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Description
Noel finds her Christmas spirit ruined when she pulls the new, snobby girl's name for Secret Santa, and her best friend gets Noel's crush, Nick. Book #13
Quick Summary
If you've ever had that sinking feeling when you draw the one person you really don't want to give a gift to, Noel's story will crack you up. Noel's already having a rough holiday season her crush ends up with her best friend for Secret Santa, and to make things worse, she gets the new girl who acts like she's too good for everyone. But what starts as a holiday disaster turns into something that actually hits you right in the feelings, because underneath all of Noel's "I'm not doing this" drama, there's a genuine lesson about not judging people before you know them. This is a quick, funny read that middle graders will zip through, especially if they love the Diary of a Wimpy Kid vibe where the narrator complains their way through everything. It's got that perfect mix of silly holiday chaos and real friendship stuff, so it works for kids who just want something fun or for parent-kid book clubs looking for a low-stakes conversation starter about assumptions and empathy. Fans of the Secret Life of Kitty series or anything from the Goldman girls will probably gravitate toward this one, and at under 30,000 words it's totally doable for even reluctant readers.