A Very Dairy Christmas

Sylvia Hysen
1st Impression Publishing (2005)
ISBN 0976336561
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (2/07)

Callie attends a boarding school in New York. The school is very exclusive and most students are from old money. Callie’s mother, Zoey, must work for a living - she is a famous photojournalist. Callie resents that her mother is gone for long periods of time. She can’t remember her deceased father, Cameron, or his family.

The Michelson’s, Johan and Elsa, have not seen their granddaughter Callie since they buried their son. They have asked and begged, but Zoey had not allowed a visit. This time they demanded.

Wisconsin is a lot different from New York. When Callie arrived at the farm she was angry and made sure her grandparents and everyone else around her knew it. Callie was sarcastic and rude to the grandparents that loved her so much. The visit was only supposed to be a few days then Zoey would pick her up and they would go to Aspen. But the trip was extended because of Zoey’s work.

After Johan is injured, Callie realizes how much they love her and she loves them. Her attitude completely changes.

Callie renews old friendships and finds that money can’t buy health and happiness but it can be used to help others.

I was given eight copies of this book to use with a discussion group at a middle school. The students reading levels ranged from 4th to 9th grade. The reviews were mixed. Several students thought it was too long. Several students had trouble getting past the second chapter; those particular students had a problem understanding the transition from Callie and friends to her grandparents. While many enjoyed reading about Callie and friends they could not relate to the grandparents. Several of the students truly enjoyed the story, particularly the interaction of Callie and her friends at school. Several students commented on how they could understand Callie being angry with her mom who broke promises. All the students found the book to be funny. There were some comments about what they would do to help a friend that was sick. We discussed “Locks of Love.” The students all found it very interesting and were glad to get the information. On the whole the students enjoyed this book. It is my conclusion that this book is very appropriate for middle-school students with average to high reading levels.

Now my opinion:

This is one of the best books ever written! “A Very Dairy Christmas” by Sylvia Hysen is filled with humor and deep insight. I found myself laughing out loud at the snipe hunt scene. Callie is a wonderful character that demonstrates that children of all ages need to feel love and acceptance. She shows that people can change. Attitudes reflect how those around you treat you. As a grandparent, I could feel the deep need Elsa and Johan had to be part of Callie’s life. I hope I am a loving, kind, patient and good example as Elsa was. The plot has twists and turns that take the reader along on the journey of Callie learning about herself through the illness of a friend, stories of her father, the kiss of a young, handsome man and the story of her heritage. I found the information on “Locks of Love” interesting and informative. While I had previously heard of the organization, I found I really knew very little. This book will become a cherished addition to my bookshelf. WELL-DONE! I highly recommend “A Very Dairy Christmas” to young adults and anyone that enjoys a good read.

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Reviewed by Tammy Petty Conrad for Reader Views (3/06)

Teenager Callie lives a luxurious life bouncing between New York City and her prestigious prep school, but she’s forced to spend her Christmas holiday with grandparents in Wisconsin whom she barely knows. She arrives with a chip on her shoulder having been disappointed by her over-achieving, guilt-ridden mother, Zoey, and makes sure that everyone is as miserable as she is.

But as in all entertaining books, twists and turns deliver a very different teen by the end as she learns valuable life lessons about the importance of family and friends. We also meet a variety of entertaining characters, from the farm hands that reminded me of those on the Wizard of Oz to Callie’s outrageous friends. And we know exactly what kind of girl Callie is when the staff at Tiffany’s knows her by her first name!

Admittedly, I didn’t expect to enjoy this novel for several reasons. First I only read Christmas books in December. Second, designer and brand names are dropped right and left which makes it either more realistic or more like one big advertisement, depending on your perspective. And I’ll confess I am many years removed from wearing a teenager’s shoes. But I told myself each night just one more chapter, and then found I had read ten more before I put the book down. Ample dialogue and short chapters kept the story moving as it delved deeper and deeper into Callie’s family history and that of a potential love interest and his family.

Sylvia Hysen is a screenwriter and this contemporary family comedy is an adaptation of her own award-winning screenplay. I can easily see how it would translate to film. Plenty of details make it a visual read. As a writer, I enjoyed learning how she took a personal interest in the Locks of Love organization, which uses donated ponytails to make hairpieces for ill children, and incorporated it into the story.

While we can’t all relate to prep schools or dairy farms, most of us can understand family conflict and the importance of resolving it. It is always compelling to read abut a female character with brains, spunk and heart. A Very Dairy Christmas amuses and warms our hearts. And it’s not just for the holidays either!

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