[.ca] Dear Canada: A Season for Miracles (ISBN 0439952700)

A Season for Miracles:
In this new special edition Dear Canada book, readers are reacquainted with twelve girls from twelve previous installments in the Dear Canada series in a treasury of twelve short stories centering around the Christmas month, a year or two after the events of the first diary ended. Here, I will provide a sentence-long summary of each short story's main events, and then give my own opinion and insight on the stories themselves. 1. "Lo, the Perfect Plan" by Sarah Ellis continues the life of young Ivy Weatherall, living in the prairie town of Milorie, Saskatchewan, in 1927. After being cast as the angel in her school's Christmas pageant, Ivy uses Sherlock's intellectual rules of deduction to think up a plan to reunite a disowned musician-son and his traditional German father. A rather brief story with an abrupt ending, this is only mediocre material. 2. "The Keepsake Box" by Sharon Stewart continues the life Angelique Richard, an Acadian girl banished from her home and forced to live in the Acadians' poorhouse in Baltimore while her family remains scattered in 1756. As Christmas approaches, Angelique tries to think of a way to convince her father's austere master at the carpentry shop to give her father his unused best tools. A satisfactory story, though definitely not the best. 3. "Stirring up a Storm" by Julie Lawson continues the life of Kate Cameron, the spirited daughter of one of the head builders in the CPR in the town Yale, British Columbia, in 1883. With the arrival of her Grandma Forrest from England for a holiday visit fast approaching, Kate must learn to act like a proper young lady amidst all the Christmas festivities. A pure delight to read, this is surely one of the best stories in the whole treasury. 4. "Small Beginnings" by Jan Andrews continues the life of Sophie Loveridge, living with her poet-father and painter-mother in a newly-enlivened community in Newfoundland in 1722, though they no longer live in Mairie's Cove. As Christmas ends, Sophie discovers a problem: although she wishes to teach her servant---though she is actually her friend---Tamsin to read, there seems to be no way to purchase the materials to teach Tamsin; can Sophie find a way? A slightly above average story. 5. "What a Blessing Is This Peace" by Maxine Trottier continues the life of newly-married Helene St. Onge-Aubry, who now peacefully lives with her husband Jean Aubry and her close friend/stepdaughter Kateri in 1667. This Christmas, Jean wishes to bring Helene with he and Kateri to finally meet Kateri's Mohawk family. Though interesting and very unique, the story feels rushed and would have probably worked better as an independent novella. 6. "Shelter From the Cold" by Carol Matas continues the life of fiery Isobel Scott, who now takes shelter with her large extended Scottish family at Fort Daer in Rupert's Land in 1817. When Isobel discovers a cuddly dog whom she names Cocoa around Christmastime, a swirl of events involving Cocoa occurs, which eventually all end happily. Probably one of the better entries in this treasury. 7. "A Home Girl's Christmas" by Jean Little is unique in the sense that it does not continue the life of Victoria Cope, but instead is the new diary of the Cope family's Home Girl, Marianna Wilson in 1898. Marianna struggles with her desire to learn to play the piano and must deal with the bitter Home Girl Sadie Harris. This is definitely an innovative short story, and one of the best in the treasury. 8. "An Unexpected Gift" by Gillian Chan continues the life of Chin Mei-ling in 1926. While preparing to enroll in the university to become one of the few females doctors in Canada---and a Chinese one at that---Mei's teacher Miss MacDonald invites her to spend the Christmas holidays with her own family. Interesting, delightful to read, and light, this is an above average short story. 9. "Dear Jane" by Janet Lunn is unique because, although it does tell of the life of Arabella Stevenson, it does not take place a year after the diary's events, but rather before, in 1836; and Arabella does not have a diary, but instead writes a lengthy letter to her dear friend Jane of her rather exciting Christmas. Truly one of the treasury's greatest stories, mostly because of this author's sheer talents and Arabella's vivacious personality. 10. "The Word for Home" by Karleen Bradford continues the life of Mary MacDonald in 1784, where her Scottish Loyalist family is still trying to adjust to living in a wild new place. With Hogmanay coming, Mary wonders if this holiday season may be a bit gloomy, as it is the family's first Hogmanay not celebrated in Albany---but Mary will discover, their cozy cabin in Johnstown can be home now, too. The best story in this entire treasury. 11. "A Night to Rejoice" by Barbara Haworth-Attard continues the life of Harriet Palmer in 1863. Desperately awaiting the return of her beloved friend Talbot from the Cariboo to Victoria, Harriet becomes impatient and dresses as a boy once again with her new friend Tilly to find Talbot in the Cariboo. Unrealistic and too abrupt, this story is certainly not the greatest. 12. "No Room for Christmas" by Kit Pearson continues the life of poor Susanna Merritt, living on the Merritt family farm in 1813. As the War of 1812 still rages on, Susanna fears that with the casting dreadful shadows over the Christmastime festivities, there may be no room for Christmas this year. Also one of the best stories in this treasury. Overall, with a couple of only average or slightly satisfactory short stories, this heartwarming and touching treasury of twelve tales of Christmas is a must-have for all fans of Dear Canada. It will not be a waste of money to be deeply inspired by all Ivy, Angelique, Kate, Sophie, Helene, Isobel, Marianna, Mei, Arabella, Mary, Harriet, and Susanna's wonderful holiday stories. Highly recommended!