first in the collection that is historical fiction and not set in contemporary times. It was sort of an experiment. We are informed that:
“"The Gift of the Angel Tree" 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:
“In late 19th century Chicago, Jenny wants only one gift from her father. She wants him to go back to church. It's what her late mother would've wanted too. But curmudgeonly Patrick is bitter. Bitter about his wife's death. Bitter about the changes in his city.
With reluctance, Patrick nevertheless sets out to find a special Christmas gift for an out-of-work man. With the help of the most unlikely companions, Patrick might be able to let go of his bitterness just enough to enjoy the blessings of Christmas.”
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 great short story it is very moving. It is a story about young woman working to help her father return to the church. She is inspired to pick a tag from the Angel Tree at church for her father to pick a gift. Times are hard, and many are out of work and struggling. But things are not always as they appear, or as we assume them to be.
I have really enjoyed all 5 stories in this series. But this one really hits differently. I think about the Angel tree we have at church and how for many years the kids would pick someone their age to purchase for. I think about the great need in our own day and age, and I reflected upon the time where we were in need and others helped.
Insight might come from the most surprising of places, or even surprising people. If our eyes and hearts are open; and maybe a miracle of a transformed heart. But to find out the details you will need to read this wonderful 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:
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