Dr. Christopher Ringle recruits Mo Alan to help bring holiday cheer to the young cancer patients at a nearby hospital, including a decidedly angry ...
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reviews
Dec 13, 2008
Dina
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Dr. Christopher Ringle, a pediatric oncologist, is the last person you'd expect to find moonlighting as Santa Claus at the mall on the day after Thanksgiving. He recruits nine year old Mo and his older brother as volunteers at a nearby children's hospital for the holiday season. They meet many children and learn alittle more about Christmas than they thought they would.
I found this to be very touching, sensitive and an inspirational story. You will not be able to hold back the tea More...
I found this to be very touching, sensitive and an inspirational story. You will not be able to hold back the tea More...
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Nov 23, 2008
Miriam
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I did not expect to like this book, but I read it in an evening and found it both moving, touching and inspiring. Really made me remember what the holiday season is all about.
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Dec 18, 2008
Nathan
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This was written by our friend Kevin Milne. This is a great story that everyone will love. I highly recommend it.
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Nov 22, 2008
Kathy (Bermudaonion)
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If there was ever a year when we needed a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas, this is it. The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne is just the book to help us reflect on that.
The book opens on the day after Thanksgiving with Mo and Aaron Alan going to the mall to visit Santa. One of Santa’s elves gives them a sheet of paper to write their Christmas wish list on while they wait in line. Both boys fill up every line with every toy they can imagine. After waiting in line f More...
The book opens on the day after Thanksgiving with Mo and Aaron Alan going to the mall to visit Santa. One of Santa’s elves gives them a sheet of paper to write their Christmas wish list on while they wait in line. Both boys fill up every line with every toy they can imagine. After waiting in line f More...
Dec 27, 2010
Audrey
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This is one of those stories that is meant to be read while holding a steaming mug of hot chocolate and curled up on a comfortable couch in front of the fireplace.
Mo(lar) and Aaron Alan are two ordinary boys who, thanks to a little trick played by their father, which starts with them deflating the legs of an apparently legless father and ends with them volunteering in the children's ward of a hospital for the Christmas season, have the opportunity to experience their first "real More...
Mo(lar) and Aaron Alan are two ordinary boys who, thanks to a little trick played by their father, which starts with them deflating the legs of an apparently legless father and ends with them volunteering in the children's ward of a hospital for the Christmas season, have the opportunity to experience their first "real More...
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Nov 23, 2009
Elizabeth
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Every Christmas season there are several wonderful, inspiring novels published. I read one each year to get in the spirit, in addition to returning to old favorites. My new book this year is The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne. The first thing that caught my eye after seeing it was a Christmas-themed book, was the author's last name. According to Milne's web site, his mother has done research that links them with the author of the Winnie the Pooh stories. That's a fun bit of information!
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Dec 02, 2008
Josie
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This is probably the best Christmas book I have ever read! I strongly suggest you read this book! It made me cry the last couple of pages, but the rest of the book you will laugh out loud!
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Dec 21, 2008
Jackie
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What a delightful story of unconditional love, friendship, goodwill and magical Christmas gifts! Aaron and Mo, 11 and 9 respectively, meet an odd mall Santa who invites them to meet him at a hospital to be his Christmas elves. Inititally, the brothers do not know that their father set this life-changing meeting up. Aaron and Mo learn more about giving and the true meaning of Christmas in that holiday season of 1980 than they ever would again for the rest of their lives. A little girl lie dying
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Dec 27, 2009
Molly
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I want to tell you that this is a magnificent story. A story so powerful with the absolute true meaning of Christmas. It made me laugh, it made me cry. But most of all, it made me realize that there is more to Christmas than just Santa Claus and presents and the love of a family. It's about alot more than that, helping one another, selflessness, and miracles.
It is a Christmas tradition in itself to start with your families...reading this amazing God filled Christmas story. A book t More...
It is a Christmas tradition in itself to start with your families...reading this amazing God filled Christmas story. A book t More...
Jan 19, 2010
Freda
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A fantastic story, not just of Christmas, but the reason we should celebrate it. Sometimes we can forget what that holiday is really all about. Giving, Loving, Caring and sharing. That's what it's supposed to be about. This book reminds you of that. The author also created a way, through story-telling, to help you better understand the true meaning of Christmas. It may be a holiday once a year, but really should be celebrated everyday, all day.
It's not a very long book, but I highly sugges More...
It's not a very long book, but I highly sugges More...
Feb 15, 2012
Barbara
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The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Miline.
I could not put this book down, I am glad that I did not wait until Christmas to read this book.
This book shows what Christmas is all about. It shows that if you give of youself that you will get more than you give.
It is about two boys that meet a mall Santa by the name of Dr. Christoffer K. Ringle. Dr Ringle is a pediatric oncologist that uses a wheel chair instead of a sleigh. It is also has a Christmas Pageant with terminally ill chi More...
