Mama Had to Work on Christmas

by Carolyn Marsden

Gloria's Christmas begins with frustration when she is forced to go to work with Mama, but by the end of the day, she appreciates her family and enjoys the holiday.

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Childrens

80 pages, Hardcover

First published September 22, 2003

About the author

Carolyn Marsden was born in Mexico City to missionary parents. She has been a writer all her life, but THE GOLD-THREADED DRESS is her first book. About THE GOLD-THREADED DRESS she says, "I wrote this story when my half-Thai daughter was being teased at school. As a parent and elementary school teacher, I watched her struggle to establish a cultural identity. I became fascinated with a conflict that is common to many children in our increasingly diverse United States." Carolyn Marsden has an MFA in Writing for Children from Vermont College. After spending the last twenty-five years in Tucson, Arizona, Carolyn Marsden now lives by the ocean with her husband and two daughters.

Reviews

[Christine Lucia Asha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story about a little girl who has to accompany her mother to work at a hotel on Christmas. She is not happy and starts to get jealous of a little girl who has more and prettier things.

Her grandma lets her know that she is surrounded by love and that is what matters the most.

[Meribeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Gloria’s Christmas expectations dismayingly change in Marsden’s unfolding story for young readers. (Also, an excellent read-aloud with younger children.) Gloria’s gift preparations, completed the night before, cannot reduce the unpleasant surprise of going to work with Mama instead of to Nana’s house, across the border in Mexico, for Christmas Day.
It’s sad enough that Papi cannot get away from his migrant job of picking on Christmas. But now, Gloria and her doll, Missy, must accompany Mama who needs to take the place of a sick co-worker. Sadnesses pile up: Gloria cannot go to Nana’s alone, since it’s not on the way to Mama’s work. Gloria cannot stay at her friend Sandra’s place, although it is on the way, because the house is already full of family members visiting from out of town. Gloria must ride the bus with Mama to the hotel where Mama is a maid.
At the hotel, Gloria cannot stop to enjoy the food or the Christmas decorations; these are for the guests. Gloria must help with kitchen chores. Even Santa, who gives her a lollipop, later shoos her back to the kitchen.
A hotel guest, who is Gloria’s age, gives her a soft stuffed puppy. “Grandma said we should give to the have-nots,” says Sylvie, prompting Gloria to consider what the girl has that she, Gloria, does not have.
Finally arriving at Nana’s, following two bus rides and the walk up the dirt road, Gloria’s sadness is as heavy and dark as the night sky. With a light hand however, Marsden skillfully guides readers through the evening’s gentle events. Gloria’s recognition of Nana’s and her parents’ loving holiday preparations warms her bruised heart with a brightness that glows like the luminarios and glistens like the lights of the two countries seen from Nana’s hilltop house.

[Mirra Mitchell]

My daughter enjoyed the book

[Salsabrarian]

Christmas morning, Gloria's mama has been called in to work at the hotel. She brings Gloria with her and Gloria is amazed by the lobby, the decorated tree, the spread of food in the banquet hall. But her mother sets Gloria in the kitchen to wait until her shift is over and they can go to Nana's to celebrate. When Gloria ventures out of the kitchen she meets a rich little girl who gives her her stuffed dog. Suddenly Gloria isn't happy about Christmas or about her mother having to work and her father away picking oranges. A quiet story that convincingly conveys the frustration Gloria feels about her "have-not" lifestyle but with Nana and Mama's help she sees how very rich her own life is.