October 1, 2008
Gr 9 Up-What do a Christmas Eve snowstorm, 14 perky cheerleaders, a Waffle House, and a guy covered in tin foil have in common? Answer: these romantic holiday stories. Through an interconnected cast of characters set in one small Southern town, each author reveals a serendipitous night in the life of a particular teen. In Johnsons Jubilee Express, level-headed Jubilee experiences a traumatic day during which her parents get arrested, her train gets stuck in the snow, and she breaks up with her boyfriend, but in the end finds a new love. Green deftly portrays the teen male perspective with humor and wit in his Cheertastic Christmas Miracle, which starts with an urgent quest for cheerleaders and ends with an eye-opening experience of finding true love right before ones eyes. In Myracles Patron Saint of Pigs, while agonizing over the pain of a recent breakup, Addie learns about herself and gains respect for relationships at the same time. Tender without being mushy, these carefully crafted stories of believable teen love will leave readers warm inside for the holidays."Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library"
Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 1, 2008
Three top authors of teen fiction join forces for a collection of linked novellas set in the same small town in North Carolina on Christmas Eve. During the worst blizzard in 50 years, a packed train gets stuck in the snow, and teens from the train interact with teens from the town in ways both hilarious and romantic. In Johnson's "The Jubilee Express, " a 16-year-old passenger named Jubilee meets Stuart, who takes her home to his family and convinces her that she needs a better boyfriend than the one she left at home. Green's offering is "A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle, " narrated by Tobin, who struggles with his buddies through the snow so they can meet 14 stranded cheerleaders. Myracle contributes "The Patron Saint of Pigs, " about a local girl named Addie who has just broken up with her boyfriend. The conclusion ties up the plot strands from all three stories, with all the main characters enjoying coffee at Starbucks on Christmas night. Contemporary culture, humorous romantic developments and strong characters enhance this collaborative effort. (Fiction. 11-16)
(COPYRIGHT (2008) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)
September 15, 2008
In this charming trio of interconnected novellas, a massive snowstorm on Christmas Eve acts as a catalyst for romance in the lives of three teens. In Maureen Johnsons tale, Jubilee Express, after Jubilees train becomes snowbound, she seeks shelter at a nearby Waffle House, along with a squad of hyper cheerleaders. In John Greens story, A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle, a guy summons three friends to the Waffle House, where the combination of cheerleaders and cheesy waffles prompts big realizations. Finally, in Lauren Myracles entry, Patron Saint of Pigs, self-absorbed Addie atones for cheating on her boyfriend (who was stuck on Jubilees train) by proving she can be an angel for someone else, even if that someone is only a pet pig. Johnsons playfulness, Greens banter, and Myracles sincerity mesh well here, resulting in a collection that is imbued with optimism and warmth. The plotting is tight, and each end loosed by one author is tied up by another like a bright Christmas bow. A delightful read any time of the year.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)
January 1, 2009
Three popular YA authors offer funny, heartfelt snapshots of love and misadventure on one blizzard-blanketed Christmas Eve in these linked novellas. The authors share an ironic, quirky sense of humor that helps bind their stories, each with a slightly different tone and take on love, into one interconnected volume brimming with romance and holiday spirit.
(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
November 1, 2008
Three popular YA authors offer funny but heartfelt snapshots of love and misadventure on one blizzard-blanketed Christmas Eve in these linked novellas. In Jubilee Express (Johnson), Jubilee, shipped south to her grandparents' for the holiday after her parents are arrested in a riot over Christmas collectibles, gets stuck in a small town when her train is stranded by the snow. There she falls for the sweet, heartbroken boy who rescues her from cold and cheerleaders. In A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle (Green), Tobin undertakes an epic journey through the storm to the Waffle House where said cheerleaders are holed up, falling for his best friend along the way. The new happy couple wanders off to Starbucks, where, in Patron Saint of Pigs (Myracle), barista Addie engages in some much-needed self-reflection -- just in time to reconcile with her almost-ex-boyfriend. The authors share an ironic, idiosyncratic sense of humor that helps bind their stories, each with a slightly different tone and take on love, into one interconnected volume brimming with romance and holiday spirit.
(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)