Till's Christmas - Softcover

Thacker, Nola

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0590435434 ISBN 13: 9780590435437

Publisher: Apple Pr, 1992

Synopsis

Embarrassed by her parents' tacky holiday traditions, Till dreads the upcoming Christmas festivities, especially the arrival of her sophisticated New Yorker cousin, Deirdre. Reprint.

About this title

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-- More teen angst than holiday story, this novel suffers from an unsympathetic self-absorbed main character and an inelegant, stilted writing style. Eleven-year-old Till, a preadolescent with a tendency to lie and fantasize, is dismayed to learn that her mother has inexplicably invited her high school friend's daughter, Deirdre, for a visit the week before Christmas. While Till thinks that it's bad enough that her mother has sprung this bad news on her, she is even more horrified to learn that Deirdre is from New York City, the mecca, in Till's mind, of chic and sophistication. How she deals with this unwelcome guest, eventually becomes friends with her , and even reaches a self-awareness that she had not previously known constitutes the bulk of this novel. Once beyond the improbable premise, this is a story that is more cliched than enlightening. The characters are shallow , their motivations are not clearly etched, and many problems are hinted at but none are fully developed. The Christmas trappings are incidental; the book could have had any holiday hung on it. --Jane Marino, White Plains Public Library, NY
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly

"Tacky" is the word Matilda "Till" Wyndham uses to describe her family and their holiday traditions of homemade decorations, "sprinkle" cookies and festive gatherings. This Christmas season, however, promises to be different, with the anticipated arrival of a sophisticated young guest whose mother was once Mrs. Wyndham's best friend. Both intimidated and impressed by Deirdre Frances, a native New Yorker her own age, Till regards her new acquaintance as a status symbol and uses her to impress her schoolmates. Only when she recognizes Deirdre's anger and vulnerability can Till view the girl as an equal and begin to build a real friendship. This perceptive first novel stars a high-spirited protagonist with a lively imagination; her problems with family, peers and self-image are sensitively related. Although some of the book's transitions are less than smooth, Thacker ( Summer Stories ) clearly conveys universal preteen concerns while inducing a good many chuckles. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Apple Pr
• Publication date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0590435434
• ISBN 13: 9780590435437
• Binding: Paperback