Note: I received a DRC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.


“From Pixar star animator Bobby Podesta comes a middle-grade classic holiday story about Virginia, a girl who must help one of Santa’s reindeer back to the North Pole before Christmas.

What would you think if you saw a reindeer fly? When this happens to Virginia, she isn’t sure what to do – she’s just lost her mom, she’s in a new city, and everything seems so hard. But when she reluctantly confesses what she saw to her neighbor, Benny, he’s convinced that flying reindeer can only mean one thing: this is Santa business.

In this stunning graphic novel debut from Pixar director Bobby Podesta, two kids and a lost reindeer go up against obsessive hunters, suspiciously convincing department store elves, and radar operators for the Continental Air Defense Command Center. No matter the odds, Virginia’s going to get Christmas back on track!”

I’m a sucker for a good old Christmas story, and this book was no exception. The art is beautiful and stunning, the characters were great, and the plot was amazing as well. This is a fantastic book as a whole, and I would highly recommend it for anyone who wants to read a great Christmas story around the holiday season.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It is December 1955, a few days before Christmas, and Virginia has just had her mother die. Her father doesn’t want to talk about it. Instead, he packs them up and they drive to Colorado, to live with his sister.


But before they get to her aunt’s house, they have a minor traffic problem, and while her father changes the tire, Virginia wanders off, and meets a reindeer. And not just any reindeer, but Donner, who should be with Santa Claus, getting ready for the flight around the world, in a few days time.


Her father doesn’t believe it, doesn’t want to talk about it, and just wants to not talk at all. But Virginia has accidentally stolen Donner’s compass, and now he can’t get home.


Meanwhile, the CONAD (The Continental Air Defense Command Center) keeps picking up Donner flying around, looking for Virginia and his compass.


This is a cute story, based, very loosely on the fact that NORAD, the current name for CONAD, tracks Santa’s flight every year, and has been doing so since 1955, when this story takes place.


And since this is a middle grade graphic novel, it is also full of feelings. Friendship feelings, with her new neighbor,and feelings of missing her mother, and feelings of wanting to be believed for what she saw.


Cute story. I do like the interactions at the CONAD headquarters, as well as when Virginia’s father finally realizes what is going on.


Thanks to Netgalley for making his book available for an honest review. This book is being published the 2nd of September 2025.

Really cute holiday book for young readers! Definitely will be one to order up for the holiday season. Love the old timey comic strip design. Virginia was a sweet character, and while I wished there was more time in the plot to cover her emotional arc, I felt it wrapped up nicely with a candy cane bow on top.

I absolutely love the illustrations in this graphic, which makes perfect sense for a Pixar illustrator. The best part about this book is the story is as good as the illustrations. I absolutely loved reading Virginia's adventures and giggled several times throughout. The kids in my library are going to love this one.

North for the Winter is a cute Christmas story that will appeal to a middle-grade and younger audience.

The book is visually interesting with a charming, fun art style, muted colors, and a variety of panel layouts.
The story is easy to follow with moments of action that are not too distressing. I agree with a lot of readers that it read very cinematically.
I don't think this book is doing anything groundbreaking story or artwise that makes it a must-read for kids, but it is enjoyable.

Content warning: Nothing too worrisome: Firearms (the Tracker character often shoots at Virginia with a net gun), Grief, peril (Virginia jumps off a building and is rescued by Donner the reindeer)

Im sure many children and adults as well will enjoyed this heartwarming Christmas graphic novel. This entertaining story has magic, action and humor. Virginia, the main character is a brave and determined girl who will go thru any danger to resolve the mysterious appearance of a flying reindeer and save Christmas Eve. It’s an easy read and the art has a unique style that reminds me of old comic strips. Although I enjoyed it, I give it three stars since the last half didn't have the same excitement and intensity as the beginning.

I would love to see more from this author.

This is fun graphic novel. It is a 1950s era story. While her dad is changing a tire on the side of the road Virginia wanders off into the woods. There she finds a magical reindeer. Unfortunately, she gets trapped in a net that was meant for the reindeer. This is a middle grade adventure of a little girl dealing with the loss of her mother. Adding a little magic to her life is just what she needs.

