Scan barcode
mehsi's review
5.0
What happens when Angel Gabriel goes a bit too much overboard with his announcements and ends up (with the whole cast) in England in 202x?
This was just a fabulous read to read during Christmas! I was planning on reading it during Christmas and I started then, but haha, my mind just was more in the manga mood. But I did manage to read it around Christmas so that is a win.
In this hilarious book we meet Oscar and Molly who are about to go to their grandparents for Christmas. Oscar and Molly are eager, their parents not so, and we quickly find out that grandma is a bit too enthusiastic about Christmas, especially with making a play. And there is no saying no to grandma. I have to say I was a bit worried that it would be too much, but in the end I did like the play and I also could understand why grandma was extra gung-ho on making it perfect this year.
But the play is not the only thing that Molly and Oscar have to do this year, oh no. There is something big happening. Namely an angel named Gabriel took his announcement duties for Christmas a bit too far (like how some people go very far to reveal the gender of their babies) and ends up not in Bethlehem or the right time but in England in 202x. Yep. And it is up to Oscar (and Molly) to find not just Mary, Joseph, but also a donkey, a shepherd, and one of the wise men. Yup. It is a scavenger hunt, only now with some more severe consequences when one isn’t able to find everyone on the list. Because if just one person isn’t found.. BOOM no more Christmas. No more correct time line. You can imagine that Oscar (and Molly) are going to try to do everything they can to find everyone and save Christmas (and Oscar isn’t just doing it because he loves Christmas he has a very more personal reason to go for it). It really made me giggle seeing Oscar and Molly hide every person they find in one of the many bathrooms that their grandparents house has, trying to make sure that they look normal in case someone pops by accidentally. Yes, normal. Especially in the case of Angel Gabriel. You know, people tend to react a bit funny when people have haloes and wings, the real kind.
Of course, the scavenger hunt/journey isn’t easy. They have to make excuses, sneak away, steal a lawnmower (yes really), and more. It really gets exciting and tension rises.
I have to say I was at first a bit worried about Oscar and Molly’s cousins, but they really weren’t so bad. I actually liked them at the end of the story.
Oh, and next to OMG we need to save Christmas there is some heaviness. Because grandpa isn’t feeling too well… and may not have that long to live. Yep. There is a dark cloud hanging over this family and we see that Oscar especially struggles with it and that he hopes that maybe Angel Gabriel can help out.
Molly was, as always with little siblings in story, a bit hit/miss. I really liked her at times, but other times I just found her very annoying. Also didn’t like how she kept popping out secrets, I mean, I get it, she is a tiny girl, but you would think that at one point she knows that she should keep quiet.
The book is also filled with delighted fun illustrations by Katie Kear! Which makes the story even more alive and more silly (especially during some scenes I was happy with the illustrations added, they made me laugh even more).
All in all, I would highly recommend this fun Christmas chaotic story featuring turkeys, angels, a donkey, crazy family, and tons of fun to all!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This was just a fabulous read to read during Christmas! I was planning on reading it during Christmas and I started then, but haha, my mind just was more in the manga mood. But I did manage to read it around Christmas so that is a win.
In this hilarious book we meet Oscar and Molly who are about to go to their grandparents for Christmas. Oscar and Molly are eager, their parents not so, and we quickly find out that grandma is a bit too enthusiastic about Christmas, especially with making a play. And there is no saying no to grandma. I have to say I was a bit worried that it would be too much, but in the end I did like the play and I also could understand why grandma was extra gung-ho on making it perfect this year.
But the play is not the only thing that Molly and Oscar have to do this year, oh no. There is something big happening. Namely an angel named Gabriel took his announcement duties for Christmas a bit too far (like how some people go very far to reveal the gender of their babies) and ends up not in Bethlehem or the right time but in England in 202x. Yep. And it is up to Oscar (and Molly) to find not just Mary, Joseph, but also a donkey, a shepherd, and one of the wise men. Yup. It is a scavenger hunt, only now with some more severe consequences when one isn’t able to find everyone on the list. Because if just one person isn’t found.. BOOM no more Christmas. No more correct time line. You can imagine that Oscar (and Molly) are going to try to do everything they can to find everyone and save Christmas (and Oscar isn’t just doing it because he loves Christmas he has a very more personal reason to go for it). It really made me giggle seeing Oscar and Molly hide every person they find in one of the many bathrooms that their grandparents house has, trying to make sure that they look normal in case someone pops by accidentally. Yes, normal. Especially in the case of Angel Gabriel. You know, people tend to react a bit funny when people have haloes and wings, the real kind.
Of course, the scavenger hunt/journey isn’t easy. They have to make excuses, sneak away, steal a lawnmower (yes really), and more. It really gets exciting and tension rises.
I have to say I was at first a bit worried about Oscar and Molly’s cousins, but they really weren’t so bad. I actually liked them at the end of the story.
Oh, and next to OMG we need to save Christmas there is some heaviness. Because grandpa isn’t feeling too well… and may not have that long to live. Yep. There is a dark cloud hanging over this family and we see that Oscar especially struggles with it and that he hopes that maybe Angel Gabriel can help out.
Molly was, as always with little siblings in story, a bit hit/miss. I really liked her at times, but other times I just found her very annoying. Also didn’t like how she kept popping out secrets, I mean, I get it, she is a tiny girl, but you would think that at one point she knows that she should keep quiet.
The book is also filled with delighted fun illustrations by Katie Kear! Which makes the story even more alive and more silly (especially during some scenes I was happy with the illustrations added, they made me laugh even more).
All in all, I would highly recommend this fun Christmas chaotic story featuring turkeys, angels, a donkey, crazy family, and tons of fun to all!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
kerryreadsbooks1's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3wilcotroad's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
katielawton's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
allisonsmith120's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Pregnancy
mandi26's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
lostwithoutabook's review
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bookmadbarlow's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A fun and amusing book about saving Christmas that also has an underlying message about losing a loved one.
Oscar is having to visit his grandparents for Christmas at their grand house in the country, where he must perform a family version of the Nativity. The only issue is, the real Angel Gabriel has made a slight error and has brought Mary and Joseph to the future, so whilst the family Nativity is on, Oscar has to try to save Christmas by rounding up the real Nativity stars.
I loved Oscar and Molly, their relationship with their parents and how they jumped into helping save Christmas. The jokes were funny and the side characters lovely too.
I wasn't expecting the sadness part of the book, so it felt a bit jarring alongside the rest, but it had a good message, so as long as you know going in you should be OK.
Oscar is having to visit his grandparents for Christmas at their grand house in the country, where he must perform a family version of the Nativity. The only issue is, the real Angel Gabriel has made a slight error and has brought Mary and Joseph to the future, so whilst the family Nativity is on, Oscar has to try to save Christmas by rounding up the real Nativity stars.
I loved Oscar and Molly, their relationship with their parents and how they jumped into helping save Christmas. The jokes were funny and the side characters lovely too.
I wasn't expecting the sadness part of the book, so it felt a bit jarring alongside the rest, but it had a good message, so as long as you know going in you should be OK.
lkuips's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0