Home for Christmas

Canterwood Crest Super Special #2

by Jessica Burkhart

The final book in the Canterwood Crest series is packed with more horses and more drama.

Lauren’s BFFs, BFs, former friends, and foes alike are hitching a sleigh ride to her hometown in Union, Connecticut…which also happens to be home to Sasha Silver, one of the best equestrians in Canterwood history.

Once there, Lauren, Sasha, and all their friends and frenemies find themselves one place they thought they’d never on the same team! Call it a truce or a Christmas miracle, but everyone gets in the holiday spirit to help heal retired racehorses—a cause they all believe in more than Santa himself.

Get ready to watch the reindeer fly! Lauren & Co. will be unwrapping more drama, joy, secrets, and, of course, competition than ever before. Whose stockings will be filled with candy cane lip gloss, and whose will be filled with coal?

Genres: Horses, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Contemporary, Childrens, Fiction, Boarding School

214 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Jessica Burkhart is the author of the best-selling Canterwood Crest series which has sold over 1.6 million copies in multiple languages. She has also written the Unicorn Magic series, the YA novel Wild Hearts, and edited a YA anthology--Life Inside My Mind.

Reviews

[Johana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading this series for about 2 years now, and even though they are kind of easy books for me, i still love it whenever a new book comes out, this latest installment being no exception. I enjoy how the characters all really act their age and none of them are really stuck-up or ungrateful; even the "mean" one's motives are throughly explained. Being an equestrian, i appreciate that the horse-related content is mostly accurate, but in this book, I was annoyed that there were a bunch of 12 to 14 year old kids helping at an off-track thoroughbred rescue. I know for a fact that they most likely couldn't safely handle the horses, and what sensible rescue and parents would allow that? Aside from that though, it was a really good, well-written book, and the events were pretty realistic without being stereotypical or cliche. Themes in the book included peer and parental pressure, righteousness, being grateful, and several others that are all important to consider and not generally evident in kid and teen books. One other negative thing about this series though is that all the girls are pretty heavily focused on boys; the main characters have boyfriends, crushes, or are dating, it's all pretty G, but not the best message for young teen girls to be influenced by. SO sad that the series is over, probably one of my favorite series, and I'm looking forward to more books by this author.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books for far too much than they are. I also hate them??? But I can never give them up. Here's to twelve year old me that fell in love with Sasha and Charm... WHY? I'm still that kid. Thanks Jessica Burkhart. It's been a great run :)

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

“As I’ve heard around the stable, ‘Sasha and Co.’ and ‘Lauren and Crew,’ I wish you all health, happiness, and a holiday just as wonderful as the one you gave to countless horses and people this year. Cheers!”

I was a little hesitant at the start as the coincidences between Sasha and Lauren’s Christmases were identical, but as soon as the book started going through the main plot, I was hooked. What a ride it’s been with the two best crews at CCA!

[Kamryn Simonson]

The book I read for my January book is called Home for Christmas by Jessica Burkhart. It is about two girls named Sasha and Lauren who barely knew each other but were from the same school but a year apart. They both have the same plan for Christmas break, to bring their friends back home and volunteer for helping at an Adopt-a-thon. Without knowing it, they kept seeing each other around. Lauren and some of her rocky friendships were patched up and all because of the Christmas spirit. They all go to the retirement home for horses and they help out, even if people have had no experience with horses. These kids were really kind-hearted and they deserve a lot to help out horses instead of stay at home and have free time. In the book, they all went to a bonfire on Christmas and Lauren experienced a first kiss and love was in the air. Mr. Conner, their instructor, surprised the kids and went to Connecticut to thank them for what they did. By the end of the book, all of the Lauren and crew had stopped admiring Sasha and her friends, but actually talked to them and became friends. This book is full of twists and it is really exciting.
The book I read was a really interesting story that really kept me on the edge of my seat. In this book their was many things I could relate to and the people in the book are around the same age as me. This book is about romance and keeping your friends and realizing that they are really important. I like how the book had kids around my age in it because I felt like I was one of the characters in the book. I've never read a book like this but I've heard there are other books in this specific series. Jessica Burkhart really know how to engage her readers and clasp their attention. She is a talented and knows how kids feel in some situations. Like I said, it felt like I was part of the book and that takes talent. I really enjoyed this awesome book and many others will to.
The book Home For Christmas is an engaging book that is probably recommended for people who like tween drama and horses. This book is about horses and drama and even a teensy bit of romance. This books ages range from 12, to 13, and 14 year-olds, because those are the age groups in the book. Overall, this book was great and so fun to read.

