Wolfner :: Recommended Readings :: Christmas Books Young Adults

Christmas Books Available from Wolfner Library for Young Adults

At the end of each annotation you will find the call number or numbers for each title. BR means braille. Braille is contracted (grade 2) unless otherwise noted. A Print/Braille book has braille, standard text, and illustrations. LP means large print. RC and WOC mean recorded cassette. MOD is a recording in cassette format made by Wolfner Library volunteers. Not all titles are available in all formats.

To order any of these titles, contact the library by email, mail or phone. You may also request these titles online through our OPAC. Happy Reading!

Angels & Other Strangers: Family Christmas Stories by Katherine Paterson.
Nine short stories that illuminate the essence of Christmas in contemporary life. One of the characters, a little girl, voices the spirit of the collection when she exclaims, "Happy birthday, Jesus, and many happy reruns of the day." For grades 5-8 and older readers. Especially appropriate for family sharing. BR 4598 and RC 16694.

A Christmas Card by Paul Theroux.
Lost in a New England snowstorm, a family finds shelter with a mysterious old man who vanishes the next morning, leaving behind a magical Christmas card. A delicate fantasy for grades 5-8 and older interested readers. RC 15379.

Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott.
Jack and Jill are the best of friends, and when they are severely injured in a sledding accident they become even closer. With the help of Jack’s mother, the two are provided with many amusements to pass the Christmas season. But will Jill ever walk again? For grades 5-8. BR 12554 and RC 49149.

Jingle Boy by Kieran Scott.
Sixteen-year-old Paul Nicholas and his family go all out to celebrate Christmas. Then Paul loses his first girlfriend, his father is nearly electrocuted, and his mother is fired. So Paul becomes a Scrooge and joins the "Anti-Christmas Underground," until Santa changes his mind. For grades 6-9. RC 57539.

Louie’s Snowstorm by E.W. Hildick.
Louie, the English milkman, finds his already-hectic Christmas Eve complicated by a blinding blizzard, a command performance as Santa, a burglar, and the birth of a customer's baby. For grades 5-8. RC 9113.

A Midnight Clear by Katherine Paterson.
A collection of stories that the author wrote for her pastor husband to tell his congregation on Christmas Eves. In the title story, a boy who is scared by recurring visions of nuclear mushroom clouds finds comfort in helping a homeless old woman. In "Amazing Grace," a woman stranded when the car runs out of gas gives birth in a humble cabin on Christmas Eve. For grades 5-8. BR 10634.

The Princess Present by Meg Cabot.
Mia is spending the holidays in Genovia with her father and grandmere but insists that her boyfriend, Michael, and his sister, Lilly, come to visit. When royal duties take precedence, Mia has a hard time keeping Michael to herself. For junior and senior high readers. RC 58912.

A Real Christmas This Year by Karen Lynn Williams.
Twelve-year-old Megan’s efforts to provide a real Christmas for her multiply handicapped brother and the rest of the family cause problems with her best friend and some other schoolmates. For grades 5-8. RC 46603 and WOD 197.

 

Sammy Keyes and the Runaway Elf by Wendelin Van Draanen.
When seventh-grader Sammy Keyes is persuaded to escort Marique, a Pomeranian, on a float in the Christmas parade, the problems quickly escalate. Marique is dog-napped during the procession, and while Sammy is searching for the dog, she finds a runaway elf with problems of her own. For grades 5-8. BR 50902 and RC 52669.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Michael Morpurgo.
One Christmas in Camelot, when King Arthur's knights of the Round Table are feasting, a bright green giant bursts in and issues an unusual challenge. Sir Gawain, the king's nephew, courageously accepts. For grades 5-8. RC 59782.

The Steps by Rachel Cohn.
Twelve-year-old Annabel of Manhattan is sent to visit her dad in Australia over Christmas. She instantly dislikes her step- and half-siblings but gradually begins to adjust to a new culture and a new family. For grades 5-8. RC 56162.

Thames Doesn’t Rhyme with James by Paula Danziger.
Fifteen-year-old Kendra Kaye of Remember Me to Harold Square (RC 34551) is once again anxious about Frank Lee, the boy who explored New York with her last summer. This time the two families go to London for the Christmas holidays and another treasure hunt. While lovesick Kendra learns a thing or two about London's cultural life, she also discovers something about relationships and even about herself. For grades 6-9. RC 40786.

The Thirteen Days of Christmas by Jenny Overton.
To marry off their oldest sister, the younger Kitson children advise her suitor to give her something imaginative at Christmas. The suitor arrives on Christmas morning with an untidy package containing a partridge in a miniature pear tree. Humorous holiday fare for grades 5-8. RC 9941.

What Child Is This?: A Christmas Story by Caroline B. Cooney.
Sixteen-year-old Matt and eight-year-old Katie have both had enough of foster homes. Matt, however, dreads facing Katie’s disappointment when her Christmas wish of being adopted doesn’t come true. Meanwhile his classmate Liz, who appears to have the perfect family, is dismayed by her parents’ hypocrisy during the holidays. For junior and senior high readers. BR 11516 and RC 47105.

A Wreath of Christmas Legends by Phyllis McGinley.
In these verses based on old legends, each creation serves the Christ Child in its own way—the stork, pine tree, the bees, stars, the robin and nightingale, and even the rosemary and holly. For high school and adult readers. BR 626.

Young Ghosts by Daniel Cohen.
Accounts of young ghosts and ghosts who appear only to children. Includes a chapter on Christmas ghosts. For grades 5-8 and older readers. RC 16058.

Young Santa by Dan Greenburg.
The author, with tongue in cheek, tells how Santa Claus got his name, what his parents were like, and how he came to be a gift bringer. This story brings to life the baby, toddler, and adolescent years (Santa got his learner’s permit at fourteen) of the man we know and love. For grades 5-8 and older readers. RC 36284