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heidimomof7
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Our homeschooling group has a monthly literature group, in which the older children come to the class having already read the novel ready to discuss and do an activity. I need a good Christmas novel for middle grade aged children. I taught Dickens's A Christmas Carol last year and have looked at Elizabeth's list, but wanted more suggestions. Thanks, Heidi B.
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LeeAnn
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Hmm, my shelves contain lots of Christmas picture books but few Xmas-themed books for older readers. My only suggestions are: Christmas Stories of George MacDonald, Father Christmas Letters of JRR Tolkien and Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies. I'm sure there are more out there.... I look forward to finding out others' suggestions!
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Elena
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O'Henry - gift of the Maggi!
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heidimomof7
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Thank you, I requested the books you suggested from the library for consideration. I appreciate your suggestions! Heidi
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SuzanneG
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There are some suggestions from this thread from last year. Some are picture books, etc.....but there may be something in there worth looking for at your library to see if it's a good fit.
Advent Reading for Strong Reader
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SuzanneG
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And.....putting in a plug for The Trees Kneel....it was mentioned on that above-referenced thread, but thought I'd point it out. On Amazon, it says Gr. 4-6 reading level.
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heidimomof7
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Thanks to both of you also. I just found a Christmas story book that has several of the ones mentioned in last year's Advent story post. I was just thinking of The Other Wise Man before I saw it suggested. God bless, Heidi
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Cay Gibson
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The Silver Donkey by Sonya Hartnett
*****
"A lieutenant walks away from a battle in France during World War I. Tired of the fighting and unable to see, he wants to return home to England. Two French sisters living near the English Channel find him and provide him with food and other supplies. The girls quickly realize that caring for the soldier is more than they can handle and involve their brother and his friend. As the days pass and the boys work on a plan to help the man across the channel, the soldier shows the children a small good-luck charm in the shape of a donkey. During the course of the book, he tells them four tales about the creature, the first one being a version of the Christmas Story. Gradually, readers learn that the soldier is not blind, but that he has closed his eyes to the violence around him. This is a charming book in many ways. In spite of its setting, it's a gentle story that introspective readers will find satisfying." –Jane G. Connor, South Carolina State Library, Columbia
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nissag
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It has to be Little Women... I love that book.
We have also enjoyed reading two Dear America books aloud at Christmas.
"When Christmas Comes Again" - WWI
"Christmas After All" - WW2
HTH!
Blessings,
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margot helene
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I was looking for something else and came upon these two Christmas books: The Way to Christmas by Ruth Sawyer andThe Christmas Porringer by Evaleen Stein at this page. (scroll down to the bottom of the page)
I've never read them, but they look interesting. We have also like Holly and Ivy.
Margot
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donnalynn
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By middle grades do you mean grades 5 and 6 or grades 7 and 8?
I just found "Miracle in the Wilderness, A Christmas Story of Colonial America" by Paul Gallico at my local library. It's out of print by I think it can found easily.
It's a small book about 53 pages long - I would suggest you read through it first but I think there could be some great topics for discussion.
There is one sort of strange reference to the Inquisition which might want to be handled with discussion. But other than that, it is a thoughtful story about the collision of cultures, prayer, faith, and a Christmas miracle!
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Bookswithtea
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In the other thread, The Top O Christmas Morning was referenced. Can anyone tell me more about this story? There are no reviews to read on Amazon...
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saigemom
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I believe the book is called Holly Clause. It's a decent length, but a beautiful story.
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heidimomof7
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Thanks to all of you who recently responded. I hadn't checked back in a week or so and was quite pleasantly surprised to see so many great suggestions. In answer to Donnalyn, because of a lack of moms to teach the middle grades, we have lumped all the kids between 4th and 7th together. We usually try a moderate length book or something that can be read in its original form by the older ones and an abridged form for the 4th graders. I will see which of all these suggestions are available in multiple copies in our library, but I will share all suggestions with the other moms in our group. Thanks again, Heidi
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SuzanneG
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Many of the selections from Chari's Christmas Literature Evenings are not novels, and not exactly what you're looking for, but wanted to link it, as it's such a great list!!! 
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donnalynn
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Heidi -
I would put off my suggestion if you have children as young as 4th grade - it just seems like an older middle school/ high school type story. I think it is the struggle to understand how a different culture or religion might bear resemblances to your own that seems a little more appropriate for a mature 6th grader and up...
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SuzanneG
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Found a couple other Christmas books at the library today that I've skimmed through and they look good.
I Saw Three Ships by Elizabeth Gouge
Little Polly Flowerdew lives with her two maiden aunts, and she is absolutely sure that something special is going to happen this Christmas. She leaves her bedroom window open on Christmas Eve, just in case the three wise men decide to come visit. When she wakes up on Christmas morning, more than one miracle seems to have taken place.
The Christmas Barn
This is published by The Pleasant Co. (American Girl) in 2001. A falling tree destroys their log cabin during a snowstorm, but 12-year-old Roxie and her family find a way to make the holidays special.
Song of the Christmas Mouse
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Suzanne in ID
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SuzanneG
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Coming back for a couple "reviews"....
SuzanneG wrote:
The Christmas Barn
This is published by The Pleasant Co. (American Girl) in 2001. A falling tree destroys their log cabin during a snowstorm, but 12-year-old Roxie and her family find a way to make the holidays special.
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This is a GREAT BOOK! After the first chapter, I was hooked! Appalachia during the depression. Great for all ages and good for adults too. It's based off the author's mother's life....complete with a couple pictures in the back of the book family/characters.
I Saw Three Ships by Elizabeth Gouge....only made it through a couple chapters before I had to return it, and it didnt' really grab me.....maybe I'll try again after Christmas.
Song of the Christmas Mouse . A good, simple read aloud, but not a good "book club book" for this age group.
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4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: Need Christmas novel for middle grades