I could not put this book down, I am glad that I did not wait until Christmas to read this book.
This book shows what Christmas is all about. It shows that if you give of youself that you will get more than you give.
It is about two boys that meet a mall Santa by the name of Dr. Christoffer K. Ringle. Dr Ringle is a pediatric oncologist that uses a wheel chair instead of a sleigh. It is also has a Christmas Pageant with terminally ill chi More...
Jan 17, 2012
Alissa
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I LOVED this book. It was a very simple read, I read it in an afternoon. It was one of those feel good Christmas stories. It started out with the script feeling a bit like "The Christmas Story" or "Christmas on Mill Street" but it was not as silly as "The Christmas Story". A story of 2 brothers who volunteer in the cancer area of the hospital under Dr. Chris Ringle who the children believe is Santa Claus. Great story with more wonderfulness at the end than I was ant
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Nov 07, 2011
Cathy
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A delightful little book. It's a book that will make you cry--it is filled with sadness--one minute and make you smile the next. You will smile through tears. Very heartwarming. It is about 2 young brothers who are taken to a hospital and who learn very important lessons--one of which is the meaning of Christmas. You meet a little Indian boy from India and a young girl named Katrina. I don't want to give too many details away. You have to read it yourself to find all that the young brothe
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Oct 24, 2011
Gina
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Summary: After visiting Santa one Christmas, two young brothers, Molar and Aaron are enlisted to spend the month of December as Santa's "elves" helping out on the oncology floor at a children's hospital in Portand, Oregon. They are both promised the "best Christmas gift they never had" in exchange. Through the guidance of Dr K. Ringle (a pediatric oncologist, who the boys secretly suspect may be the "real-deal" Santa Clause) they meet many children with life threa
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Jul 07, 2011
Kay
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I loved this book. It will be one that I read on another cold December night to remember what it taught me the first time that courage, friendship, and selflessness are at the core of the meaning of Christmas. I will again ask myself the question that Santa asked the two brothers who are the main characters of the book or are they the main characters? I will let you be the judge of that question. Now the question, "What would think if Santa told you you wouldn't get all the stuff you asked,
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Jan 23, 2010
Greg
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Kevin Milne's first novel, The Paper Bag Christmas, is a sweet little volume that tugs on your heartstrings at the same time that it tickles your funnybone. The writing style is occasionally (rarely) a little awkward, but for a first novel it is relatively smooth and palatable. Without revealing too much, Milne writes of a nine-year-old boy and his brother who accept an offer they can't refuse from a mall Santa...the offer of "everything they never wanted for Christmas."
So More...
So More...
Nov 17, 2008
April
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The Paper Bag Christmas is a perfect example of the greatness of quality rather than quantity. Often it is very easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas, with all of the materialistic hype that revolves around the holidays. However, with The Paper Bag Christmas, author Kevin Alan Milne brings to light the true meaning behind this celebrated time of year. It is not what we get or even what we can give material wise, but rather what we can give of ourselves and in return receive the greatest g
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Oct 30, 2008
Bobbie
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The Paper Bag Christmas,
Written By: Kevin Alan Milne
Published By: Center Street, A division of Hachette Book Group Inc., USA, 2006, First Edition, 150 pages, hardback, ISBN 978-1-59995-073-0
“The Paper Bag Christmas is a tear-jerking and captivating Christmas story that will have a profound and lasting effect on everyone who reads it!”BCM
The Alan brothers are like most other children their age when the Christmas Season comes around. Images of toys, gifts, candy More...
Written By: Kevin Alan Milne
Published By: Center Street, A division of Hachette Book Group Inc., USA, 2006, First Edition, 150 pages, hardback, ISBN 978-1-59995-073-0
“The Paper Bag Christmas is a tear-jerking and captivating Christmas story that will have a profound and lasting effect on everyone who reads it!”BCM
The Alan brothers are like most other children their age when the Christmas Season comes around. Images of toys, gifts, candy More...
Dec 21, 2011
Lisa
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You might be able to call this one a Christmas classic. It is one of those heart warming stories that brings the true meaning of Christmas right to the forefront. It is a short book and good for a family to read together. The story is about two boys who help out at a children's ward during the Christmas holiday. They befriend many children with life threatening illnesses, two especially who they become close to. One, wears a paper bag. You will need to read the story to find out what happe
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Dec 02, 2011
Dawn
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A mostly very good story about two young brothers who help in the children's ward of a hospital during the Christmas season. The Christmas pageant happenings are heart-stirring, and the friendships developed believable. The search for Santa is fun and the fourth wise man who finds faith are a good fit for the story. But the ending is too much. It's over-the-top everything works out: Tons of good comes from one sad loss, which is nice but not very realistic. Something good may come from tragedy,
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Dec 07, 2010
Corky
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At 9 and 11 Mo and Aaron think they are too old to go to the mall to visit Santa Claus. Their father, however, insists that it is tradition and they must go. The "Santa" that they meet is like no other. He requests that the boys meet him at a specific address at a certain day and time. The address turns out to be that of the local children's hospital where the boys learn the importance of giving and receiving friendship.