North for the Winter was both a fun and entertaining graphic novel while also being deep and moving. I loved seeing how Virginia was struggling with the shift in her family and how it also impacted her father. I thought the relationship between her and her aunt and neighbor was refreshingly sweet while also funny. The art was beautiful and added to the story. I would definitely recomment this to my students not only during the holiday season but also during the whole year

As a middle school librarian, I have truly embraced the graphic novel genre and read my fair share of them. Bobby Podesta's North for the Winter is a perfect addition to this genre. The 1955 setting makes all the events that take place that much more powerful and believable. Readers will enjoy this tale of mystery, magic and friendship. Adding it to my fall purchase list now!

This was a delight to read. Covering hard topics while also feeling cozy and safe, Pedesta told this story so well.

This graphic novels follows Virginia, a girl who recently lost her mother. They travel across the country to live in Colorado in 1955. Virginia needs to help Donor get back to Santa in time for Christmas. This would be an excellent St. Nick stocking stuffer for a young reader who enjoys graphic novels. It was extremely fun and easy to read and gets you in the spirit of Christmas. The book recommends readers ages 8-12.

Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for the advanced reader copy.

This book will be appealing to graphic novels fans. The storyline is familiar and easy to follow. The illustrations are very well done. There’s a comment made by the aunt at one point about men that is unnecessary and is the reason for the three star rating.
Overall, cute story.

This was truly lovely! Following the death of her mother, Virginia and her father move to Colorado to live with her aunt. Virginia is frustrated and confused because she and her father have not discussed her mother's passing and she feels disconnected. While exploring the city with her neighbor, Benny, Virginia meets Donner, a reindeer. An adventure ensues! I would recommend this to elementary all the way up to adults, and the crisp art will attract many audiences. A heartwarming Christmas story!

This will be great to add to our seasonal stock list - perfect for older readers. Serious readers who still believe.

Such a sweet read for the holiday season! Kids will love this holiday story told in the very popular graphic novel format.

Let the hijinks commence! What is an action adventure story is also a heartwarming story about a girl and dad who both miss the love of their life-- her mom and his wife. They ultimately move across country and into the home of Virginia's aunt for what she discovers is an opportunity to reconnect with family. But on their way, Virginia ends up meeting a reindeer, but not just any reindeer, Donner, one of Santa's special reindeer though she doesn't quite know that yet.

It's goofy and sentimental but also a cozy Christmas story with absolutely delightful illustrations as evidenced by the cover. It does get far-flung and drawn out about 2/3 of the way through it however it's about a community coming together to believe Virginia and her new neighbor friend who is willing to adventure with her and believes her when her dad didn't.

It's a fully formed story in a way that reads like a movie (which makes sense based on Podesta's background). Adored the warmth it emits.

Very sweet. This graphic novel is good for all ages in a classic Christmas movie kind of way. The story is very readable and paced well. The healing aspects of the story are sweet and not too forced. The 1950s setting is really charming and cool. The reindeer is so cute - I do wish there'd been more time with the reindeer. The sense of humor is fun. I think it's a great Christmas selection to display in the store or gift.

This was a really sweet, holiday graphic novel by Bobby Podesta. Virginia's story is adorable and filled with very "real" feelings of friendship, hope, found family, and believing that there's good in the world. Donner, the reindeer was a very expressive friend too. Thanks for the ARC! I look forward to purchasing a copy for my library for this coming holiday season.

North for the Winter is a holiday graphic novel that feels right at home with The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and The Grinch as a new holiday classic. It has a fresh, new vibe while still capturing the feel of holiday nostalgia.

North for the Winter follows Virginia, as she attempts to reunite one of the reindeer with Santa's sleigh and make all of his Christmas deliveries possible. Set in the 1950s, the period suits the feel of the story without getting too outdated and inaccessible to a modern reader.

Thank you First Second Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: In North for the Winter, a grieving girl teams up with her neighbor to return a lost reindeer to the North Pole before Christmas, facing hunters, mysterious elves, and the Continental Air Defense along the way.

My review: North for the Winter is a heartwarming, feel-good graphic novel set in the 1950s, capturing the magic of the holiday season. With its stunning, nostalgic artwork, the story transports readers to a charming era as Virginia and her neighbor Benny embark on a daring mission to save Christmas. This beautifully illustrated tale is perfect for anyone seeking a holiday story filled with adventure, wonder, and warmth.

Genres/Themes: Juvenile Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels - Fantasy / Holidays & Celebrations - Christmas & Advent

North for the Winter is scheduled for publication on September 2, 2025, by First Second Books.