Jenny Pearson: Operation Nativity (Usborne Publishing 2022)
What would you say if Archangel Gabriel appeared to you four days before Christmas and asked you to help him save not only Christmas, but also the world? Oscar and his little sister Molly find themselves in this exact situation when an angel descends (literally from the sky) on their grandparents’ garden in Chipping Bottom. He told that he messed up the announcement of the holy news two thousand years ago so badly that Joseph, Mary, a wise man, a shepherd and most likely a donkey were teleported to the present-day England. In addition, this year will be the 100th Nativity performance, which their grandmother is directing and wants it to be great (unlike previous years). It surely will be memorable…
The Monty Python-like basic idea in itself is a guarantee of success, which is strengthened by the kind but ‘problematic’ characters, especially the always dramatic archangel Gabriel. He was my favorite! In addition to funny scenes, however, we also find very serious messages to convey: for example, the importance of family and accepting the order of life. Definitely worth reading during the Christmas season.
Jenny Pearson is a writer and teacher. In addition to her book awards, she has already been rewarded with mugs, fridge magnets and many postcards as the Best Teacher of the Year by her students. Her first children’s book, The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates, brought her literary recognition, but this novel will also be a great success.
