What Child is This?

Caroline B. Cooney

I reread this every single Christmas.  It shares what Christmas is like from some different perspectives-Liz, who is rich with an indifferent family, Tack from a middle class loving family, and Matt and Katie, living in a foster home together. Liz is yearning for something or someone to care about.  The cool indifference and irreverence of her parents horrifies her, but she doesn't know where to start.  Matt has learned not to care.  After being thrown out of homes so many times, he has learned to just shut himself off.  Tack is trying to be nice to Matt but feels that it is worthless as Matt doesn't care about anyone or anything.  That is, until Katie is sent to live with him.  All the sudden he has a little girl in his life that needs him.  As he opens his heart to her, he begins to need Liz and Tack.  They see the true meaning of Christmas as they all bond over this one child.

Audience

I would not go below 6th grade on this one.  There are 2 or 3 swear words and mentions of drugs, but nothing graphic.  This was assigned reading when I was in 8th grade, so the middle school reading level is spot on.

What I Love About This Book

There's a quote in here that says "He said he didn't want to give her false hope, but hope couldn't be false.  It wasn't false and it wasn't true.  It didn't promise anything, it just was."  I've thought long and hard on that and I'm still not sure I understand it.  This book makes me want to be better, to give more.  It makes me need to hug my family extra tight and give thanks for what I have.

Cautions
This is a young adult book about homes without love.  I would not want to see any of my 3rd graders reading it.  This is the only Caroline B. Cooney book I have ever  liked.