Although I somehow managed to miss the film when it was originally shown I was persuaded to read this book, based on the screenplay, by a lovely review I read and I am so very glad I discovered “Lost Christmas.” This is a wonderful story and a perfect Christmas read for children of about 10 or 11 and older but is one of those books that has an appeal for all ages. In all honesty I think it is a perfect Christmas read full stop. Although heartbreakingly sad in places it is one of those stories that you feel better for having read.
Goose, the main character, around whom the story revolves, is a troubled boy following the death of his parents in a car crash on Christmas Eve. Living with his increasingly senile Nan, his dog Mutt is the only thing keeping him sane. His only other friend is Frank, a former friend of his father who has problems of his own and whose influence on Goose leads the boy astray. As the first anniversary of his parents’ deaths approaches Goose’s life is unravelling and he is in danger of going seriously off the rails. Then he meets the mysterious “Anthony” whom Goose finds himself drawn to, despite his strange manner and peculiar habit of littering every conversation with random facts. Can this stranger help Goose, his desperate Uncle Frank and his confused Nan to find some happiness in their lives?
I’ve always been drawn to stories that contain “what if” scenarios and in Lost Christmas David Logan uses this to perfection with the individual character’s stories intertwining extremely well. This makes you think about what really matters in life with parallels to A Christmas Carol or the film A Wonderful Life. Although clearly ideal for Christmas time it would be a thoughtful read at any time of the year.
There is sadness, adventure, magic and love all wrapped up in this book and I couldn’t put it down because I cared about the characters and wanted very much to know what would happen to them all. As a reader I was willing these people on to a happy ending. I love this book because it made me care and made me think too. This was a moving read but a very satisfying one.
For a brief taste of what the story is like you may like to watch the trailer for the film version starring Eddie Izzard as Anthony below…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLJZSOiVejg
But then on Christmas Eve, Mam has to go out to the shops for some last minute items and leaves her children alone for a little while. Bronwen and Dylan hear a ghostly plonk! plonk! plonk! from the washroom that sends them running into the street. They run straight into the arms of Mrs. O’Riley. Far from being scary or “different.” Mrs O’Riley reassures the children and takes them into her home until their mother returns. Once next door the children not only find the family are kind and welcoming but they also solve the mystery of the ghostly plonking. Better still Bronwen and Dylan’s mum makes a new and kind friend.
this book and take it all in. Young children would learn quite a lot of historical information from this lovely book without actually realising it. Shirley Hughes has a gift for conveying the emotions of small children in their expressions and general demeanour that encourages young readers to empathise with the characters. Little children can become very worried by the unknown or something they don’t understand despite there often being a very straightforward explanation for it. Both the story and the illustrations capture this perfectly. As with all this author’s picture books there is a feeling of comforting kindness and reassurance. We all need a bit of that sometimes.
This is a perfect read for the Christmas season. I think the combination of snow, adventure, family, love and mention of ghostly events in the night work extremely well. Yet again Emma Carroll ensures that with the use of historical detail she conveys beautifully a sense of time and place. The setting, the characters and the themes covered are almost Dickensian and this adds to the appeal of the story for me. The wonderful illustrations by Julian de Narvaez add to the enjoyment of the book. Once or twice I was reminded of the Little Match Girl and there is a poignancy to the writing too.
Library Lady 