The Girl Who Saved Christmas by Matt Haig #Inbetweeny

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart....

No, start again. Last Christmas the book club and my whole family read A Boy Called Christmas by the rather brilliant Matt Haig. Last January Mr Haig signed our very own copy of A Boy Called Christmas and it had always been the plan to read the follow on, The Girl Who Saved Christmas, this Christmas (well it's just wrong to read a Christmas book in June isn't it?)

Picking up more or less exactly where 'Boy' left off we are reintroduced to 9 year old Amelia Wishart. Trapped in the workhouse her festive spirit isn't exactly blooming and when Christmas goes spectacularly wrong Troll stylie Father Christmas sets out to find her. Featuring special appearances from Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens (who noted that Christmas could be both the best of times and the worst of times.) Well loved characters such as Noosh and Blitzen (who brilliantly saves the day be weeing on a chimney fire) also made a welcome return. It delivered Christmas by the bucket load including chocolate coins, wafts of gingerbread and glitter on the front cover.

The brilliant Chris Mould also returned to illustrate and I'm so pleased as his drawings really give the book life (damn I wish I could draw as well as that!)

Like 'Boy', 'Girl' also had very sad moments brilliantly written by Haig. Sensitive yet not lingering, emotive but not overly so. In Mr Creeper Haig delivered the perfect Dickensian bad guy and I found myself chuckling when the Truth Pixie warmed to the Lie Pixie as he gave the best compliments.

I just loved the world Haig has created in Elfhelm where Father Christmas lives. Watches that tell you it's ten minutes to almost bedtime, streets called Quiet Street followed by Really Quiet Street, wages paid in chocolate coins - what's not to like? The book just radiates Christmas, imagination and spirit which is what you want at this time of year.

It was easy to read (always a plus in December) and is now being devoured by my very own nine year old. We will be reading the next one, Father Christmas and Me in December 2019 - Mr Haig you have two years to write the one after that!!!!

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Cramlington Book Club

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