Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
James Kier is not a nice person. He's a ruthless businessman whose son wants nothing to do with him, and his wife, Sara, divorced him. So when he finds his picture attached to a news article that announces he died in an automobile crash, no one is more surprised than he. And when he reads the comments that are posted on the newspaper's website, he's livid. He's shocked at the mean things that people are saying about him. Everyone, that is, except for Sara. For some reason, Sara defended him in the chat.
When the paper prints the obituary for the actual James Kier that had died, something propels James to travel to the memorial service. The other James Kier lived in a poor section of town. He has to park a few blocks away and is shocked at the line of people outside the house, waiting to pay their regards to the family. He can't grasp how a lowly bus driver could garner so much respect and love. He was only a bus driver!
Pondering what he encountered, he goes to his longtime secretary, Linda, and asks her, "What do you think of me?"
Fearing he'll fire her, Linda is hesitant at first. He assures her that her job is safe and insists on finding out what she truly thinks of him as a person. But deep inside, he knows the answer before she tells him. It's because Linda has worked for him for so long that he turns to her for his quest. He asks her to compile a list of the people he's hurt the most. She, of all people, is in the best position to do this task.
By Monday morning he has his list, and his journey for redemption begins. Some on the list physically assault him in their hostility towards him. Others brush it off as all in the past. Some are gone, and others are in need of much assistance. It's as James goes from each past wrongdoing that he truly changes and becomes the man that his ex-wife still believes in. Those around him are wary of the man he is becoming, but hope that this new man is here to stay.
THE CHRISTMAS LIST will hit you right in the heart. From the moment James reads the story about his supposed death, up until the final pages as he tries to rebuild what he lost with his family, Mr. Evans weaves a story of hope, forgiveness, and the grace and love of God, friends, and family.
I always think that Mr. Evans can't possibly top his previous works, but THE CHRISTMAS LIST proves that, once again, I was wrong.
James Kier is not a nice person. He's a ruthless businessman whose son wants nothing to do with him, and his wife, Sara, divorced him. So when he finds his picture attached to a news article that announces he died in an automobile crash, no one is more surprised than he. And when he reads the comments that are posted on the newspaper's website, he's livid. He's shocked at the mean things that people are saying about him. Everyone, that is, except for Sara. For some reason, Sara defended him in the chat.
When the paper prints the obituary for the actual James Kier that had died, something propels James to travel to the memorial service. The other James Kier lived in a poor section of town. He has to park a few blocks away and is shocked at the line of people outside the house, waiting to pay their regards to the family. He can't grasp how a lowly bus driver could garner so much respect and love. He was only a bus driver!
Pondering what he encountered, he goes to his longtime secretary, Linda, and asks her, "What do you think of me?"
Fearing he'll fire her, Linda is hesitant at first. He assures her that her job is safe and insists on finding out what she truly thinks of him as a person. But deep inside, he knows the answer before she tells him. It's because Linda has worked for him for so long that he turns to her for his quest. He asks her to compile a list of the people he's hurt the most. She, of all people, is in the best position to do this task.
By Monday morning he has his list, and his journey for redemption begins. Some on the list physically assault him in their hostility towards him. Others brush it off as all in the past. Some are gone, and others are in need of much assistance. It's as James goes from each past wrongdoing that he truly changes and becomes the man that his ex-wife still believes in. Those around him are wary of the man he is becoming, but hope that this new man is here to stay.
THE CHRISTMAS LIST will hit you right in the heart. From the moment James reads the story about his supposed death, up until the final pages as he tries to rebuild what he lost with his family, Mr. Evans weaves a story of hope, forgiveness, and the grace and love of God, friends, and family.
I always think that Mr. Evans can't possibly top his previous works, but THE CHRISTMAS LIST proves that, once again, I was wrong.
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