4 out of 4 stars
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No Simple Miracle by Meggan Haller is a short and delightful children’s book set in the 1950s. It is the second book in the Hand-Me-Downs series and it is about Christmas with the Strumpf family. Hanna Strumpf, the main character, needs a Christmas miracle, but as the title of the book implies, getting a miracle is never easy.
The long awaited Christmas is right around the corner. For the Strumpfs, it is a Christmas tradition to write a letter to Santa every year to tell him what they want for Christmas. For the past years, Papa has always been the one to help Hanna write what she wants to Santa and Papa will mail it to the North Pole for her. However, this year is different. Earlier in the year, Papa left for Korea to be a soldier. Now, Hanna has to tell Santa what she wants all by herself!
On Christmas Eve, a series of unfortunate events unfold. Now, not only is Hanna unable to tell Santa what she wants for Christmas, but Mother has also lost a prized possession of hers! Will Hanna be able to save Christmas for the family and get to Santa on time, or will Christmas traditions have to be abandoned this year?
Though No Simple Miracle was only about 30 pages long, I found the story quite pleasant from the start all the way to the end. I felt that the characters in the book, especially Hanna, were easy to sympathize with. It was a time of hardship for Hanna’s family and Hanna desperately wanted to believe. I could feel her sadness, anger and hopelessness at the situation she was in. The author expressed her emotions in such a way that it was evident how much she wanted to speak to Santa Claus, but at the same time did not seem like a spoilt 5-year old who was insistent on finding Santa.
The story was also extremely descriptive and detailed. The author managed to ‘describe’ the Christmas spirit through the decoration of the department store, the houses on the street, the snowflakes falling from the sky, and much more! I felt as if I was right there, experiencing Christmas along with the Strumpfs as I read the book from the comfort of my home.
I rate No Simple Miracle by Meggan Haller 4 out of 4 stars. I absolutely, absolutely enjoyed reading this book! The story was touching and I loved the ending of the book. Indeed, no matter how hard life may seem at times, don’t stop believing and you will get through it. I recommend this book for ages 7 and above and it is suitable for both adults and children. This lovely read is perfect for the holiday season!
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No Simple Miracle
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