A Christmas Miracle

Maddie’s Magic Christmas by Sam Maxfield is the most charming contemporary children’s Christmas novel for ages eight years and over. Whatever your age, this is a really delightful read.

Sam Maxfield has perfectly captured the essence of Christmas. This is a book that will warm your heart and make you smile.

The characters are wholesome and kind. They are an eclectic mix from ten-year-old Maddie to Bavarian-born baker Mr Steiner. All will take up residence in the reader’s heart.

Maddie has a heart of gold that looks for the goodness in others. She helps out wherever possible, spreading kindness. She is well loved by all who know her – but Maddie is missing her father. She believes he is out there somewhere and did not just abandon them.

We can empathise with Maddie as she fears snow – she believes the snow took her father away and she fears losing anyone else. We witness her trying to overcome her fear.

Others have experienced loss. Mr Steiner’s wife died a year ago. Preparing his baked goods for Christmas merely empathises his sense of loss. Maddie sees his pain and is determined to help.

There is survivor’s guilt. “He almost felt guilty for it, as though without Betty, he shouldn’t be able to feel pleasure.” It is okay to learn to smile and to live again.

Mr Steiner shares his childhood story about the Krampus – a myth told at Christmas in Bavaria. This educates the reader in other traditions.

There is the theme of fathers as we see the kindness and wisdom of Mr Steiner’s father to him when he was a boy.

Christmas is a time for magic and miracles – will there be one this year?

I adored Maddie’s Magic Christmas. It was warm, welcoming and very charming. Every child should have a copy and return to this delightful tale as a Christmas tradition.

JULIA WILSON