This short novel is beautifully written and surely insp
This short novel is beautifully written and surely insp
Jan 08, 2012
Lyndsie
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I know Christmas is over, and I admit I was ready for it go. I didn't wait too long to take down my decorations, and I'm already counting the days to summer. But I had put this on hold at my library and it finally came.
I read this in less than an hour and I can say it is easily the best book I have read in quite some time. I really wish I had read this before the holiday, because this truly put me in the Christmas Spirit...even though it's January.
I read this in less than an hour and I can say it is easily the best book I have read in quite some time. I really wish I had read this before the holiday, because this truly put me in the Christmas Spirit...even though it's January.
Oct 28, 2008
Holly (2 Kids and Tired)
rated it:
An inspiring, charming little story about finding "everything you never wanted for Christmas".
Mo and his brother Aaron meet Santa at the mall. Santa is a pediatric oncologist and instead of simply giving them a present, he enlists their help as Santa's elves in the children's ward at the hospital. Each boy is tasked with getting to know a specific patient.
Aaron befriends Madhu, a charming boy who, although not Christian, has a fascination with Christmas and want More...
Mo and his brother Aaron meet Santa at the mall. Santa is a pediatric oncologist and instead of simply giving them a present, he enlists their help as Santa's elves in the children's ward at the hospital. Each boy is tasked with getting to know a specific patient.
Aaron befriends Madhu, a charming boy who, although not Christian, has a fascination with Christmas and want More...
May 04, 2010
Shelly
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At just 150 pages, this is a quick read, but one that will stay with you long after the book is closed. If you don't believe in Santa or Christmas miracles, you may change your mind after reading this! I laughed, I cried, my heart hurt and was filled with joy! This is just a sweet little story about how one boy's life was changed, Christmas when he was 9. Not only did his life change, but the lives of those around him were changed as well. A boy learned about Christmas, a girl learned that
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May 05, 2009
Tania
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quotes#607970 from my notebook
The only gift is a portion of thyself -- Ralph Waldo Emerson p117
Tim liked baseball, too, but hadn't been able to play much recently because he had been in and out of hospital so often. Since we didn't have a baseball to toss around, I found a pair of socks in Tim's dresser drawer and rolled them up tightly in a ball. For the rest of the evening we just sat playing catch across the room with socks.
It was a wonderful visit. p102
The only gift is a portion of thyself -- Ralph Waldo Emerson p117
Tim liked baseball, too, but hadn't been able to play much recently because he had been in and out of hospital so often. Since we didn't have a baseball to toss around, I found a pair of socks in Tim's dresser drawer and rolled them up tightly in a ball. For the rest of the evening we just sat playing catch across the room with socks.
It was a wonderful visit. p102
Jan 26, 2011
This is a great Christmas book about the meaning of Christmas and two bothers who meet a very different Santa than they expect to meet. The brothers are asked this question by Santa, "If I told you that you wouldn’t get all the stuff you asked for on your list, but you would get the gift you never wanted for Christmas, what would that gift be? The brothers take on Santa's challenge to give up their time from the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve to help out at the hospital in the chil
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Dec 29, 2011
Brenda
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I loved this book! My book club friends and I enjoyed our visit with Kevin Milne last night via Skype. He is a charming, funny, kind man who obviously writes from the heart. The Paper Bag Christmas is the perfect gift for the holidays. This heartwarming story reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas. Kevin is a talented author with a bright future! Can't wait to read all his book.
Dec 04, 2010
Kaye
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The Paper Bag Christmas is one of those Christmas books that you will find yourself smiling, laughing, identifying with, and shedding tears over. It is a rare story. The author has a delightful voice that welcomes the reader in and makes one feel they are part of the story. I won't write details of the story--just pick it up and read it and you won't be sorry, one of the best stories I've ever read.
Feb 12, 2011
Suzanne
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I really enjoyed this book. I found myself smiling, laughing, identifying with and shedding tears over this must read book. Milne warmly welcomes you into his story and I was happy to stay! This is a wonderful Christmas story showcasing the true meaning of Christmas. It captured my heart from the very beginning and didn't let go. I laughed, I cried but mostly I just loved this story. I often think that the meaning of Christmas is really lost today in the hustle and bustle of shopping and plannin
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Feb 17, 2009
Margaret
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I loced this book. It reminds us of the real spirit of Christmas which is so hard to find in the hustle bustle of the season. it is the story of two brothers who want everything for Christmas and a Santa who says he will give them something wonderful that they didn't know they wanted if they would be his elves. Egual parts of comedy and tendermess make this a delight.
