IF YOU HAVE TEENAGERS

I am going to be featuring some of my books here for the holiday. Since they all have an important message about society, personal transformation and ways to inprove your life, what better gift to give for -dare I say- CHRISTMAS!!!

A MAINE CHRISTMAS CAROL

A MAINE CHRISTMAS CAROL is more than a retelling of the Dickens classic. It is a contemporary look at modern society with a focus upon young adults. Set in Hallowell, Maine we find old Scrooge replaced by 16 year old TJ. Having lost his father in Iraq, TJ has turned to drugs in an attempt to cope with a world that he feels has spun out of control. TJ alienates himself from his family and friends and his father returns in spirit, like Jacob Marley of old, in an attempt to steer his son from the path of self-destruction. As one reviewer says of the novel, "In the guise of the well loved tale it reminds us of the effects of modern life, its drugs, wars and poverty, on its people. It gives us the hope and optimism that is much needed in our contemporary world." This novel has received numerous pre-publication reviews that praise its style and content. The English editor of Arabesques Literary and Cultural Review says it is a "biting Christmas fable for out times. Read it, weep, and rejoice."

A Maine Christmas Carol is a moving replay of the Christmas classic. It comes to life in its portrayal of the character of TJ, a realistic portrait of a disenfranchised youth. He struggles to deal with the loss of his father and fears loving his family in case he loses them also. By becoming totally self absorbed he only has to think about himself, by putting down others he maintains his wall of uncaring. The author, Philip Harris, has managed to create a sympathetic, understandable character even as TJ scares the elderly and young children alike.
A strong, thorough and meaningful plot is enveloped within of these pages. At around 100 pages it is a poignant and timely reminder of the meaning of caring in today’s world. Its well chosen words enable a full length novel to inhabit the pages of a novella. In the guise of the well loved tale it reminds us of the effects of modern life, its drugs, wars and poverty, on its people. It gives us the hope and optimism that is much needed in our contemporary world.
This will be a holiday treat for Maine and the country. Put up the holiday lights of all nations, light the fireplace and curl up with this dose of hope.
Barb Radmore, Editor, FRONT STREET REVIEWS

Reviewed by Annette Gisby, UK, author of Silent Screams and Shadows of the Rose.
http://www.annettegisby.n3.net
At thirteen Thomas Johnson, known as T.J. loses his father in Iraq just before Christmas, at fifteen his girlfriend commits suicide and by sixteen he has
gone completely off the rails, taking drugs, hitting his younger brother and having no interest in anything except where
his next fix is coming from. His mother is a social worker and T.J. is jealous of all the time she spends helping other
people and feels she doesn't care about her own family at all. He has everything money can buy but money can't
buy what he really wants, his mother's time and attention. He has no idea how to cope with the mess his life has
become and Christmas is just another horrible day in his horrible life and he refuses to go with his mother and siblings
to his uncle's house to celebrate.

Staying in the house on his own, he is visited by the ghost of his father, but T.J. thinks it's just the drugs he was taking.
Then his is visited by three other spirits, of his past, present and future and nothing will be the same after that night.

A modern retelling of the Dickens' tale, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one. I have to say I was pleasantly
surprised how much I did enjoy it. I'm normally not that keen on modernized versions of anything and I wasn't sure
how I was going to relate to a drug addict.

Although short, the book packs a punch and Thomas was more of a sympathetic character than I had anticipated.
Considering all the terrible things that happened in his short life, you could almost understand why he turned to drugs
in the first place as a way to cope or to avoid his problems.

Not a word is wasted and you are drawn into the story fairly quickly. The end of the book is a message of hope
and it leaves you with a warm feeling that makes you want to hunt out the Christmas tree and curl up with a mug of
hot chocolate, even if I did read it in October. TJ’s transformation from surly, disenfranchised youth to a more grown
up and responsible young man is deftly handled and although the book ends just at the beginning of that transformation,
you know that all will be well for the Johnsons from now on.

A great read.



"The unique storytelling of the three visitations from the spirits of Christmas past, present and future are nothing short of marvelous writing and wonderful reading."
Marvin Wilson, author of I ROMANCED THE STONE

"I will be completely surprised if we do not see A MAINE CHRISTMAS CAROL as a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, it is the kind of story families will gladly gather together to enjoy for generations to come."
Joyce A. Anthony, author of STORM.

"At last, a classic for our own age."
Brian Doe, author of Barley and Gold and co-author, WAKING GOD

"DEATH AND TERRORISM IN IRAQ, A POTHEAD SCROOGE, AN EXASPERATED WIDOW, SEXUAL MOLESTATION, UNBEARABLE MEMORIES OF VIETNAM, TRANSCENDENT LOVE-A BITING FABLE FOR OUR TIMES."
Djelloul Marbrook, English Editor, Arabesques Literary and Cultural Review


Philip Harris’ A Maine Christmas Carol, a modern retelling of the Dickensian fable of Christmas’ past, present, and future in a middle class New England setting is a holiday treat for readers of all ages. The spirit of the original story is cleverly unraveled in a more up to date but equally grim narration of the experiences of a blighted contemporary Scrooge named Thomas as he “sees” Christmas with his spirit guides.
The classic unfolding of the life of a beleaguered and very ill-spirited young man faced with the consequences of his own self-serving actions is cleverly layered with messages aimed at the socially irresponsible of our own life and times. A Maine Christmas Carol is a powerful parable of the ills of progressive society left to exist unchecked and held unaccountable. Through the eyes of the spirit guides, Thomas sees that while he is not responsible for the happiness of others, his actions do deeply impact all those who come in contact with him. From the local shop owners to his eight-year-old sister, his exploits leave a deep and lasting impression. Even more critical to note is the tsunami-like wave affect his acts, deeds, and lack of achievement has on those he will never meet. What he does not do with his life is just as significant as what he has done so far in his 16 years.
In Harris’ A Maine Christmas Carol, a new family tradition is born. The easy conversational writing style, the logical flow of the story, and the twist to the original story makes this book a new classic that will go on the shelves right next to Dickens’ original morality tale. Harris does a marvelous job of weaving Thomas’ profound experience of redemption with the underlying themes of social justice and poverty. A Maine Christmas Carol is explicit in demonstrating the relationship of the privileged class in our country who has failed to address the social issues facing our society. Philip Harris has clearly and unequivocally produced a rich allegory that redefines the importance of Christmas to a new generation of readers.

SHANNONS EVANS, CHIEF EDITOR
WWW.MYWTITINGMENTOR.COM

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