A Christmas Sonata

Deborah Abbott

Once again, as he did in "The Cookcamp" , Paulsen envisions a specific time through the eyes of an unnamed boy. As Christmas, 1943, approaches, the preschool child inadvertently makes two weighty discoveries, and this short novel intricately weaves them into a poignant emotional experience. First, an unpleasant neighbor of the boy, who dislikes children in general and the boy in particular, claims to be Santa Claus when caught dressed up as the holiday figure. Second, the boy's slightly older cousin Matthew, who doesn't believe in Santa, is dying. Because the boy's father is in Europe fighting the war, the boy and his mother travel to northern Minnesota to spend the holiday with Uncle Ben, Aunt Marilyn, and Matthew. While the boys savor the season as best they can, it is the adults who champion the theme that a willingness to believe can work miracles. Paulsen is a master of characterization and point of view. His ability to get inside the mind of a child and communicate his perceptions starkly, precisely and realistically is a powerful literary tool, and the descriptive first-person narrative paints a picture so vivid, no reader remains unmoved.