Books to Read During Christmas Vacation
By Hollie Parry

If you or the young adults in your family are looking for some enjoyable books to peruse during the Christmas vacation, here are some fun reads that are sure to entertain.

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

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This recent release is a story about Hattie Brooks, who is a 16-year-old orphan living with an insufferable aunt who constantly reminds her that she is nothing but a burden.  Just before her aunt all but enslaves her to a neighboring household as a servant, Hattie receives a letter from her deceased uncle’s attorney that leaves her a homestead in Montana. Hoping to find a place of her own, Hattie leaves immediately for the untamed, wild Montana to farm the land. 

When she reaches the small “town” of Viva, Hattie finds that the romance of being on her own and making decisions, is soon replaced by hardship, disappointment, and a lean-to-home that is cold, dirty, and lonely.  Filled with determination, Hattie battles the elements, prejudice, and a mean, calculating Taft Martin with grace, style, and a maturity beyond her years.  Based on the author’s own family history, this novel, set in 1918, is sure to inspire!

Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze by Elizabeth Foreman Lewis

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Set in China in the early 1900’s, this Newbery Award Winner caught my interest immediately.  It is the story of a boy, Young Fu, and his mother who must move from the country to the city of Chungking after Young Fu’s father dies, in order to survive. Young Fu has an apprenticeship with Tang the Coppersmith, which is not only an honorable trade, but one that holds promise of a bright future for Young Fu. 

In the city, life is much different for both Fu and his mother.  They encounter many things that they have never seen before; including foreigners. Fu quickly learns that the intrigues and falsehoods of the city are also much more complicated than the life he knew in the country.  Although not without mishaps and some costly mistakes, Young Fu learns that his success in work and life is dictated more by his integrity and determination than it is by brains and good luck. 

The Westing Gameby Ellen Raskin

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The Westing Game is a story of 16 unknown heirs living in an apartment building called Sunset Towers.  Suddenly one day, they are called to gather up the neighboring hill at the mansion of the murdered Samuel W. Westing for the reading of his will.  In the will they are promised a monetary prize if they can discover which one among them is the murderer of the millionaire.

Much to their surprise they are assigned teams of unlikely matches and given incomplete and random clues to solve the mystery.  While the eclectic teams sleuth to prove or disprove their suspicions, they have the added problems of bombs, blizzards, and burglaries to complicate their search. 

This book will keep you guessing until the end.  This is a true “who did it” novel where the reader may feel as much of a responsibility to solve the mystery as the characters.  This book is also a Newbery Award Winner.