Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Gorgeous illustrations and nicely printed - good job Viking Press. However, the story. I have always loved the story of La Befana - the Italian witch who gifts children coins and sweets. The idea of a Christmas Witch was super exciting! And a twin of Kriss Kringle?! Super cool! But then the story starts. In this rendition of the Christmas Witch, Kriss Kringle abandons his twin sister not once, not twice but three times! Telling her at the end that essentially, Christmas is his thing and she is too different to be accepted. This is an actual quote from the book after she asks to go with him to deliver gifts. This is after she has literally spent her LIFE looking for her twin who deserted her in the woods. “Can’t I come with you brother? I can help you deliver your gifts. My penguin friends are surely up for the task!” Krisoffer held her hand and looked deep into her hopeful eyes. “No, Kristtörn. You are too different for them to accept. There is no place for you out there. Stay here where you are safe [alone - in the South Pole!]. Someday, I am certain, things will change.” Ya, and then he leaves her - again! What are her gifts? She can heal, she can talk to animals, she has the gift of speed and of helping plants grow. Then what happens? She gets mad. Right? But no Redemption here! The ice under her breaks and she is frozen - asleep - and we are warned that with glaciers melting - the angry Christmas Witch might thaw out and ruin Christmas. No kidding - this is how the book ends. There is SO much wrong with this story, I could write a review equal to the length of the book. Don’t buy it.