Book Reviews

Book Blurb

How do adults know when something is for boys and when it’s for girls? Who tells them so? Where do they learn it? For eight-year-old Luca, it’s a mystery, but if he can’t convince his parents to give him the white ice skates he has his heart set on, Christmas is going to be ruined. Who does a child turn to when he can’t even count on Santa Claus?

Last year, they saw a commercial on TV for Barbie Magic Hair, a Barbie with no body, just a big head with long hair, and you can comb it, and color it, and put it up in curlers. And, since Luca and Pamela want to be hair stylists when they grow up, they both asked for Magic Hair Barbie in their letters to Santa Claus. Santa brought one for Pamela, but what Luca got instead was... a bicycle! A mistake that big—well, it could only mean Santa never even read Luca’s letter. This year, Luca can’t run the risk that things will go wrong again.

Cher Upon A Midnight Clear. The holiday story your modern family has been waiting for.

 

Book Review

What a wonderful fairy tale this is! It’s one of those rare stories that can be read by children as well as adults, and each age group will get their own kind of message from it. The story is full of gentle humor, tenderness, and the kind of sensitivity a lot of misunderstood children need in their lives. It quietly yet powerfully makes its points about gender identity and the hurtful effect of gender stereotyping on those who don’t fit the mold. I loved every single page and hope that you will read it and/or give it to the children (and adults) in your life who might find its message helpful and supportive.

Luca, the narrator, is an eight-year-old boy who is very confused about a few things. Like how adults know which toys are for girls and which are for boys. Like why Santa Claus keeps mixing up his presents and giving him things he never wanted, while the white skates for ice skating and the sports shoes with gold stripes on them never make an appearance. He figures Santa may be old and beginning to be forgetful, like Luca’s grandparents, and decides to write a second letter this year: this one addressed to the magical singer Cher. What happens next is a true fairy tale and was so touching it left tears in my eyes. Beautiful!

If you like stories full of magic that carry a message of hope, if a Christmas-y fairy tale written for misunderstood little boys and girls everywhere sounds interesting, or if you are in need of some cheering up yourself, then you will probably like this short story. I think it’s very powerful, and it touched me deeply.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Four Cats Press for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	paperback
Length	, 66 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	06-November-2014
Price	$6.95 paperback
Buy Link	http://www.amazon.com/Cher-Midnight-Clear-Matteo-Bianchi/dp/0989980022