Search This Blog







2025 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

2025 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California (5)
- Colorado (3)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida (1)
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa (2)
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (1)
- Michigan (2)
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (4)
- North Carolina (2)
- North Dakota
- Ohio (1)
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas (1)
- Utah
- Vermont (3)
- Virginia (2)
- Washington (1)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming (1)
- Washington, D.C.* (1)
International:
- Australia (3)
- Canada (2)
- England (5)
- France (1)
- Puerto Rico (1)
- Scotland (1)


2025 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge



2025 Build Your Library Reading Challenge









Thursday, February 25, 2016
Realistic but Heartwarming Christmas Tale Can Be Enjoyed Any Time of the Year
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
I know, I know! We're closer to Easter than we are to Christmas, but since I didn't get around to reviewing this holiday story on December 25, I'm going to do it now, on February 25. Better late than never, right?

Sixteen-year-old Dennis hates to see his mother so upset. By taking extra shifts at the pharmacy where he works, he hopes to buy her a special present, something pretty just for her. Dennis is unprepared for his father's harsh reaction to the gift, nor can he understand why his dad takes such exception to his youngest son.
During a Christmas season like no other, the struggles of the Hayes Family put a serious damper on what should be the happiest time of year. When they get alarming news from the front, they'll have to pull together to mend the cracks in their family's veneer. Can they fix what's broken? Or will Christmas 1944 be the ruin of them all?
As you can probably tell from the book's plot summary, Home and Away is not a cheesy, sentimental holiday story. It's sweet, yes, but it has a lot more depth to it than you would expect. The Hayes' are not a perfect family and, not surprisingly, they don't get a perfect ending. Still, the novel is a hopeful one. Tender and nostalgic, it captures the uncertainties of life, the realities of war, and the blessing of family, however imperfect it may be. More realistic than many Christmas tales, Home and Away is a heartwarming historical tale that can be enjoyed any time of year (even in February).
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and racial slurs commonly used during the period (Jap, Kraut, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Home and Away from the generous folks at Grassroots Agency and Shadow Mountain. Thank you!
3 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)


Reading
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

Listening
If Walls Could Talk by Juliet Blackwell


Followin' with Bloglovin'

-
-
41. Rebellion 17761 hour ago
-
-
-
-
Brooks, Geraldine "Year of Wonders"9 hours ago
-
Save the Date9 hours ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman19 hours ago
-
DNF: Say You’ll Remember Me22 hours ago
-
Wyrd & Wonder 20251 day ago
-
The Runaway Wives by Karen King1 day ago
-
-
-
The Murder Show by Matt Goldman2 days ago
-
Sunday Post #5683 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Books read in March2 weeks ago
-
-
-
February 2025 Reading Wrap Up1 month ago
-
-
One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery1 month ago
-
-
The Music of 2024: Q43 months ago
-
-
I'm Still Reading - This Was My October5 months ago
-
Review: The Duke and I8 months ago
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus8 months ago
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?2 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
-

Grab my Button!


Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ▼ 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)


2025 Goodreads Reading Challenge
2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction
2023 - Middle Grade Fiction
2022 - Middle Grade Fiction
2021 - Middle Grade Fiction

2020 - Middle Grade Fiction

I think this sounds like a good read no matter what time of year! I like historical novels so I will have to check this out. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI hardly ever read Christmas books. Maybe if I read one at the end of November it would put me in the Christmas mood. I'll have to remember this one.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's fun to read holiday books out of their seasons. =)
ReplyDelete