Star of Wonder: An Advent Devotional to Illuminate the People, Places, and Purpose of the First Christmas

by Angela Elwell Hunt

Come, Rediscover the Wonder and Reality of the Very First Christmas

We all love the Christmas season, but have we buried the truth of the day?

Bestselling author Angela Hunt weaves together visceral storytelling with overlooked biblical historical truths to help you rediscover the places, people, prophecies, and purpose of Christmas. Each of the engaging twenty-five devotions includes scriptural insights, historical facts, and personal application, which--along with weekly family activities--will have everyone saying, "I didn't know that!" as the Nativity comes to life anew.

Explore Bethlehem and Nazareth. Walk with Mary, Joseph, and others. Be amazed by the words of the prophets of old. And be warmed by God's great purpose that culminated in the birth of the Messiah.

Star of Wonder is perfect as an individual Advent devotional or for family and small group study. You will see Christmas with new eyes, create lasting holiday memories, and shine light on the wonder of that night so long ago.

Genres: Christmas, Devotional, Nonfiction, Christian, Christian Non Fiction, Holiday, Christian Living

208 pages, Hardcover

First published September 26, 2023

About the author

Christy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who have learned to expect the unexpected in novels from this versatile author. With nearly six million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 165 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to novels.

Now that her two children are grown, Angie and her husband live in Florida with Very Big Dogs (a direct result of watching Turner and Hooch and Sandlot too many times). This affinity for mastiffs has not been without its rewards--one of their dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest canine in America. Their dog received this dubious honor after an all-expenses-paid trip to Manhattan for the dog and the Hunts, complete with VIP air travel and a stretch limo in which they toured New York City.

Afterward, the dog gave out pawtographs at the airport.

Angela admits to being fascinated by animals, medicine, psychology, unexplained phenomena, and “just about everything” except sports. Books, she says, have always shaped her life— in the fifth grade she learned how to flirt from reading Gone with the Wind.

Her books have won the coveted Christy Award, several Angel Awards from Excellence in Media, and the Gold and Silver Medallions from Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award. In 2007, her novel The Note was featured as a Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel. Romantic Times Book Club presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, and American Christian Fiction Writers bestowed the same award in 2019.

In 2006, Angela completed her Master of Biblical Studies in Theology degree and completed her second doctorate in 2015. When she’s not home reading or writing, Angie often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers’ conferences. And to talk about her dogs, of course.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Jesus had not come, we would have no hope for this life or the life to come. ~ pg 169

Drawing from the research she has done to write biblical fiction, Angela Elwell Hunt has put together a meaningful set of 25 Daily Devotions & Prayers for December. Each week has a theme and includes an advent activity for families and Sunday school classes to implement and enrich the weeks before Christmas. I always learn new things from Angela Elwell Hunt and this book is no exception. Set this one aside for December, 2024. You will be enlightened and encouraged in the weeks leading up to Christmas Day.

[Amanda (BookLoverAmanda) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star of Wonder - An Advent Devotional - Angela Hunt - 5 Stars

This advent devotional invited deep reflection on the historical aspects of the first Christmas, delving into prophecies, people, places and the overarching purpose of it. Angela Hunt's in depth research and clear explanations in each chapter are truly commendable. So much goodness here. I found myself learning a great deal and experiencing emotional moments, often responding with heartfelt, "Amens"!

I loved the "Moment for Wonder" sections with the prayers each day as well that wrapped up what was explained for the day. So much biblical truths were explored here - not just in the New Testament - but even back into the beginning in the Garden of Eden. Loved it. The historical aspect of this was fascinating too! She explained so much I never would have thought about that now, I want to know more! Specifically the Jewish culture, as that information was previously unknown to me. This devotional has not only deepened my understanding of Christmas and the reason for the season, but has also sparked a desire to further explore these rich historical and cultural contexts.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Angela Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book because I learned so much writing it! I've been writing fiction from biblical eras for years, and the more I learned about how people lived in those days, the more I realized that the first Christmas had to have been very different from what we imagine. So I began collecting my thoughts, and the result is this book! I'm hoping you'll learn new things as you explore the people, places, prophecies, and purpose of our Messiah's birth.

