About the Book
Eleven-year-old Harley doesn't ask for much. Her young mother works hard to make ends meet, and there are lots of people in their Toronto neighborhood who are harder off. But Harley has a secret wish: for Mom and Grandma to put aside their differences before Christmas. Harley's Gift is a touching holiday story about redefining family and finding peace. [Fry Reading Level - 3.6]
About the Author :
Like Harley's mother, Beth Pollock keeps all of the Christmas tree ornaments that her children have made. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two daughters. Harley's Gift is her first novel.
Review :
"Pollock has written a sweet Christmas story about the importance of family...Recommended."
.,."it moves along at a good pace, has some nice surprises, and leaves the reader feeling satisfied.Recommended -- Karen Rankin "Canadian Materials Volume XIV, Number 9"
The Christmas season raises complicated family issues for Harley, who doesn't exactly look forward to her father's annual gift-giving visit, though it's the only time she ever sees him. And while Harley and her mother are close, Mom always refers to her own mother as "your grandmother." Each woman is too stubborn to try to heal a relationship injured, apparently beyond repair, in the distant past. But 11-year-old Harley, just as mulish as her foremothers, plots to bring them together for a Christmas dinner they'll long remember. As the first-person narrative progresses, Harley develops a more subtle understanding of the adults in her life, but she retains a childlike point of view. Written with clarity and simplicity; this appealing chapter book brings characters to life through believable dialogue and telling details. The Toronto setting and the holiday season add distinctive touches to the backdrop of this unassuming but rewarding story. -- Carolyn Phalen "ALA Booklist"
Written with clarity and simplicity; this appealing chapter book brings characters to life through believable dialogue and telling details. The Toronto setting and the holiday season add distinctive touches to the backdrop of this unassuming but rewarding story." -- Carolyn Phalen "ALA Booklist"
."..it moves along at a good pace, has some nice surprises, and leaves the reader feeling satisfied.Recommended--Karen Rankin "Canadian Materials Volume XIV, Number 9 "
Eleven-year-old Harley lives with her 28-year-old mother in Toronto. Harley helps with everything from grocery shopping to meal preparation. Next to her mom, Harley's favourite relative is Grandma. Unfortunately, Harley's mom and her mother do not get along well. This year, Harley's number one Christmas wish is for her mom and Grandma to be friends. Harley knows that is highly unlikely unless she figures out a way to make it happen. After overhearing a snippet of conversation between her mom and Aunt Heather, Harley decides that her mom cannot afford a gift for her this year. Harley's best friend, Naomi, convinces her to search the house. Harley finds a gift, but it's from Grandma, and it's already been beautifully wrapped. When Harley unwraps it for a peek, she rips the wrapping paper. The only way to fix it is to take the package back to the store from which it came.
Naomi and Harley skip school to get the gift rewrapped downtown. They are almost finished in the store when one o
Set during the contemporary Christmas season (aptly hinted at by its red and green cover), this is a gentle journey towards family harmony. Our narrator, 11 year old Harley, lives with her loving single mom, has a good relationship with her Grandmother and struggles to understand and repair the rift between the two. While she is ultimately successful, it is not without a few bumps in the road. The yearly appearance of a father who seems oblivious to the fact that she is growing up, a yearning for the warm and contented family life of her best friend Naomi, and the desire to justify the life and treatment of the local homeless man all wreak havoc in what are already the emotion-laden pre-teen years. Pollock paints a solid picture of her home town of Toronto and lends our protagonist a realistic voice for her age. Harley's plight is not an uncommon one and, by book's end, the reader feels they have been given a glimmer of understanding and hope for families in similar situations.
