Jingle Boy

by Kieran Scott

Sixteen-year-old Paul Nicholas is a self-confessed Christmas fanatic. That’s why he’s so smitten with Sarah—a girl who smells like peppermint and thinks picking out presents to the strains of “Winter Wonderland” is the ultimate afternoon activity. But when he catches Sarah making out with Santa Claus at the Paramus Park mall, his dad’s over-the-top lights catch the Nicholas house on fire, and his mom gets fired from Fortunoff’s because of something he did for Christmas for Sarah, Paul gets caught in a downward spiral of holiday gloom. This year, the spirit of Scrooge has settled in—and it’s not going to be pretty. Or will the spirit of the holiday prevail?


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Young Adult, Christmas, Holiday, Fiction, Teen

240 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 23, 2003

About the author

Kieran Scott is the author of domestic suspense and mystery novels including WISH YOU WERE GONE, REGRETS ONLY and PEOPLE WILL TALK. She has also written several young adult novels, both under her own name and for Alloy Entertainment under the pseudonym Kate Brian. These include the New York Times best-selling PRIVATE and PRIVILEGE series, as well as MEGAN MEADE'S GUIDE TO THE MCGOWAN BOYS and many others. She grew up in Bergen County, New Jersey, attended Rutgers University, and now lives in New Jersey with her husband, two sons and one goofy dog.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly wish I could say I either loved or hated this book. But the truth is I can’t bring myself to do either of those things. Paul is a massive jerk and a horrible protagonist, Santa suddenly appears to bestow his wisdom, there are no page breaks to denote scene changes…this isn’t a perfect book by a long shot. But maybe I’m a sucker for everything working out in the end. Maybe I’m biased that the author appeared to understand how OCD works - in 2007 and when Pure O wasn’t even a common term, no less. Maybe I need some of that schmaltzy Christmas cheer because the world is still on fire and it feels like life is two seconds from falling apart.

Whatever the reasons may be, I had fun with this one, and while I’ve read better, I think I’ll be revisiting it next Christmas.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the hijinks were too over the top for my liking and Paul was kind of a jerk for most of the book. I just couldn’t get behind his plan for vengeance. The first couple of ideas he had were fine and somewhat entertaining, but then they became more objectionable and even illegal. Also that Anti Christmas squad was really bizarre and unrealistic. Gotta love teenagers plotting arson!

I liked that Paul regained his Christmas spirit, but I wanted more from the romance. They didn’t have many interactions and she is absent from a good part of the book.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great seasonal read! For those who have tons of Christmas spirit and those who are totally bah-humbug. Great characters, great twists, great resolution. Fun for this time of year!

[Kristen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one is not for me. I didn't like Paul. His obsession with Christmas was weird. I mean, I like Christmas and all, but Paul's fixation bordered on a psychological disorder. His obsession with his hat was equally weird and kind of stupid. I can see an eight year old being convinced that bad things were happening because they lost a special item, but it was kind of ridiculous for Paul to just know that all the bad things happening were because he didn't have his beloved hat.
He was also selfish. Something that really conflicts with his Christmas obsession. At least, in any way that might might it sweet or endearing. If he focused on actually helping people or giving or God-forbid the true meaning of Christmas, it could have been a lovable quirk. But Paul is all about himself and what he wants. He recognizes that his mother works way too hard. So what does he do? Asks for a ridiculously expensive (not to mention unreasonable) gift. He makes sure not to even mention anything else so he'd be sure to get it. Granted, it's his idiot parents' fault for spoiling him so thoroughly that he gets whatever he wants, but that was not an endearing quality. Then on top of that, he begs his mother (who already can't afford his demanded gift) to put an outrageously expensive piece of jewelry on her credit card, so he can give it to the girl he's known for five minutes. The girl he's "in love" with, even though the only quality he even thinks to list when describing how perfect she is, is that she's pretty.
And considering he was gushing about how perfect she was about an hour after she got caught cheating on him with someone else, he's pretty pathetic too.

I might try to push through and finish the story (even though I knew what was going to happen from about page 2) if I liked Paul even a little, but I don't. He's whiny, self centered, and irritating.

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This young adult book shows how hard it is to be a teenager at times. Just when everything seems perfect to Christmas freak Paul, his world falls apart. The most wonderful time of the year-the most glorious holiday is suddenly his biggest nightmare. His house almost burns down. His mom loses her job, and his girlfriend is kissing Santa Claus. Even his best friend in the world, Holly, is helpless to stop his revenge. It takes some serious pranks and trouble with the law (misguided but still trouble) to make him realize that it's ok to love Christmas.