[Jocelyn Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the entire series, it ended up being my childhood favorite, my best friend, and also contributed to my never-ending love for horses and made me appreciate me baby girl that much more. I have read it three times over in the period of time that I have had the series and it is still on my 'favorite books' shelf in my room taking up a foot and a half of space while positioned next to all the other life changing literary wonders I have experienced in my days. Books like these are the reason I fail to get sleep at night or turn off my reading light and accidentally fall asleep multiple times throughout the next day and never regret it. Thank you Jessica Burkhart for making my childhood that much better.

[Jill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crestwood students have high standards both academically and in the equestrian arena. Mr Connor their riding coach pushes them hard. Now they are going home for Christmas.

Sasha loves her horse Charm and doesn't want to be separated from him at Christmas.

Her friends are coming with her to Union to help ex-racehorses find a home.

Lauren and the other group from Crestwood are doing the same.

Could they be teammates and learn to be friends?

This is a fitting end to the series. Boyfriends and Girlfriends are settling into each other's lives. The start of new adventures is coming but now the group of friends has increased, and the return to Crestwood is even more exciting.

[Joshua Jacobs · Rating 1 out of 5]

I work around books so I see these often. The covers all feature smug white children overly-sexualized and looking bored and rich. The only audience who this appeals to are pedophiles and girls who like horses and have low standards of quality. Maybe the writing is good but I am judging a book by its cover. And calling Chris Hansen on the men who buy these.

[Ella Delgado · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book. I thought that it was a nice story. It was so cool that Lauren and Sasha had the same ideas for the Holidays! They both brought there friends home, went to there old barn, and went to safe haven to help ex- racehorses get care and new homes for the Holidays.

[Reegs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all these books! Even though there kind of young for me. I would love to attend CCA!! I have a horse to I love it!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a great finish to a great series.

[Claire Morell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was my favorite child hood book and still love it

[Zanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

three stars solely by virtue of heather being there thank god i missed her

[Brooklyn Rutherford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rereading this series really gave me the nostalgia hit I needed

[Sherice · Rating 4 out of 5]

all i notice now is plot holes and logic jumps

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

See the first book in the series for a full review.

[Margret Klippet · Rating 4 out of 5]

just finished the book. im happy sasha was in this book but she seemes more like heather in this book. i like how sasha and callie are friends again but the jacob part when sasha says i love you is too icky and i think they're too young to say that type of stuff. i also thought working at a retired racehorse farm was not believable because they're 13 and no one would be allowed to ride a fresh off the track ex-race horse. the part when sasha's parents say she can have another horse is not believable at all. sasha says her parents couldnt afford another horse because they cost a lot and they do so i cant see why they would buy sasha a horse. lauren and crew treat sasha like a celebrity and i dont think anyone would treat their class mate like that. i liked the last book but it was worse than what i expected. i was kinda disappointed but it was alright

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I can't believe that was the last one. I'm really going to miss them. My friend would get them at the store, and she would read it, and I would. I'm totally going to miss that. But the ending was so sweet. I absolutely loved the Canterwood Crest books and has really great experiences reading them!

This book specifically:
Good conclusion. I loved how they helped retired racehorses! I do think that the switching POVs were a little repetitive, Sasha and Lauren were doing the same things with their friends. The whole Sasha/Jacob thing: um...a little over the top. Sorry. I preferred Lauren's narrating to Sasha's in this book. Totes honestly, I thought this book was really fun and sweet and Christmassy!

Thank you Jessica Burkhart, for your wonderful books!
I will be looking forward to the novellas, and will totally read the new YA book she's releasing in 2015.