As
The Christmas season raises complicated family issues for Harley, who doesn't exactly look forward to her father's annual gift-giving visit, though it's the only time she ever sees him. And while Harley and her mother are close, Mom always refers to her own mother as "your grandmother." Each woman is too stubborn to try to heal a relationship injured, apparently beyond repair, in the distant past. But 11-year-old Harley, just as mulish as her foremothers, plots to bring them together for a Christmas dinner they'll long remember. As the first-person narrative progresses, Harley develops a more subtle understanding of the adults in her life, but she retains a childlike point of view. Written with clarity and simplicity; this appealing chapter book brings characters to life through believable dialogue and telling details. The Toronto setting and the holiday season add distinctive touches to the backdrop of this unassuming but rewarding story.--Carolyn Phalen "ALA Booklist "
Written with clarity and simplicity; this appealing chapter book brings characters to life through believable dialogue and telling details. The Toronto setting and the holiday season add distinctive touches to the backdrop of this unassuming but rewarding story."--Carolyn Phalen "ALA Booklist "
Eleven-year-old Harley lives with her 28-year-old mother in Toronto. Harley helps with everything from grocery shopping to meal preparation. Next to her mom, Harley's favourite relative is Grandma. Unfortunately, Harley's mom and her mother do not get along well. This year, Harley's number one Christmas wish is for her mom and Grandma to be friends. Harley knows that is highly unlikely unless she figures out a way to make it happen. After overhearing a snippet of conversation between her mom and Aunt Heather, Harley decides that her mom cannot afford a gift for her this year. Harley's best friend, Naomi, convinces her to search the house. Harley finds a gift, but it's from Grandma, and it's already been beautifully wrapped. When Harley unwraps it for a peek, she rips the wrapping paper. The only way to fix it is to take the package back to the store from which it came.Naomi and Harley skip school to get the gift rewrapped downtown. They are almost finished in the store when one of Grandma's friends comes in and recognizes Harley. Sure enough, Grandma hears about it. When she talks to Harley about 'snooping' and skipping school, Harley learns a bit about the problem between her mom and Grandma. While helping decorate Grandma's Christmas tree, Harley gleans even more about the two women's relationship.
In the meantime, Harley's mom has announced that she's going back to school. She hopes to get a better job. Harley is not happy about this since it will mean that she'll be home alone more often. As Christmas approaches, Harley decides to make her wish come true. She invites Grandma for Christmas dinner and then convinces her mother to go along with her plan. Although the dinnerdoes not go as envisioned, Harley does manage to get her mother and grandmother to stop arguing and start talking.
While the plot of Beth Pollock's first novel may sound somewhat simple, it moves along at a good pace, has some nice surprises, and leaves the reader feeling satisfied. Pollock also subtly conveys a number of messages pertinent to all readers, such as the importance of respect for individuals regardless of their circumstances and the problem with prejudice. At times, "Harley's Gift"would benefit from a few more details concerning setting. However, protagonist Harley is well-rounded and believable. She is frustrated occasionally by her mother and disgruntled with her father whom she sees once a year around Christmas. She enjoys the company of her friend, Naomi. They laugh together, listen to music, do crafts and play games. Harley is also stalwart, sensitive, and caring. She stops to speak with beggars and gives one of them her precious winter gloves. She is used to participating in grocery shopping and meal preparation as well as wearing second-hand clothes. On the whole, Pollock does a good job of keeping the reader in close touch with Harley's feelings throughout the novel. Naomi, Harley's mother, grandmother, and father are also rounded and credible characters.
Recommended.
Karen Rankin is a Toronto, ON, teacher and writer of children's stories.
Reviewed in Canadian Review of Materials Volume XIV, No. 9
-- Karen Rankin "Canadian Review of Materials Vol. XIV, No. 9"
Set during the contemporary Christmas season (aptly hinted at by its red and green cover), this is a gentle journey towards family harmony. Our narrator, 11 year old Harley, lives with her loving single mom, has a good relationship with her Grandmother and struggles to understand and repair the rift between the two. While she is ultimately successful, it is not without a few bumps in the road. The yearly appearance of a father who seems oblivious to the fact that she is growing up, a yearning for the warm and contented family life of her best friend Naomi, and the desire to justify the life and treatment of the local homeless man all wreak havoc in what are already the emotion-laden pre-teen years. Pollock paints a solid picture of her home town of Toronto and lends our protagonist a realistic voice for her age. Harley's plight is not an uncommon one and, by book's end, the reader feels they have been given a glimmer of understanding and hope for families in similar situations.As part of Lorimer's "Streetlight" series, the book is suggested for readers 6 to 10. I might be inclined to offer it to the 8 to 12 year old reader because of some of its concepts.
Pat Butler - Library Lines - March 2008 -- Pat Butler "Library Lines"
