Christmas Books For Young Adults

By Nicole Skutelnik

Dancing Through the Snow
by Jean Little
Scholastic, 2007

Min has spent her short life living with a string of different foster families. With mere weeks left until Christmas, Min’s current foster mother, Enid, drags her to the Children’s Aide office demanding that they take her back. Overhearing Enid’s indiscreet demands, Min’s doctor, Jessica Hart, takes Min home with her. Min’s luck changes instantly. One minute she’s about to be abandoned for the holidays, and the next she is being welcomed into the home of the nicest person she has ever met. While living with Doctor Hart, Min takes on her own charity case-a stray dog she finds nearly frozen to death in a local barn. Unsure if the dog will survive, Min’s Christmas takes a nerve-racking and potentially devastating turn.

When Santa Fell to Earth
by Cornelia Funke
Scholastic, 2006

Ben and his schoolmates find a broken-down caravan near his house. They dare Ben to knock on the door and take a peek inside. At first, the man who answers the door seems normal. But it’s more than just a man traveling in this caravan-it’s teeming the magical holiday creatures, from angels to miniature (and fiesty) Christmas elves. Ben accepts an offer of hot chocolate and joins the man who calls himself Niklas Goodfellow in the caravan. Niklas tells Ben all about the catastrophe happening in the North Pole. Fueled by greed, an evil man named Goblynch has invaded the North Pole and convinced many of the Santa’s not to fulfill their annual duties. Only seven Santa’s, including Niklas, has dared to defy Goblynch. But their defiance comes at a price. Now the evil man is after Niklas. But with his caravan broken down and his invisible reindeer missing, his opportunity to escape before it’s too late is diminishing.

Peiling and the Chicken-fried Christmas
by Pauline Chen
Bloomsbury, 2007

For Peiling, being Taiwanese in America is the worst at Christmas. Not because she hates the holiday. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Her family doesn’t celebrate Christmas or any other American holiday. Her parents are set in their ways, and refuse to budge even so their daughter can grow up with all the benefits of American life. But this year, Peiling decides things are going to change. She’s going to do everything in her power to convince her father to celebrate Christmas.