Cover Image: Back to Christmas

Back to Christmas

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Member Reviews

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley on exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Back To Christmas is the story of an Elf named Marmel and the Krumwerth family. When our story begins, they have all lost their Christmas spirit. Marmel is now in danger of having to live among the humans and the Krumwerth family is in danger of being placed on the Permanent Naughty List. Together they discover it may not be too late to change their fate if they work together and remember what Christmas is really all about.

This was just an okay read for me. The message was great. Remember what Christmas is about, happiness doesn't come from electronics but from family and good will and other such sweet sentiments. The characters were just okay, the actual story was just okay. There wasn't really anything that stood out to me.

This book would probably be better suited for someone who enjoys middle grade Christmas stories.

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This is a story about a horrible family who is going to be put on Santa's permanent naughty list by an elf who is running out of his christmas spirit. There are a few parts in the story that didn't flow well but the story itself is very enjoyable.

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I enjoyed this book with my grandson and it was such a fun read. It helped get us in the holiday spirit and to remember to slow down and enjoy the season.
Many thanks to Well-Spoken Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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I enjoyed this book. It shows how easy it is to get so caught up in what you are doing and forget to think about what is really important to you. How we can all fall into the trap of being distracted by social media, the internet and the very electronic lifestyles most of us lead and not appreciate the small things. .. A fun book with a new twist on Christmas and the Naughty list.

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Back To Christmas is a fun story about an elf who loses his Christmas spirit. This is a delightful story that will fill your soul with Christmas spirit.

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Such an interesting plot . This book made me get into the Christmas spirit. The characters were fun and very likeable.

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A very forgiving Santa has shaken things up at the North Pole, virtually eradicating his "Naughty" list by believing that - regardless of their mistakes and weaknesses - people are generally good at heart. This couldn't be worse news for Marmel, Santa's Head Labeling Elf, who doesn't want to lose his job - so is overjoyed when he discovers the Krumwerth family. The Krumwerths, who used to be very loving and do things together as a family unit, have since somehow lost their way, and now rarely communicate with each other, choosing to spend their time glued to phone or game or television screens. Only problem: this will be the Krumwerths third year in a row on the Naughty list - and once you've hit that third time, you're Naughty for good and lose a lot more than presents. It's Marmel's job to warn the family that they have very little time to perform the tasks to get them off the list before sundown on Christmas Day, and he chooses to share this info with 12-year-old Amanda Krumwerth, who - even once she believes him - has no idea how to get her family back. Worse, when Marmel learns his own fate might be tied in with the Krumwerths' dire straits, he has no choice but to try and help correct his own huge mistake ... but can he, even with the help of Santa's younger brother, Reverse Claus, and a group of disheveled flying penguins, find the spirit of Christmas either in himself or a jaded, technology-addicted family? This book is fantastic; lively and funny and with enough heart to induce a tear or two in the end. Sentimental but not sticky, easily enjoyable by kids from eight to eighty-eight, and deserving of its own place alongside your favorite Christmas stories on the bookshelf. 5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

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Marmal the elf runs the labeling department for Santa and is also responsible for deciding who goes on the Naughty List and the Nice List. Right now, there are no names on the Naughty List, so Marmal worries about his job and that his department has not been working as hard as they should have on the lists. However, there are reasons the Naughty list is empty. Santa has decided that anyone who has at least one thing nice about them will be on the Nice List. To fix the problem, Marmal moves the Krumwerth family to the Naughty List, although this puts them at risk for ending up on the Permanent Naughty List, where they will remain forever. When asked about this move by Santa, Marmal claims the family shows no Christmas Spirit and, furthermore, do not deserve any further opportunities to change this. However, Santa disagrees, and dispatches Marmal to change things. Thus begins the story of the Krumwerth family and Marmal and the two lists. Can this elf get the family to shape up so they will stay on the Nice List or will they move to the Naughty List? This is a fantastic story about Christmas Spirit and giving everyone a chance in life, regardless of who they are or where they have been. In the process of helping the family, Marmal learns a few things about himself and his own Christmas Spirit, and gives us a better understanding of how things really work for Santa and his elves in this respect. This is a story families can read together, one that will be thoroughly enjoyed by everyone, regardless of age. I loved the way the author brought out the fact that we all need some encouragement and help, even the elf Marmal. One item of interest in the story that I found interesting is the author’s introduction of an “RS”, Reverse Santa concept and persona, who, with his sleigh pulled by penguins (no reindeer here!), helps Marmal get to the family to try to persuade them to change their ways so they can move to the Nice List—rather than end up on the Permanent Naughty List. The penguins pulling the sled as well as “RS” managing them were interesting and provided a lot of comical relief.

I liked this story because it touched on an aspect of Christmas that has not been as developed or written about as other aspects, but which is equally important, Christmas Spirit. I hope it can become a part of our larger Christmas lore. The story is easy to follow and understand and would take a few days or nights to finish if reading it out loud, but well worth the effort, because it teaches all of us the true meaning of the season and demonstrates what Christmas Spirit is all about.

I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

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This is a wonderful Christmas story for middle grades (and older). It’s about losing and finding your Christmas spirit. I highly recommend this book.

