About this book:
“Jack Finch is seeing stars.
And it has nothing to do with Christmas. Snowball wars are being waged against the Tree Street Kids, and Jack has taken a hit to the eye from one of Buzz Rublatz’s polar projectiles. Jack plans the perfect defense–the Abominable Snowman-ator. But building your greatest invention is tough when you’re also practicing for the starring role in the school nativity play. One cold, starry night, a neighborhood catastrophe disturbs the peacefulness of the snow-covered streets and twinkling lights. What's that terrible orange glow down the block? And does Buzz know more about it than he’s telling? Jack is determined to find out. But, first, he needs a Christmas miracle. Will Jack find room in his heart to welcome an unexpected addition to the stage and his home? To Jack’s surprise, he gives the neighborhood bully a greater gift than either of them could have imagined.”
Series: Book #6 in the “Tree Street Kids” series. Reviews of Book #1 Here, Book #2 Here, Book #3 Here, Book #4 Here, and Book #5 Here!
Spiritual Content- Many Scriptures are referenced, mentioned, & quoted (including during a play); Prayers; 'H's are capital when referring to God; Set around Christmas; Some of the Tree Street Kids are in a Christmas play (at their Christian school), they go to practices for it, & one of the last chapters is the play; A couple Christmas songs/hymns are sung; Many mentions of the Christmas play; Mentions of God, Jesus, & loving your enemies (which Jack thinks is one of the hard things Jesus said to do and sometimes feels like a stretch); Mentions of those & events in the Bible (including those involved in the Nativity during the Christmas play); Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches, church going, services, Sunday school, pastors, & sermons; A couple mentions of Catholic church & Ruthie’s grandmother going to a midnight Christmas Eve service (which Jack thinks that it’s hard to imagine being at church that late at night); A couple mentions of a Christian school; Mentions of Christmas songs/hymns; A couple mentions of Christmas manger in someone’s yard;
*Note: Rodger’s dad says he isn’t a religious man, but says his grandmother used to say you never know when you’re showing hospitality to angels unawares (referencing a Scripture); Midge implies a star is a “eight bazillion years old”; A few mentions of aliens; A few mentions of Santa; A couple mentions of centaurs; A mention of Ellison being into Greek mythology; A mention of being lucky.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘wicked’ (as an adjective) and a ‘wimp’; Some eye rolling; To keep their plans a secret from Buzz, the Tree Street Kids lie to him; Jack avoids lying to his parents when they ask him a direct question by trying to be nonchalant; Being hit by a snowball (in the eye), pain, & passing out (Jack later panics that his eyeball is hanging out and Midge thought he was killed, barely-above-not-detailed); Seeing a house on fire (up to semi-detailed); Jack’s grandma comments that she hopes the boy that gave Jack his shiner also left the snowball fight with one, but his grandfather gently scolds her while saying “we don’t do know what Buzz’s life is like that makes him take it out on other kids” (the grandma comments that some people are just born mean, but his grandfather replies that thankfully the Lord has compassion on all He has made and so should we; *Spoilers* Towards the end, Jack and the others have a snowball battle with Buzz and his goons, but it ends with injuries and broken items; Jack realizes that he has kind of acted like an enemy to Buzz and they end up having a truce at the very end *End of Spoilers*); Jack calls Buzz his arch nemesis & a bully (Buzz and his friends call Jack and the others nerds); Because of the fire, *Spoiler*s Buzz comes to stay with Jack’s family which is very challenging for Jack; Jack starts to think that Buzz started the fire when he sees him messing with a cigarette lighter; At the very end, misunderstandings are cleared up and Jack and Buzz become new friends *End of Spoilers*; Jack wonders if he is going to get pummeled by Buzz; Mentions of a fire, a house on fire and the damage, a family being displaced, & a person being badly injured (including some concern about the family’s pets); Mentions of bullies & bulling (including a brother bullying/threatening his younger brother); Mentions of someone smoking, a cigarette lighter, & a boy playing with one; A handful of mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of World War II, the Civil War, & a bomb shelter; A few mentions of injuries & a possible concussion; A couple mentions of hatred; A mention of declaring war on someone; A mention of a tornado (Book #1);
*Note: Jack & Midge tease each other & lovingly annoy the other (never in meanness); Mentions of books, poems, characters, & authors (quoted- ‘The Aeneid’ by Virgil, ‘The Little Prince’ by Antoine de Saint-Exupèry, ‘The Last Battle’ by C.S. Lewis, ‘Bright Evening Star’ by Madeleine L’Engle, & quotes by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Albert Schweitzer; mentioned- ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ & ‘A Wrinkle in Time’);Mentions of brand names (Green Pop, Mountian Dew, Sourhead candy, Cola, Dorito chips, Cheerios, & Flintstone vitamins); A couple mentions of sports teams & athletes (William Perry); A couple mentions of Disney World; A mention of Mickey Mouse; A mention of Ruthie who hasn’t seen her mom in a long time; A mention of a Trunk-or-Treat; A mention of a skull and crossbones being “manly” (according to Ruthie).
Sexual Content- N/A.
-Jack Finch, age 10
1st person P.O.V. of Jack
145 pages
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Pre Teens-
New Teens-
Early High School Teens-
Older High School Teens-
My personal Rating-
This book felt a little bittersweet as I don’t know if it’s the last one for this series or not! The “Tree Street Kids” series has been such a delight and while I would love more books following this friend group, this sixth book would also be a great place to end it. Resolution with the Jack vs Buzz problem & the end of the year 1995 (when all six books were set). I was bummed this book was so much shorter than the rest of them, but the story inside ended up being a good length with the message it carried. It was fun to see a Christmas play and learning to love your enemies. I was very proud of Jack at different points and Midge also made me laugh while reading. I hope this won't be the final book, but I have greatly enjoyed my time with these characters.
See y’all on Friday with a new review!
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
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