This is a nice little book, aimed for younger readers, but with some deeper themes well presented. A young boy and his mother travel to the countryside in 1943 Minnesota, to spend Christmas with family. The boy's father is away, fighting in the war, and his cousin Matthew is dying of some disease, but the big question for both boys is whether or not Santa is real. I enjoyed reading it as an adult, and the pencil drawings are a perfect match for the story. ( )

a boy whos dad goes to war and he visits his sick yellow cusin who dies after christmas ( )

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