Little Ellie Claus

by James Manos

In the tradition of The Gift of the Magi comes a heartwarming holiday novel to treasure...

At the height of the Depression, newlyweds Peter and Lucy Thompson are struggling to survive in the face of financial hardship and their love for each other, but an untimely tragedy tears them apart on Christmas Eve, and one year later, Lucy, widowed and penniless, leaves her infant child on the steps of an orphanage, setting the stage for a holiday miracle.

Genres: Christmas, Fantasy

256 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2000

Reviews

[Barb]

Very magical .

[Mellanie C]

This was very predictable.

[Theresa]

A sweet, albeit predictable, little Christmas tale.

[LuAnn]

What a charming little Christmas story! Fun to read and beautifully written. If you are looking for a story for the next holiday season, this is the one for you!

[SherryAnn Bower]

Struggled with the fantasy part of the book. Enjoyed part 3 of the book.

[Jennifer Verrastro kline]

Very hokey Christmas story about a girl who is adopted by Santa Clause and goes to NYC to find her birth parents and realizes her father works for Santa.

[Noreen Peters]

Interesting magical story of Santa and a family

[Tara]

Quite literally one of the worst things I've ever had to read for work.

[Jodi Wolper]

I ve read this 3 times at Christmas. The love, dedication to each other and grit of Peter and Lucy is inspiring. What fun it would have been to be raised at the North Pole and learn from Van Gogh, Einstein (uncle Al) and Newton. Einstein has quite the sweet tooth and "always walked around with his jacket pockets stuffed with cookies," I particularly enjoyed the way Mrs, Hardwick's character in the final chapters. A fun rolick into life at the North Pole with insights to how the power of love transcends time.

[Rachael]

I liked the book. The story was a little predictable, but I don't mind that. I liked the images, and the emotion. I admit to a few tears. My nine year-old daughter also read it and liked it. The image of a despairing Santa standing in the snow crying into the wind really touched her. I just love Christmas books:)

[Judi]

A little too cutesy for my taste. The story had such potential as far as Christmas novels go, but was simply much too hokey. During the depression, dad dies and mom cant take care of Ellie, so she leaves the baby on the steps of an orphanage, where Santa Claus finds her. Yeah, need I say more?!

[Melva]

Bit of a spoiler alert but unique concept that when you die you can choose to go to heaven or head to the North Pole to spend eternity working with Santa. Sweet, simple story that says bring on the holidays.

[Heidi]

This book was all over the place with the story line to the point that I just couldn't get involved. Plus it takes stories that we love and warps them. Not good!

[Trisha Herbers]

This book was written by a TV screenplay writer, and it read like a bad made-for-TV holiday special. I hated it!

[Liz]

Cute Christmas story.

[Tammi]

Pass

[Barrington Library]

Book, Christmas
Very simple spiritual Christmas story. If you believe in Santa and God and gifts of the Magi it’s for you. There is always hope.

Connie – patron

[Cassie Bloomingdale]

I read this when I was in 6th grade. I loved it! It made me cry

[Meg]

A sweet story but not very well written

[Melisa Hills]

It was okay. A cute little story, but it was a "skimmer" of a book. I was never fully drawn in after the first couple of chapters. I finished it in one sitting (a couple of hours).

[Kim]

ehhh.