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The Naughty List
Award-winning book that recently earned acclaim from the prestigious Next Generation Indie Book Awards! Thomas Conway’s book is the winner of the Fiction category in the 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the world’s largest book awards program for independent publishers and self-published authors. A modern take on our favorite Christmas traditions, The Naughty List will take you on a worldwide adventure to save the most popular holiday in the world.When Santa Claus does not show up for the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the North Pole is thrown into chaos. The elves were not made for this type of treachery, so they turn to the Naughty List. Starting with number one; a team of children are recruited to devise a plan to rescue Santa and save Christmas. They will utilize traditional Christmas magic and set sail for adventure and redemption.Follow these intrepid youngsters as they unite the world in their desperate attempt while proving that their naughty actions do not define their nature.
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2019
39 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 9, 2020
My thoughts seem to be hitting the mark on with is one. A really good book for the season. It is also good for everyone that wants to read it. It will tell the history of Christmas and how it differs for each person and Santa Claus.
It is for young adults and adults. I do not believe it is limited to them; it could go to children and teens as well. You will go on an adventure and a journey. There seem to be a group of kids that end up on a mission to rescue Santa. You will be surprised at each turn of the page.
There are surprises as to what the author puts into this story. I was surprised to learn about the history of Santa Claus and Christmas. This is told through the eyes of the children. They are from around the world. Christmas seems like it got a different meaning and Santa Claus has different names. You may learn something.
Did you know that Christmas has been around for many years? There seem to be different versions of it. We learn about the different Christmas traditions that happen around the world through the children and their families. We also learn about the meaning of Christmas and Santa Claus.
There are some actions and battles. Will good beat Evil? I was not expecting what I learned through this book but what a happy surprise and twist. There is plenty of action and adventure in this book. There a modern take on our favorite Christmas traditions. Everyone will love this book.
It is for young adults and adults. I do not believe it is limited to them; it could go to children and teens as well. You will go on an adventure and a journey. There seem to be a group of kids that end up on a mission to rescue Santa. You will be surprised at each turn of the page.
There are surprises as to what the author puts into this story. I was surprised to learn about the history of Santa Claus and Christmas. This is told through the eyes of the children. They are from around the world. Christmas seems like it got a different meaning and Santa Claus has different names. You may learn something.
Did you know that Christmas has been around for many years? There seem to be different versions of it. We learn about the different Christmas traditions that happen around the world through the children and their families. We also learn about the meaning of Christmas and Santa Claus.
There are some actions and battles. Will good beat Evil? I was not expecting what I learned through this book but what a happy surprise and twist. There is plenty of action and adventure in this book. There a modern take on our favorite Christmas traditions. Everyone will love this book.
December 21, 2020
#FirstLine - They did not miss Santa Claus.
This book was simply the best. I had the pleasure to both read and listen to this amazing story. I felt like the story played like a movie in my mind. It was sweet, had adventure and unlikely heroes. It was one of those books/audiobooks that kept me glued to the page and sitting in my car after I arrived at my location. I loved the premise and how the story played out was filled with love, adventure and the true spirit of Christmas. I HIGHLY recommend this book to get yourself in the holiday spirit and as a gift for those who may need a gentle reminder of what the season is all about! I loved this book so much and will read it every year at Christmas!
This book was simply the best. I had the pleasure to both read and listen to this amazing story. I felt like the story played like a movie in my mind. It was sweet, had adventure and unlikely heroes. It was one of those books/audiobooks that kept me glued to the page and sitting in my car after I arrived at my location. I loved the premise and how the story played out was filled with love, adventure and the true spirit of Christmas. I HIGHLY recommend this book to get yourself in the holiday spirit and as a gift for those who may need a gentle reminder of what the season is all about! I loved this book so much and will read it every year at Christmas!
April 16, 2020
If you have a child between the ages of 8 and 12, particularly, but not exclusively, boys, and you’re looking for an activity that will bring you closer together and fight off the video games, you should buy this book and read it to your child/children. Start 45 days before Christmas, and read one chapter per night until you finish the book on Christmas eve. Do it every year until your kids are too old to enjoy the magic of Christmas, if that ever happens. There are a lot of Christmas stories that you can read in one night. This is a story to be a project – one that both parents and children will enjoy.
The story in some ways reminds me of the Peter and the Star Catchers books by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, although not quite as readable as stand-alone stories for adults. The premise is that Santa Clause (who is very real) has been kidnapped by a company that has released a global video game fantasy world. The Company wants all the children to play their game and not be distracted by the spirit of Christmas. The heroes are Hermey, who worked for Santa until age 20 at the North Pole, and his grandson, Tiberius, who is more in to the video game, but who becomes one of Santa’s Soldiers, helping to lead a team of children who will try to rescue Santa and save Christmas. (The dates in the book progress from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, where Santa was a no-show, and counts down to see whether Santa will be rescued before December 25th.) The members of the team are drawn from Santa’s “Naughty List” based on their bad behavior. Yet, each of the members of the team has special skills and abilities that, if they work together – and with a little cosmic dust, magic snowmen, and an army of fighting toy soldiers – they can save the day.
The set-up for the story takes some time, and the middle section involves all the training and preparation of the “Naughty Team” for their assault on the video game’s island fortress. In some places, the story drags a bit during all this, but the pay off in the final section makes you forget any nights of reading that seemed less than thrilling. Every kid will be able to find a character here with whom to identify. The author has constructed a group that are not exactly misfits, but who would never have dreamed of working together for such a noble cause.
