I received an advance reader’s copy (ARC) of Juniper’s Christmas by Eoin Colfer. Since this version is just a proof and not the final version, I won’t quote directly and will keep my comments general.

Between Rick Riordan and Eoin Colfer, what is it with this year being the return of my childhood favorites? I don’t know, but I’m not complaining!

In Juniper’s Christmas, Juniper Lane has lived with her parents near a park in London, which they take care of. But the last year has been difficult after her father died, and Christmas doesn’t feel like a time to celebrate anymore—and considering the fact that Santa Claus himself hasn’t been seen for ten years, there’s even less holiday spirit than usual. So when Juniper’s mother goes missing a few days before Christmas, the occasion is the last thing on Juniper’s mind… but the first thing she encounters when trying to locate her mom. Because hiding in the park, unbeknownst to anyone, is Niko Claus, trying to keep a low profile while still trying to help people. He and Juniper are thrown together, forced to not only solve the mystery of where Juniper’s mother is, but help a friend, and perhaps even save Christmas entirely.

This is like Artemis Fowl: Santa Clause Edition, and I had so much fun reading it!

First of all, Juniper is such an easy character to root for. She’s sweet, smart, and adaptable. I loved watching her discover the secrets of Christmas’ magic, from the interdimensional Santa sack to the Santa boots that mold themselves to the perfect size for their wearer. Her bond with the reindeer Skära is also adorable. He’s my other favorite character.

I also loved Niko and Duchess, and even had a good time with Dafydd and the antagonists. It’s a quirky cast who are full of weirdness and quips. It’s what I expected from Colfer, honestly. His tone is reminiscent of his Artemis Fowl books, which was so much fun for me to return to. Reading this felt very nostalgic for that reason, in addition to the cozy holiday vibe.

There’s the usual Colfer amount of odd pseudo-science (or I suppose I could call it tech-magic?), but given a Christmas twist. It was delightful, reminding me of—as I mentioned earlier—the movie The Santa Clause. But Colfer puts his own spin on various ideas, as well as the rules around how Christmas operates. All of it was clever and entertaining.

The themes are solid, too. We focus a lot on kindness and empathy, on helping others, and on family (whether blood related or not). It’s very sweet to read, and I quite liked how it also served as a bit of a call to action. When something isn’t going well, Colfer seems to be saying, one can either despair, or do something about it. It’s a fantastic lesson for everyone, not just kids.

In the end, though it was perhaps a weird time of year to have read this, Juniper’s Christmas is a lovely book. The magic is creative, the characters odd in a fun way, and the themes are wholesome. I didn’t know I wanted Colfer to write a Christmas book, but I’m so glad I got it!

Juniper’s Christmas will be published on October 31st, 2023!