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Holiday High
At Holiday High, being a holiday isn't just a date on the calendar—it's a destiny.
Starting a new school is never easy, but for Arbor Day, it's a test of tradition and tenacity. Welcome to Holiday High, an exclusive institution for the offspring of America's most celebrated days—from the dazzling fireworks of Fourth of July to the warmth of Thanksgiving gatherings.
However, Arbor's entrance into this whimsical world isn't without challenges. Belonging to a less-prominent holiday, she faces the threat of being relegated to the forgotten pages of history. With the formidable Holiday Council dictating the school's rhythm, Arbor finds herself in a race against time to prove her holiday's worth and save her family's cherished legacy.
Complicating matters, she butts heads with the passionate Valentine, whose sole mission appears to be making Arbor's time at school a living nightmare. And then there's Vice Principal Frost, whose cold demeanor hints at an agenda of his own.
In a school where traditions are more than just events and dates, Arbor must navigate friendships, rivalries, and the weight of legacy. With every challenge she faces, she's reminded of what's at stake.
Will Arbor rise above the challenges and ensure that her holiday remains celebrated for generations? Or will she be just another calendar date, lost to the sands of time? Dive into this enchanting tale of courage, conflict, and celebrations.
Join Arbor in this captivating middle-grade/young adult fantasy novel, where holidays come to life in ways you've never imagined before!
Starting a new school is never easy, but for Arbor Day, it's a test of tradition and tenacity. Welcome to Holiday High, an exclusive institution for the offspring of America's most celebrated days—from the dazzling fireworks of Fourth of July to the warmth of Thanksgiving gatherings.
However, Arbor's entrance into this whimsical world isn't without challenges. Belonging to a less-prominent holiday, she faces the threat of being relegated to the forgotten pages of history. With the formidable Holiday Council dictating the school's rhythm, Arbor finds herself in a race against time to prove her holiday's worth and save her family's cherished legacy.
Complicating matters, she butts heads with the passionate Valentine, whose sole mission appears to be making Arbor's time at school a living nightmare. And then there's Vice Principal Frost, whose cold demeanor hints at an agenda of his own.
In a school where traditions are more than just events and dates, Arbor must navigate friendships, rivalries, and the weight of legacy. With every challenge she faces, she's reminded of what's at stake.
Will Arbor rise above the challenges and ensure that her holiday remains celebrated for generations? Or will she be just another calendar date, lost to the sands of time? Dive into this enchanting tale of courage, conflict, and celebrations.
Join Arbor in this captivating middle-grade/young adult fantasy novel, where holidays come to life in ways you've never imagined before!
228 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2023
5 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
James Arthur
2 books9 followersJames Arthur is a creative and passionate author dedicated to educating and entertaining young adults and tweens with his compelling narratives. Drawing from a rich background in creating educational programs coupled with 20+ years working with youth as a youth pastor and ELA/drama teacher, James intricately tackles relevant issues and weaves his understanding of young minds into his writing. Armed with a Master of Education in Instruction and Curriculum and a Bachelor of Science in Religious Education and Youth Ministry, he combines his in-depth educational insight with storytelling prowess to captivate his audience.
Holiday High is James' debut YA novel and radiates the message of embracing open-mindedness in pursuing authentic friendships. It is James' wish to inspire readers to confront their fears, chase audacious dreams, and unlock their full potential.
James’s influence extends to TikTok, where he commands a large following under the handle @dangpenguins. Beyond his literary endeavors, he enjoys reading, watching movies, avidly following baseball, and engaging in both video and board games.
Holiday High is James' debut YA novel and radiates the message of embracing open-mindedness in pursuing authentic friendships. It is James' wish to inspire readers to confront their fears, chase audacious dreams, and unlock their full potential.
James’s influence extends to TikTok, where he commands a large following under the handle @dangpenguins. Beyond his literary endeavors, he enjoys reading, watching movies, avidly following baseball, and engaging in both video and board games.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 5, 2023
I got an ARC of Holiday High in exchange for my review. Holiday High is a fun way to look at holidays - a little bit of Groundhog Day meets Harry Potter.
Each U.S. holiday is represented by a teenage student at Holiday High, divided into two groups, Majors and Minors. The Majors have Christmas, Halloween, Fourth of July, etc. The Minors include Memorial Day, Spring Forward, and our main character, Arbor Day. Arbor is new at Holiday High and less than thrilled to be there. The beginning of the book is a bit awkward, much like starting a new high school. The author is better at plot and character development than setting a scene.
Once the story gets going, the writing smooths out and holds your attention. Arbor, her teachers, and her classmates are a unique cast of characters that are great fun to meet. The book takes you through the entire school year during which Arbor makes friends and enemies as she works to both promote her holiday and survive the inevitable drama that comes with teenagers.
There are a few loose ends that I would have liked resolved, but the book is satisfying. In the end, I was really rooting for Arbor Day - it made me want to go plant a tree.
Each U.S. holiday is represented by a teenage student at Holiday High, divided into two groups, Majors and Minors. The Majors have Christmas, Halloween, Fourth of July, etc. The Minors include Memorial Day, Spring Forward, and our main character, Arbor Day. Arbor is new at Holiday High and less than thrilled to be there. The beginning of the book is a bit awkward, much like starting a new high school. The author is better at plot and character development than setting a scene.
Once the story gets going, the writing smooths out and holds your attention. Arbor, her teachers, and her classmates are a unique cast of characters that are great fun to meet. The book takes you through the entire school year during which Arbor makes friends and enemies as she works to both promote her holiday and survive the inevitable drama that comes with teenagers.
There are a few loose ends that I would have liked resolved, but the book is satisfying. In the end, I was really rooting for Arbor Day - it made me want to go plant a tree.
January 3, 2024
James Arthur writes an imaginative tale that follows a girl named Arbor Day, who dreads starting her new school, