It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! The excitement and anticipation is building, the trees are decorated and the lights are twinkling. But once upon a time, there was no such holiday, it was a whisper of a celebration. It wasn’t until the 4th century that Rome decided to mark December 25th as the official birthday bash for Jesus, and boy, did it catch on. Fast forward a few centuries, and the Victorians basically rebranded the whole shindig, decking the halls with boughs of holly and whatnot. Now, Christmas is synonymous with joy, generosity, gift giving and a man in a red suit shimmying down chimneys. Speaking of the man in the red suit, he didn’t always exist and in the book A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig (the first book in a trilogy) we take a sleigh ride back to the roots of our jolly Father Christmas (aka Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle or any name that you might know the jolly gift giver). This isn’t your typical “ho-ho-ho” tale; it’s a dark, magical and fun story about the origins of Father Christmas himself, and it’s more exciting than finding out your advent calendar has an extra chocolate.
11 year old Nikolas lives in one bedroom hut in Finland with his dad. He hasn’t had the happiest life; his mum died after being chased by a bear and falling down a well, his dad works hard but struggles to make ends meet every day and can’t afford Christmas presents (but does make some), and his only friends are a mouse, Miika (who has never seen cheese but believes its real), and a doll made out of an old turnip. Nonetheless, he is happy. His nickname is ‘Christmas’ as he was born on Christmas Day.
Nikolas is the hero of the story and he is about to embark on a quest that is colder than a snowman’s toes and as exciting as the biggest thrill ride in your theme park.
Nikolas is the son of a poor woodcutter. When his dad is offered a job to go on an expedition for a few months, Nikolas is left in the care of his mean aunt. When his dad doesn’t return, Nikolas decides to run away from home to go and look for his dad in the treacherous north, home of the elves.
Nikolas’ journey is long and hard but with the help of his pet mouse and a white reindeer he helps in the woods they stumble upon the enchanting village of Elfhelm. It’s a place where elves are more than just Santa’s little helpers; they’re full-fledged characters with personalities as sparkly as tinsel. And so begins the journey of how Father Christmas came about.
Overall, A Boy Called Christmas is a fun Christmas adventure story that children will love (and us adults). It is lots of fun, although can be quite dark at times with themes of death, kidnapping, murderous trolls, head exploding pixies and imprisonment.
Haig’s storytelling is like a warm mug of hot chocolate on a bitterly cold day – rich, satisfying and warm. He weaves a world where the impossible is possible, and the line between reality and magic is as thin as the ice on a frozen lake. A perfect blend of folklore, fairytale and magic.
The book is peppered with illustrations by Chris Mould that are as delightful as unwrapping a present on Christmas morning, they help bring an already imaginative story to life in a way that would make even the Grinch or Scrooge crack a smile.
A Boy Called Christmas is not just a fun and exciting Christmas story. It’s a tale that reminds us of the power of belief, hope, and, most importantly, kindness and giving – and it delivers this by the sleigh-load. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about? Giving a little bit of ourselves, whether it’s a handmade card, a knitted sweater (thanks, grandma), or just a smile to someone who needs it.
A Boy Called Christmas is the perfect story to help get into the Christmas spirit, or you’re just a fan of stories that make your heart feel like it’s wrapped in a warm blanket.
And if you’re still not convinced, just remember: this book has elves, flying reindeer (with one that loves to wee on people), truth pixies and lots of “ho, ho, ho” laughter, and of course, magic. It is an adventure so thrilling you’ll forget to check if you’re on the naughty or nice list.
An excellent enchanting and exhalating adventure story that delves into the true meaning of Christmas and how Santa really gets around the whole world in one night and squeezes down those small chimneys. It is tinged with tragedy and darkness along the way but is ultimately a fun and happy read that is just as awe-inspiring as the Northern Lights.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £12.99 (Hardback) / £7.99 (Paperback) / £3.99 (Kindle)
Available to buy from Amazon here.