The author did a great job writing about teens in a believable manner and using language that was realistic. The story had appeal to teens and adults both, and the pacing made it a fun read that didn't take too much time during this crazy holiday season. Thumbs up!

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to read this because I looooved it as a preteen. Unfortunately as an adult it doesn’t quite hold up. The writing style is great YA material but there was a lot of things that aged badly and look cringe in hindsight. All in all I’m glad I re read it but was disappointed with how cringey some of it was.

[Sarah Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun holiday read full of both over the top teenage drama and the Christmas spirit. Unfortunately a few pop culture references make the book dated, but still enjoyable for those of us who like Christmas comedy books.

[✨Jinglemarco✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

...And fluffier than fake snow it is!
Well, I thought it would have been better, but all in all I was only slighty disappointed.

What I liked:
-Every chapter's title is the title of a Christmas carol or a verse of one of them.
-The Christmassy details.
-The real Santa Claus appears! <3
-Aspen, Colorado is mentioned! <3
-Mall North Pole.
-Five characters have Christmas names. THe fact isn't explained, but I think that contributes to an aura of mystery.

What I didn't like:
-It is a story full of absurd, ridicoulus, silly, crazy scenes.
-No pointing to the spiritual aspect of Christ-mass.



Overall, this is a cute and interesting Christmas story with a Christmas nut for a protagonist (and Santa Claus).

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It isn't too often that young adult authors write about the holidays, but the guy on the cover sells this book to students![return][return]When sixteen-year-old Paul Nicholas falls for young Sarah, a lively girl filled with similar holiday cheer, Paul thinks that this Christmas is going to be the best ever, but mishaps and dramas soon lead Paul into a downward spiral that turns him into just the type of pessimistic and gloomy person he's always disliked.

[oliviasbooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty predictable: Oh well, I knew almost right from the start how the story would process. That happens to the best novels as well, sometimes. But then you like the characters, you enjoy the dialogue ... This was just the story of a Christmas-loving high-school kid in love with a shallow new girl, whose life gets run over by Christmas-related things which turn him temporarily into a Christmas-hater bent on revenge and - on the way - his affections into a more appropriate direction. So what?

[Courtney Chappell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book. It reminded me of the movie skipping Christmas in parts. I thought it got a little out of hand in the middle, but it ended on a positive note. Santa coming to visit him and bring him to Holly however was very weird. So many thoughts were going through my head at this point, and none of them were "wow, this is so cool." This was overall a very fun holiday read but one I won't be reading again.

[Megan Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was only okay and more than a little predictable. I didn't really care for any of the characters, nor did I like the "preachy" ending or the slapstick efforts of the protagonist to ruin Christmas for everyone. I could see this appealing to kids, but it seems like it would work better as a cheap made-for-TV Christmas special than a novel. Medocre at best.

2/5 on here, 4/10 for myself

[April Suter · Rating 3 out of 5]

What do you do when your girlfriend dumps you for another Santa, your dad gets hurt putting up Christmas lights, your mom loses her job, your best friend, Holly (which is a girl) is mad at you? You join a Christmas Hatters Group even though your last name is Nicholas. Paul needs to find the Christmas Spirit before Christmas comes.

230 pages

[Robyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another amusing Christmas story for teens. Paul is obsessed with all things Christmas but this year it seems that the world is out to ruin his year. Everything that could go wrong is to the point that Paul loses his holiday spirit and joins an anti-Christmas group. The only one who can help Paul get back on the right track is the big guy in red.

[Eva · Rating 1 out of 5]

At first I didn't like Paul. He was so so stupid. But after his character start to change and slowly I began to like him and the story. But then Santa appear and ruined everything. -.- Santa. All flesh and blood. And he "give a ride to Paul with his sleigh".
Why? Just why?

[Emily - This star won't go out · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lol This book is a little weird, but it has a great and exciting story =)

[Rene · Rating 3 out of 5]

A boy who absolutely lives for Christmas starts to hate the season when many terrible things begin to happen to him. There is redemption at the end. It was an okay book.

[Erika B. (SOS BOOKS) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just wanted a cute christmas story...snooze fest!

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light fun in a christmas read but not everyone's cup of tea. The story does get better toward the end but overall I was pretty happy to have finished it.

[Zoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book!

[Becca Packer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute quick christmas read. I liked it until the epilogue which made no sense at all but hey when you are friends with santa claus anything can happen.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute read. Lots of humorous situations.

[Spencer · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was OK. Too much cussing though.

[Mandee · Rating 2 out of 5]

a fun read for the Holidays