My True Love Gave To Me

Total Time: 12 hours 55 minutes

-Midnights written by Rainbow Rowell narrated by Rebecca Lowman

-The Lady and the Fox written by Kelly Link narrated by Fiona Hardingham

-Angels in the Snow written by Matt de la Peña narrated by Henry Leyva

-Polaris Is Where You’ll Find Me written by Jenny Han narrated by Kim Mai Guest

-It’s a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown written by Stephanie Perkins narrated by Samantha Quan

-Your Temporary Santa written by David Levithan narrated by Dustin Rubin

-Krampuslauf written by Holly Black narrated by Julia Whelan

-What the Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth? written by Gayle Forman narrated by Abby Craden

-Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus written by Myra McEntire narrated by Lincoln Hoppe

-Welcome to Christmas, CA written by Kiersten White narrated by Michelle Jubilee Gonzalez

-Star of Bethlehem written by Ally Carter narrated by Shannon McManus

-The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer written by Laini Taylor narrated by Ann Marie Lee

Story My True Love Gave To Me is a series of 12 young adult holiday tales, written by a selection of some of the best young adult authors of our time. Though mostly Christmas stories there are also Hanukkah, Yuletide and New Year stories. Some are supernatural, some are romances but all have the magic of someone miraculously finding exactly what they need to make them happy.

Narrator Each story has a different narrator and all seem suited to their respective tale. Lincoln Hoppe’s breathy teenage boy in Beer Buckets and Bethlehem amused me; Kim Mai Guest’s Asian tones gave a extra dimension to Polaris Is Where You’ll Find Me. By the time I reached Angels in the Snow, I did have to turn the speed up a little. On reaching the final story, The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer, I ramped it up again.This was the longest story and probably my least favourite of the bunch.

I went through the collection enjoying each story for itself. Even the non-supernatural ones have a magical quality to them that suited my (dwindling) Christmas mood. My favourite, though, would have to be Beer Buckets and Bethlehem. There is something about second chances and redemption at this time of the year that gives me a warm feeling. A close second is Star of Bethlehem because of the joy among the grief. This was the one story that raised a tear from me.

If you are searching for your Christmas spirit, give these tales a spin and listen to some Christmas miracles from the world of young Adult fiction.

8/10