[cleo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved and read this series for about a year, even if their under my reading level. I really sad their aren't going to be anymore books, but I liked this one a lot and have read it many times. Basically Sasha and Laurens are back in Union for Christmas with all their Canter wood friends to volunteer at a rescue for retired thoroughbred race horses. they are little bit you for this, but all in all it is a very cute story with a good balance between horses friends and boys. Sasha and Jacob tell each other they love each other thought and their only 13 or 14. they all boyfriends or crushes, but other than that they all act their age instead of like stuck up 16 year olds.
They have very good relationships with their horses, and from what I know the horse facts are accurate.
five stars.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found that I really didn't enjoy this one as much as I thought I would. I didn't like the fact that Sasha and her friends were included in this one because their story already ended, it's time for Lauren's to end, the spotlight should be on her and her buddies. I also didn't like the influence that Sasha put on the "lower class" Canterwood people. They saw her as a queen and they were her puppets that had to impress her. I used to love Sasha as a main character but I actually found that Lauren is better, this book changed all of my thoughts of the characters.

This wasn't the best, but it was okay.

[Olivia Noack · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice to be reading from Sasha's perspective again, but it was dizzying switching so much between Lauren and Sasha's perspectives. Not because their voices were similar (they aren't) but because the book is one plot line, written twice with both friend groups. What a cop out. It's actually ridiculous that Lauren and Sasha made the exact same plans for Christmas break. Very unrealistic.
I found the "I love you" scene with Sasha and Jacob hilarious actually because it was cheesy and I laughed out loud. I felt that the book didn't spend enough time on Lauren and Drew's relationship, which, although it's still cheesy, I think I like them better than S&J.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Done! Finally finished with Canterwood Crest! I can't say that I was impressed with the final installment in the series, but what I did like was the fact that Burkhart told this story from the view of both Sasha and Lauren. Still sometimes the narratives of the two girls blended together and it was hard to remember who was telling the story. It's a little predictable and a little boring in some places, but maybe I'm saying that because I'm not in Burkhart's target age group. Still not a bad way to end an okay series.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as I enjoyed the idea behind these books and also the first books in the series, I have to say I'm quite glad I've finished the series. Though I'll miss some of the characters, like Sasha and "the Trio", for instance, I don't want to see any more of their tweeny selves. Now, if there were a continuation of them towards the end of their high school time at CCA, I might give it a try, but please, no more tween-angst!

I'll add some more to the book review later.

[Aven · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's over the end of an era I'm gonna cry this is the book series that turned me in to the book addict that I am today I can't believe it's over now.... :-( i've been trying not to read this for a long time since I didn't want it be over and now that I've read the book it's really over

it was a cute and wonderful end to a series I love so much and I cant wait for Jessica Burkhart's next book coming out next year

if you love horses and tween drama this is the book series for you

[Dani Sligh · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS. If I could rate this book higher I would. This is truly a comfort read for me and has been for years. It is a great book for ANY age. It has the perfect amount of romance and drama, while still being a cozy Christmas read. It also has absolutely NO SPICE! The characters are relatable and give off the best teen vibes. It just makes you feel warm and fuzzy. It is a great escape during the holiday season. I would recommend this to ANYONE looking for a fun, lighthearted, Christmas read!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book home for christmas was a perfect end to the series, canterwood crest. It combined the two characters in the book, Sasha and Lauren. It took them both to their home town with all their friends to do an "old race horse adopt-a-thon".

[Ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book home for Christmas was the end to the Canterwood Crest series. Sasha and Lauren are both at boarding school. For Christmas break, they bring their friends home. They all help out at the adopt-a-thon for retired race horses.

[Brodie I LOVE HORSES :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I AM SAD I AM DONE THE BOOK :( WHY DID IT HAVE TO END :(. i cant believe it

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book so so much!!!!! I was SO SO SO sad when I heard that this was the last book in the series! Canterwood Crest is one of my favorite series ever and I wish it was continuing.

[Jannie Huang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good ending to a series.

[Class · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serina thinks...
This book is good because it shows forgiveness and and understanding. I think it would be perfect for someone (maybe a girl) who likes horses girl stuff, and friendship.