Tuesday, January 8, 2013

BOOK REVIEW: Unexpected Christmas Hero by Kathi Macias


A young mother of two finds herself on the streets in Washington state at a time when temperatures can dip below freezing during the night. When her husband dies, she learns he had spent all their savings and had not paid the bills. She has no other family to turn to.

The story begins with Josie Meyers and her children waiting in line for a free Thanksgiving meal. Seven-year-old Jacob and five-year-old Susanna brave the situation better than their mother. She is angry. Angry at her husband for putting her in this situation and angry at God for not getting her out. At the shelter providing the free meal, they meet another street person. Rick is a Vietnam War veteran. The kids take to him and he to them. He is also a veteran of the streets and teaches Josie ways to get by.

A former babysitter spots Josie and her children in the library. When she learns they are homeless, she takes them to her house where her family lets them stay until their landlord finds out and makes them leave.

Karen, a friend of the family that took them in helps also. But, Josie is reluctant to stay with anyone on a temporary basis since the children find it too hard to leave when the time comes. Instead, she finds space in shelters or cheap hotels.

This is a wonderful story, with several interesting twists and turns you will enjoy. Even though Christmas is in the title, this is a book you can read all year long.



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