Review of Faith's Christmas Miracle

[Caroline Anne Richmond]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Faith's Christmas Miracle" by Janelle Mora.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Faith’s Christmas Miracle by Janelle Mora is a fictional novel for ages 10-18. The book includes traditional Christmas messages with a modern twist.

Faith, a 16-year-old single mum, has suffered much loss in her life. After her parents died, she and her brother Mason were separated, and both went into foster care. On her 16th birthday, she wakes up feeling despair. She looks at her son Jonah and realises he is the only good thing in her life. Faith takes a moment on the porch, and her faithful friend, Duke, a bloodhound, comes to keep her company. A magical moment occurs between them, which begins a series of events showing Faith she has an abundance of powers that she does not understand. In her 16 years of life, she has suffered loss and battled with schizophrenia. She is bullied at school and feels that she does not belong. Lukas, a German exchange student, finds comfort in Faith as they connect with the feeling of isolation. Faith’s new friendship is a light in the darkness that helps her find the courage to make an important decision about an unexpected letter from the North Pole.

This book is a clever combination of a Christmas story and a modern tale of hardship. Faith’s character has suffered so much tragedy and has little family or friends. The author has included scenarios like bullying, underage pregnancy, death, bullying, serious illness, and hardships in foster care. Young readers will learn a lot from this book about those less fortunate and serious situations that occur in life. The beauty of the story comes from the bonds between the characters and how love and understanding can bring joy to the world. The author has expressed the magic of Christmas and shows the festive spirit of kindness, love, and compassion.

I loved the originality of this book. It is unique, and the story is entertaining with unexpected twists. I enjoyed The characters, especially Faith. Her sadness is emotive, and she is a character who deserves more from life. The descriptions of her being a mother are moving, and her emotions and feelings are palpable. I loved reading about her developing relationships with her group of friends. There is a great sense of camaraderie and growing affection. I liked how the characters draw strength from numbers and support each other.

The author writes about issues, such as serious illnesses and mental health issues, which are big subjects for young readers. These parts are sensitively written and act as a gentle way to introduce young readers to these issues. Love, kindness, and empathy are the take-home messages from the book.

The editing is exceptional. I loved this unique story, combining a heart-warming Christmas fantasy with real-life issues of the modern world. The characters are wonderful, generating a mixture of emotions for the reader. I enjoyed the imagery of the North Pole that gives a great Christmas feel. I found nothing to dislike about the book, so I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

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Faith's Christmas Miracle
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[patricia MGBEMENA]

It is sad the loses Faith had to go through from a very young age starting from the loss of her parents and separation from her brother. I would love to understand the role Duke plays in her life.

[Joe Alex 2]

I love the idea of a modern Christmas story with unexpected twists, especially the magical connection Faith shares with her dog. It seems like a beautiful blend of fantasy and reality that would be a meaningful read for young readers. Based on the review, I’d definitely be interested in giving this one a read!