[Suzie Waltner · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first learned that Angela Hunt was releasing an Advent devotional, I was so looking forward to reading it. As a fan of Hunt’s Biblical fiction novels, I have always been amazed at the amount of research she does for each book (and I know there is no way she can share all of that research in the author’s notes).

Star of Wonder is an educational twenty-five-day devotional that highlights the places, people, prophecies, and purpose of Christmas. This little book is filled with short daily devotionals which take about ten minutes to read followed by some application and a prayer. There are also some unique family activity suggestions at the end of each section (every five days or so) that will help older children through teens look at the birth of Christ in a different way.

My absolute favorite part of this devotional was the prophecies section. I love reading through the book of Isaiah during the Christmas season (give this a try if you haven’t done so before). I also really enjoyed learning a little bit more about Mary and Joseph’s lives may have been like.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.

[Lou Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star of Wonder by Angela Hunt — 8/10
“Star of Wonder” by Angela Hunt is a theological, devotional book for advent that explores the places, prophecies, people, and purpose of Christmas through 25 daily entries. The book offers interesting insights and information that was new to me. Entries include a “Moment of Wonder” section, providing a space for reflection and prayer. I appreciated the thought-provoking content and learned new things, but I would have liked a bit more devotional elements and application.

[Ebosereme Nwamu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The depth that this devotional is.

It explains a lot of Historical and cultural practices that a contemporary reader would never have know. So many things just make sense by reading this. The extensive research put into this devotional is very astounding and inspiring.

I highly recommend this to everyone who wants to have a rich and fulfilling knowledge of the first Christmas and things that were practices then. It will broaden your knowledge of the Bible and enable you to be so appreciative of the season.

It doesn't just explains history but it has a portion where we are invited to pause and ponder enabling one to apply what they have just read.

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

[Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prepare your heart for Christmas with Angela Elwell Hunt's lovely Advent devotional! Star of Wonder: An Advent Devotional to Illuminate the People, Places, and Purpose of the First Christmas is both deeply researched and beautifully written, with a scholar's and a storyteller's eye and voice. The book's 25 chapters are divided into four segments: The Places of Christmas; The Prophecies of Christmas; The People of Christmas; and The Purpose of Christmas. Through these, Angela Hunt brings to life the culture, geography, and individuals present in Israel during the years before, during, and after Jesus was born.

"Star of Wonder" is not only focused on sharing information about Israel and the circumstances and humans around the baby Jesus. Rather, the book is designed to help readers draw nearer to God as they experience, really, living history. Passages of Scripture are shared from numerous versions of Bible, including the Amplified Bible, the Tree of Life Version, the Complete Jewish Bible, and others. I love all the Bible verses, but the Jewish versions of the Scripture absolutely breathe a new and rich cultural understanding to these events.

Each chapter also ends with prayers and encouragements for readers to draw closer to the Lord as they engage more and more with the history and the fulfillment of Yeshua: Jesus, the Messiah. Whose birth we celebrate at Christmas!

I absolutely love this rich and beautiful Advent devotional. It is a blessing to read--and you'll feel that you know so much more about Jesus, His birth, and his family.

I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions shared here are my own honest ones.

[Kelly-Ann ~ Sassy Bookish Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover of this book completely drew me because there is something so special about the time when our Savior was born. I love doing these types of devotions during the holiday season because it keeps me grounded on what the holiday is truly about.

Angela Hunt breaks this book into four different parts: The Places of Christmas, The Prophecies of Christmas, The People of Christmas and the Purpose of Christmas. Within these four parts she gives you detailed information about these four parts. She has a section in which gives you a historical background on the topic and then she gives what she calls a Moment of Wonder in which you can reflect on what you have read and then she finishes it off with a prayer.

I know for myself I tend to do a quick devotion time in the morning before I start the day with my kids so this book would be more part of my nightly devotion reading as it is lengthy and doesn't quite read like a devotion book but rather a historical one especially towards the beginning sections.

Overall I thought it was a good book and I will continue reading it during the holiday season. This would make a great gift and addition to your library.

I received a copy of this book from Just Read. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great Advent devotional! I appreciated the depth of research the author did and learned so many new things concerning the people and places of the first Christmas. It definitely tended to be very factual and I was looking for a little more emotional depth as well. It’s a great resource for learning and I liked the family activity suggestions.