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A cautionary tale...
RC is Santa’s little brother and has a crazy theory that sometimes it’s better to take things away from people than to give them things. This made him the laughing stock of the North Pole and led to a big argument with Santa. Now RC wears green and lives at the South Pole. He contends his theory still has merit. Can an elf and a human sister help prove it?

An elf named Marmel is the head of the labeling department at the North Pole. His job to make sure that all humans get sorted onto either the “Naughty” or “Nice” list. But this Christmas, it seems that this no one has been listed on the naughty list. This has never happened before during Marmel’s 107 years in the labeling department. It’s due to North Pole Santa’s new rule.

This makes Marmel suspicious, so he decides to dig into the records, and the Krumwerth family catches his eye. He deems them to be “certifiably hopeless” and definitely, undoubtedly Naughty!

Well the fact is, they’ve been on the Naughty List for two years running, so he must officially inform them that a third time will put them on the Permanent Naughty List. Muriel makes his appearance to Amanda Krumwerth to deliver the warning. Shocked to be talking to an elf, she nevertheless takes Mermel’s warning to heart. She begins the struggle to get her family members back into the Christmas spirit.

As you read, I think you’ll notice some parallels with Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Author, Canfield puts these age-old themes into a thoroughly modern setting. For example none of the family.’s devices are functioning any everyone is totatally dependent on being online. Now they are hard up to find something to do.

I found the book to be a bit wordy and preachy, but think there is a large audience who will find the book redeeming with a happy ending. Maybe even take to heart to put down the devices and focus on others.

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A fun and delightful Christmas tale about a Christmas elf losing his spirit and what happens when you are put on Santa's naughty list too many times. Ages 10 to 110.

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I love getting away from my normal genres and this book did the trick. The book focuses on a family that has been on Santa's naughty list but what family hasn't been there at one time or another. The book reminded me a little of the Krumps but this book's ending was so heartwarming that you can't help but smiling when you read the last line. I would definitely buy the book for family and friends and make a tradition of reading over winter break.

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Simply delightful! I loved the story and the message within it. The Krumworth family was in danger of being permanently on Santa’s naughty list. They have been on the naughty list for two years, and the third time will remain on the list permanently. They argue, are distracted by their electronic devices and care for no one except themselves. However, there is a small chance they can be saved if they complete three tasks. The story has elves, flying penguins, magic, and a great message. All ages will enjoy thus.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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This was a good book about Christmas that I think would be a fun family read on snowy winter nights! An elf is in charge of the naughty and nice list. He finds a family that is on the verge of becoming permanently naughty. They must put aside all distractions and focus on family to make a change. The characters in this book are fun and entertaining, and I like the spin on Santa and Christmas.

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This family has been on Santa's naughty list for two years in a row. If it happens a third time, they stay there permanently. The head elf puts them on the naughty list again, but Santa asks him to tell them the three requirements to get off the list and asks him to help them. He warns the girl but forgets the steps.

Well-Spoken Books and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It has been published and you can grab a copy now.

Santa sends the elf to the South Pole to work with his brother, Reverse Santa, to make the family get along better.

Can you imagine going along in an old pickup towed by penguins? That's Reverse Sannta's mode of transportation. The first thing he does is kill their phones, their TV, radios and any other electric equipment that lets them ignore their family. They actually put up the Christmas tree because there's nothing else to do. It takes a few more steps to get the family back on track but Reverse Santa and the elf are up to it.

This is a humorous read that is silly but fun to read. You could read it aloud to your family this Christmas season.

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I received this ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Amanda is visited by Marmel the elf, she’s more than a little concerned that her family is slated to end up on the Permanent Naughty List. It’s up to her to help her family turn it around and work together to remember what it feels like to be nice before it’s too late.

I really enjoyed this one. I think it would make a great Christmas movie, and is a nice reminder to families and young readers that Christmas needs to be about more than gifts and parties. I think this is a perfect one for mid to upper elementary students.

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This book was sweet and brought new personalities to the Santa Claus canon -- RC and the penguins! The Krumwerths were the stereotypical self-centered folks in the beginning, and Marmel was quite an atypical elf. The tasks were enjoyable and I liked RC's theory. I gave the book just three stars because the storyline was predictable, but I would like to explore more within this world. What else can Marmel and RC do together? What happens when the tasks don't work? Can the Permanently Naughty be remediated? What happens when a child from a Permanently Naughty family reaches maturity and has a chance to return to the Nice list -- does nature or nuture prevail? I'm keeping my eyes open for more from this author. I think there is a Christmas-loving audience for this storyline beyond just the upper elementary and middle school grades.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions above are my own.

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Back to Christmas is a quick, fun read that should appeal to readers age 10 and older. It reminds me of a modern day Scrooge type tale. It would make a great read aloud!

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a story about an elf who could lose his christmas spirit and a family who is on the naughty list. And how they try to make everything better. Easy to read, entertaining

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What a delightful story! I couldn't put it down! It first looked to be a children's story, so I planned to save it till my grandchildren were here... but then I just kept reading. It's a story for ALL ages! Did you ever wonder, as a child, if you were on Santa's naughty or nice list? Well, the elf in this Christmas tale is in charge of those lists. But which list does HE belong on? I would so love to see this as a Hallmark movie!

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