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Description
Amelia Wishart was the first child ever to receive a Christmas present. It was her Christmas spirit that gave Santa the extra boost of magic he needed to make his first trip around the world, but now Amelia is in trouble.
Quick Summary
Matt Haig's The Girl Who Saved Christmas tells the origin story behind Santa's very first Christmas trip when a girl named Amelia Wishart's incredible Christmas spirit literally gave him the magical boost he needed to make his journey around the world. What I love about this one is that it doesn't just retell the Santa legend; it adds real stakes and heart, because Amelia has ended up in some kind of trouble that threatens to undo Christmas forever, and the story follows how that gets fixed. Kids who love the magic of Christmas and enjoy stories where clever kids outsmart adults will eat this up, and there's enough humor and adventure to keep even reluctant readers turning pages. There's a bit of tension here and there some of the villain stuff can get a little dark in places but it's ultimately a warm, feel-good story with a message about hope and the power of believing in something bigger than yourself. If your kid is into Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Lemony Snicket-style storytelling with a holiday twist, this feels like a natural fit, and at 46,000 words it's substantial enough to feel like a real accomplishment when they finish it.