[Blessed & Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Christmas devotional, Star of Wonder, by Angela Hunt is a wonderful way to prepare for the upcoming Christmas season. Unlike many devotionals today, Star of Wonder takes you deep into the culture and history behind Scripture to help you understand the full Christmas story. I especially loved learning more about the Jewish culture and traditions working in the background. They help paint a rich landscape for a story I’ve known by heart most of my life. And yet my familiarity with the Christmas story didn’t make this devotional redundant. There is something meaningful in each entry no matter how many times you’ve read through the prophecy and history of Jesus’ birth and early life.
I would highly recommend Star of Wonder to any Christian wanting to prepare their hearts for Christmas without worldly influence. This would also make an excellent gift for anyone seeking to know Jesus more.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Cindy Davis- Cindy's Book Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover of Star of Wonder by Angela Hunt is beautiful and eye-catching.

Star of Wonder does not read like a devotional in the true sense of the word. In some ways, the book dispels what we have known to be true, or myths that have been toted as truth. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of Biblical Truth as one would expect with this kind of book. However, it also reads like a historical novel, as it is rich in historical details. It's interesting how the book explores the different places of Jesus' birth, including the prophecies from the Old Testament.

There are four sections in the book: The Places of Christmas, The Prophecies of Christmas, The People of Christmas, and The Purpose of Christmas. Star of Wonder will take you deeper into the stories and people of Jesus' time. The author also explores how things would be if Jesus had not come.

Each chapter ends with a section called "Moment of Wonder." It is a time to go deeper while applying what you have read. Each chapter ends with a prayer.

Thank you to Justreads and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angela Hunt takes her readers on a deep dive into the people, places and purpose behind the birth of Christ. I learned things I had never heard before. While Hunt does include several family activities for the advent season, I would not consider this a family devotional - at least not a family with young children. It is more suitable for teens and older. The devotionals are long and deep and, at least for me, reading it rather than listening to someone else read it is the best way to absorb the material.
I recommend Star of Wonder: An Advent Devotional to Illuminate the People, Places, and Purpose of the First Christmas for those who want a more intense look at the Advent season. Hunt’s research will provide you with information you may not be aware of.
I received a complimentary copy of Star of Wonder. This is my honest review.

[Tasha (the_clean_read_book_club) · Rating 3 out of 5]

'The miracle of Messiah's arrival did not end with the baby's birth.'

When I saw that this book was written by the author of The Tale of the Three Trees I knew I had to grab this one. That book is such a staple in my library and has been a book that has stayed with me for years.

What I loved most about this book is the complete timeline of the Savior's life. From birth to crucifixion this was a deep dive into it all. I loved how it was organized. It was a great break-down for characters, settings and a lot of things about the Savior's life that I never really connected with the Christmas season.

This is a non-denominational advent booklet and did a great job with adding in so many Jewish customs and traditions. There were a couple of family activities sprinkled in throughout the book that were really great suggestions for older kids, young adults and adults. I liked that it gave me so much to think about. The section on Mary was my favorite and I loved learning more about the Mother of Jesus.

There were several things that this book told me that I had never learned before or was slightly different from my own understanding and I'm excited to do some more research through my personal beliefs and the footnotes for better understanding.

If you're looking at taking a deep-dive into Jewish and Christian customs/traditions this should be one worth considering!

Thanks to the publisher and the author for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

[Tiffany · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love doing Advent devotionals at Christmastime. This one started out so good, and I wanted to do it with my family at Christmastime. First let’s go with what I liked about it. I love how it went through the different places associated with Jesus’ birth, as well as the prophecies, people, and many purposes of Christmas. The historical information that is included was extremely helpful. I mean things like exactly how far the walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem was, or that Mary historically probably would have walked, not rode a donkey. Facts like these (and the many more throughout the book) really give you a better understanding of what was happening at that time. I learned so much from most of the book. The one MAJOR flaw I came across and the one thing which will keep me from reading it with my family, or recommending it to you, is that almost at the very end of the book, the author has a whole chapter about how Christ came to defeat our sin…..had we stopped there I would TOTALLY agree, however she goes on to claim that Jesus was born with a sin nature. This is something I find totally false and feel the Bible totally backs that He did in fact NOT have a sin nature as His Father was God, and because of this I cannot in good conscience recommend a book to you that makes such claims.

