The Advent Box
Formats: E-Book, Paperback
Ages: 8-11
A mysterious Advent Box. Twenty-five magical days. A Christmas you'll never forget!
Christmas should be the best time of the year when your family owns a shop called Deck the Halls. But for twelve-year-old Krista Sorenson, the holidays are starting to feel like the same old carol on repeat. And with her pregnant mom on doctor‑ordered rest, a bad case of stage fright keeping her stuck in the wings, and a brain that turns to tinsel whenever her not‑so‑secret crush, Nate Alvarez, is around, this Christmas is shaping up to be a lot more stressful than merry.
When Krista discovers an old Advent Box that seems to grant wishes, she thinks all her problems are solved. But as her wishes take unexpected turns—and her grandparents announce they’re selling the store—Krista must uncover the true purpose of the Advent Box before it’s too late.
Heartfelt, funny, and brimming with cheer, The Advent Box is perfect for everyone who believes in the magic of Christmas—and a little wishful thinking.
Reviews
"It's a time for books that soothe us, stress kindness to humans and animals, and bring smiles to our face. So today's roundup includes only books that offer good thoughts and the best of humanity. . . . For middle-school readers who would enjoy a gentle story, former Minnesotan Shannon O'Donnell Taylor offers The Advent Box, part fantasy, part Christmas magic. Seventh-grader Krista helps in her family's Christmas store where she finds an old Advent box. To her amazement, the little elf on the roof grants wishes. Each day of Advent one of the doors opens and he leaves a message for Krista, who's worried about her pregnant mother, about whether her grandparents are selling the store, about getting stage fright when she sings at the pageant, and why her fashion-designer Aunt Julia can't get back together with her former boyfriend, now a teacher at the local school." "Krista is something of a busy-body and her plans don't always work the way she wants them to, but everything she does is from a tender heart. And the elf sometimes engineers surprises. Why, for instance, does he send her a reindeer? Later she sees how the animal saves a little boy missing his mom."