There are also wonderful nuggets of stories here that can become family traditions. If you write a letter to Santa Clause and burn it in a fire, the smoke will find its way to the North Pole, where Santa’s elves will receive and interpret it. Did you know that? Did you know that building a snowman can be critical to fighting the forces of evil? Get out there and build a good one – and maybe there will be a little cosmic dust inside.
In the final battle to save Santa (and Christmas), toy soldiers and animate snowmen fight along with the children of the Naughty List in an A-Team style raid on the secret hide-out of the evil video game company to free the kidnapped Santa. Will they succeed? Will they save the day and remind the world of the true meaning and spirit of Christmas? You and the children you are reading the story to will have to find out together – and that’s the point.
The star-rating here is entirely based on, as I said, reading this book to your children. OK, the children can read it to themselves if they want to, but that will spoil much of the fun and the point. Adults should not expect to read this to themselves. It’s not intended for that, and if you do it you may be disappointed. Don’t spend too much time analyzing the plot or finding holes in the logic of the world that Mr. Conway has created. It’s a fantasy. It’s an allegory. It’s not supposed to be a scientifically-based description of a real-life military operation run by children, snowmen, and elves. Just suspend reality, get a cup of cocoa, snuggle your little ones, and enjoy.
The story in some ways reminds me of the Peter and the Star Catchers books by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, although not quite as readable as stand-alone stories for adults. The premise is that Santa Clause (who is very real) has been kidnapped by a company that has released a global video game fantasy world. The Company wants all the children to play their game and not be distracted by the spirit of Christmas. The heroes are Hermey, who worked for Santa until age 20 at the North Pole, and his grandson, Tiberius, who is more in to the video game, but who becomes one of Santa’s Soldiers, helping to lead a team of children who will try to rescue Santa and save Christmas. (The dates in the book progress from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, where Santa was a no-show, and counts down to see whether Santa will be rescued before December 25th.) The members of the team are drawn from Santa’s “Naughty List” based on their bad behavior. Yet, each of the members of the team has special skills and abilities that, if they work together – and with a little cosmic dust, magic snowmen, and an army of fighting toy soldiers – they can save the day.
The set-up for the story takes some time, and the middle section involves all the training and preparation of the “Naughty Team” for their assault on the video game’s island fortress. In some places, the story drags a bit during all this, but the pay off in the final section makes you forget any nights of reading that seemed less than thrilling. Every kid will be able to find a character here with whom to identify. The author has constructed a group that are not exactly misfits, but who would never have dreamed of working together for such a noble cause.
There are also wonderful nuggets of stories here that can become family traditions. If you write a letter to Santa Clause and burn it in a fire, the smoke will find its way to the North Pole, where Santa’s elves will receive and interpret it. Did you know that? Did you know that building a snowman can be critical to fighting the forces of evil? Get out there and build a good one – and maybe there will be a little cosmic dust inside.
In the final battle to save Santa (and Christmas), toy soldiers and animate snowmen fight along with the children of the Naughty List in an A-Team style raid on the secret hide-out of the evil video game company to free the kidnapped Santa. Will they succeed? Will they save the day and remind the world of the true meaning and spirit of Christmas? You and the children you are reading the story to will have to find out together – and that’s the point.
The star-rating here is entirely based on, as I said, reading this book to your children. OK, the children can read it to themselves if they want to, but that will spoil much of the fun and the point. Adults should not expect to read this to themselves. It’s not intended for that, and if you do it you may be disappointed. Don’t spend too much time analyzing the plot or finding holes in the logic of the world that Mr. Conway has created. It’s a fantasy. It’s an allegory. It’s not supposed to be a scientifically-based description of a real-life military operation run by children, snowmen, and elves. Just suspend reality, get a cup of cocoa, snuggle your little ones, and enjoy.
December 23, 2019
Great Story! Wonderful characters and an exciting ride through a new Christmas adventure. My kids (middle school aged) and I enjoyed how bits of classical Christmas tales are woven into the story. If you are a fan of vintage Christmas stories and TV specials, you will appreciate this tale on many levels. We also are huge fans of the science and history parts. I don't want to give anything away so I will just say there are some super interesting aspects that are real-life science and history used in imaginative ways, which makes the story even cooler. Go along for this adventure, it's a wild ride!
December 9, 2020
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is about to come to an end and everyone is eagerly awaiting Santa and the start of the Christmas season. BUT Santa is a no show! The North Pole is in chaos and the elves decide to look at The Naughty List to see if they can figure out what happened. Santa has been kidnapped and the Elves put together a team of kids from The Naughty List to rescue Santa in time for Christmas.
This is a fun story for middle graders and it has several very good themes about forgiveness, being nice and what the Christmas season is all about.
This is a fun story for middle graders and it has several very good themes about forgiveness, being nice and what the Christmas season is all about.
January 4, 2020
The themes I enjoyed most were the children using their skills to work together for good and the international flair. There was also a thought-provoking twist at the end centered around the naughty list but I can't comment because it would be a spoiler! Thanks for bringing Snowflake Bentley into the story. I hope people research more about his story after reading The Naughty List.
December 8, 2020
Highly imaginative. Wished the kids' dialogue had been more authentic. But still a nice holiday story with a message of inclusiveness.
December 14, 2020
We are proud to announce that THE NAUGHTY LIST by Thomas Conway is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!
December 29, 2020
It was a fairly enjoyable holiday read. I found the plot to be creative and appreciated the easter eggs alluding to other holiday classics, but I could've done without the "saying Merry Christmas is politically incorrect" lines.
January 9, 2022
A tad longer than it needed to be but a great story about greed and rescuing Santa and a bunch of odd kids from different backgrounds working together to make that rescue happen.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews