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Christmas has a multitude of meanings for people, depending on their beliefs. The secular celebrity of the holiday season (whether one believes in him or not) is Santa Claus, a popular figure who can be found everywhere in the media. As a parent of a particular culture or belief, it is difficult to bypass the Santa Claus dynamic with children, including whether to tell them if the mysterious old man actually exists. In his charming book on the subject, Mattox tackles this tough question through the eyes of Destiny, a seven-year-old girl, and her family.
Mattox strives to create a memorable Christmas story in the vein of American classics like It’s a Wonderful Life in order to convey the true meaning of Christmas. In the story, Destiny’s father uses storytelling to teach his daughter why Santa is not real as well as the reason for the season. The tone of Destiny’s search for the truth with her father, along with other surprises for her family along the way, creates a light-hearted atmosphere reminiscent of the holiday season.
While the author conveys a clear message through a whimsical-like tale, the title makes the reader assume that the story focuses on the child’s self-discovery of Santa’s existence. However, the narrative mainly moves back and forth between biblical stories and Destiny’s parents. Still, this is a story that will appeal to readers who enjoy holiday reads. It also endears itself to those who want an honest, open-minded perspective on one of the world’s most celebrated holidays.