"My True Love Gave to Me" Edited by Stephanie Perkins

My True Love Gave to Me (Oct. 14, 2014) Edited and with a Story by Stephanie Perkins.

In this compilation of twelve holiday stories, there is a little something for most everyone. Bear in mind that the stories are the imaginings of skillful YA authors and therefore their characters are YA characters, full of whimsy and angst and youthfulness of varying backgrounds. I will mention some of my favorites from the book.

            But before that, I want to mention that the illustrator’s name is Jim Tierney. The cover is great and actually connects all the stories. And the interior illustrations are terrific. They’re not lavish, but are inclusive of what you’re about to read even if the picture appears to make no sense compared to its title.

1.    The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer (Laini Taylor): Neve Ellaquin doesn’t expect any of the Isle’s men to proclaim his adoration for her by leaving gifts on each of the twenty-four days of Advent until someone does. She sends a plea to Wisha (“Dreamer, it meant in the old tongue.”), and he answers. Hundredfold. In amazing ways. Taylor creates a story steeped in fantasy, and it is pure excellence to read. Finesse at its finest! The author’s talented imagination is as wondrous as this tale is spectacular!

2.   Welcome to Christmas, CA (Kiersten White): Maria lives in “just some place” called Christmas. It’s not even a town, and she can’t wait until the day she can leave it and attend college. But financing that is going to take way more than she makes waitressing at the Christmas Café, which is run by her mom. And the café has just gotten a new cook; he’s tall, lean, young and “not unattractive.” His name is Ben, which isn’t short for Benjamin, Bennett or Benji. White’s story isn’t rooted in fantasy. What makes me like this story so much is the heartwarming aspect. There’s sentiment in it, and from an author whose books I’ve known to be filled with rapid-fire ranting and chuckle-aloud wit while at times dripping in sarcasm, I appreciated the sweetness all the more.

3.   Polaris is Where You’ll Find Me (Jenny Han): Natalie is the adopted Korean daughter of … Santa Claus. Yes, that’s right. She’s the only human child (teenager, actually, she’s 15) living at the North Pole surrounded by elves and Santa’s workshop. Not little elves adorned with jingle bells, but elves that “are long and lovely and lean.” Her favorite is Flynn, but she once met a human boy on a certain sleigh ride that she’s never forgotten, and I love the magic of this story. This was the shortest story in the book, and I wish it lasted a whole lot longer. It is bittersweet, full of wistfulness and wishes. Han’s morsel-of-a-story is a fantasy in that we can’t really be adopted by Santa and live at the North Pole with tall, attractive elves, but it isn’t over-bright with magic. The yearning of Natalie; however, is clear, and I suppose that’s what resonates most, for who hasn’t ever yearned for something or someone?

4.   I have other favorites as well. Like Fenwick Septimus Honeywell a.k.a. Fenny from The Lady and the Fox (Kelly Link) and North Drummond in It’s a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown (Stephanie Perkins). And I really wish I knew the Krampus boy, for he is handsome and not entirely human. He shows us that magic is real in an otherwise normal world in Krampuslauf (Holly Black).

            Never mind that I didn’t get this book read until after the holidays; it’s a marvelous collection to read anytime of year! Read it now, read it when you feel all Christmas-in-July-ish or be super patient and read it when the holidays descend upon us again this year (you know, right after Halloween!). At any rate, read it!

            No two writing styles are the same. After all, there are 12 short stories contributed by 12 YA authors. It’s a literary treat filled with depth of characters, richness of storylines and a plethora of settings and backgrounds. I was completely absorbed by this anthology of tales, by the sophistication of the stories the authors created, most of whom I’ve never read novels by. It is the stuff of dreams, really, whether you’ve dreamt of handsome other-boys or of getting out of dodge. The stories also range from little or no expletives to stronger language (for those concerned). That aside, it is a terrifically rollicking collection of holiday magic, as satisfying as the Christmas meal I ate but without all the extra calories. No humbugs here!