A little bit "It's a Wonderful Life" with "A Christmas Carol" and a healthy dose of modern teen drama...that's the interesting concoction you get in this wintry snow globe of a book.

Our leading lady Kerril has an unusual gift (curse?). She has lucid dreams. Curious what that is? According to Google and Wikipedia, it is defined as "any dream in which one is aware that one is dreaming". In Kerril's case, it means she can also manipulate them to her whim and explore things her subconscious picked up while her conscious mind was wandering away. Pretty cool, right? Umm, I'll take a pass on them if it's all the same to you. Where this "talent" comes into play here is not exactly a pleasant experience, for it seems to lock our girl into reliving her families less-than-finer-moments, i.e. Christmas time three years ago. The tragedy and upset left Kerril despising the season and stepping right into the role of a modern teen Scrooge-ette. In our modern times, we have the right to express ourselves our love or lack thereof of the holidays how we see fit...she would rather they pass and leave her alone. Or does she? So much is happening and she's about to be put centerstage to it all...literally, and whether she likes it or not.

Kerril, Kerril, our little Christmas Kerril. You and I had a love/hate relationship throughout the story. Your Scrooge-y side was in full swing about haldway through, so much so that I almost smacked you upside the head through the pages. I appreciated your candor when it was allowed breathing room (page 151, the quote about Christmas in retail....DEAD ON!), but your wishy-washy decision making skills need a rest. It's your choice, your LIFE, and you have to live with whatever consequences you set into motion. After all was said and done though, I'd still call you friend. Now Adam I found truly mesmerizing. He's not a character that usually gets the spotlight as more than a sidekick or passing fancy. Here, he gets a pretty big starring role both in the story and the play. I loved the way he was depicted, the challenges he faced and how it was handled. His stutter wasn't danced around, but faced head on....for better and worse. Were kids mean to him? You bet. Were the parents less than helpful in building his confidence? Definitely....and as harsh and evil as that all sounds, it felt real. Again, a sad point for sure....we should be beyond things like that in today's world, but not everyone is and the way Kerril (and friends) interacted with him, helping, and guiding, was refreshing.

In conclusion, Kerril is definitely no George Bailey, especially with her face plant in the snow, but she comes through like a true Christmas angel who just scored her wings (*rings bell*). The road was tough, littered with wrong choices, regrets, and worries, but with a little help from past, present, and future (and a pretty cute dream-guy), she just might see the beauty of the season and wish YOU a merry holiday. Recommended read for teens through adults.



**review copy received in exchange for my honest review, full post can be seen on my site**
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Short sweet and well constructed - not too super sweet though. I enjoyed the simplicity of this story of a youth coming to terms with her past, her present and her future. It was not a cheesy story that was overly simplistic with buckets of Christmas-ness but more a reflection on the dramas of a teenager trying to come to terms with not loving her life or Christmas. The characters were a little brief in their descriptions but it was a short read that was easy going so it was fine. I liked that she had dramas but nothing too gritty. I liked the parallels with A Christmas Carol - it wasn't too heavy handed and it was a lovely read over the Christmas season. ( )