**I received a copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star of Wonder is a lovely Advent focused devotion. It’s not just your run of the mill daily devotion centered around the Christmas season. Each day’s reading includes both rich history of the time of Jesus and moments of reflection for our current times, as well as a prayer. This devotional is separated into four parts and the author has done a great job researching the biblical people and places surrounding the time of Jesus’ birth. I learned a lot that surprised me! While this seems to be geared towards adults, I think my three young children will benefit from us reading it together as a family as well. I really enjoyed starting this devotional and look forward to going through it closer to the holiday season.I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

2025 Advent study with bible study group. Clearly this devotional was thoroughly researched & thoughtfully written. I did learn a lot about the historical aspects of what life was like at the time of Jesus’ birth. I can understand why this is highly rated.

However, it wasn’t my favorite writing style due to the heavy focus on historical details. It just wasn’t for me, but others loved it. I’d recommend for anyone who loves history. This was my first introduction to the author & I would like to check out some of her other books in the future. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[Amanda (The Little Book Spot)]

There is nothing wrong with this devotional, per se. I started reading it aloud to my family but it didn’t seem like a good fit. I’ll try again next year, reading it on my own instead.

[Mary T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book on a whim at Half Price books, and I’m so glad I did! I’ve been fascinated lately with the Jewish 1st century context of the Bible, and this helped my growing knowledge. I didn’t quite do one every day but finished right after Christmas. Planning on hanging onto this to read again next year.

[Maggie | TheeReadingRedhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing Advent devotional! This devotional is composed of 25 short chapters that teach all about the places, people, prophecy, and purpose of the Christmas story. I started reading this on December 1st and finished today, a perfect read for the Advent season! I learned a lot and it made the Christmas story come alive. I haven't read Angela Hunt before but I would like to check out more from her. I will definitely be rereading this in the future. If you like learning about the language and the culture of that time and delving deeper into the Word, this book is for you! I highly recommend!

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting. Written in a fashion that makes it easily digestible and quick. Some interesting tidbits for which I would love some references or clarity on whether the author is claiming this IS how it happened or this COULD BE how it happened. Some thought-provoking bits. Some questionable theology. Overall, pretty good.

[Emma Lischka · Rating 3 out of 5]

the devo was not what i expected at all!! it was much more of a historical explanation than a devotional, which was okay, but just not really what i wanted for this time. i really enjoyed the last two sections a lot, and i definitely walk away from the book having learned a good bit.

[Cheryl Rowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Angela Hunt's books and ordered it earlier this year but hadn't gotten around to reading. it is technically an Advent Devotional but I believe you could read it as a regular book. I gleaned so much new information from each of the 25 chapters.

[Crystal Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful devotional to read throughout the season. There are 25 chapters, so you could read a chapter a day. I love the historical facts Angela brings to the book so that we look at Christmas with truth, rather than sentence and tradition.

[Deena Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this journey into the deeper meaning behind the people, places, and meaning of Christmas. Not your typical short and sweet daily advent devotion.

[Aleena Grosjean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this for an Advent devotional and learned some new things, too. The prayers at the end of each reading are solid. Highly recommend.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adds broader context to the story of Jesus's birth. Helpful companion to the season of Advent

[Wendy Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book might just be my new favorite advent devotional book ever. Each day looks closely at the historical and cultural contexts of Advent while being firmly rooted in scripture. It examines our misconceptions and points to truth. It has been a blessing each day. I highly recommend it!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a tremendous book. To read and contemplate upon the story of the Nativity in the guise of history, traditions, and the leading of God through it all was very enlightening. I do not wish to say any more than this because I want you to read it.

[Paulette Kneip Mullins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the story of redemption and how Jesus has been the Plan and with us from the beginning. I learned so much. Will read next Christmas and again as a reminder during Lent. Great devotional and enlightening telling of God’s Plan

[Jan Gustafson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful Christmas devotional!! Will read it again next year!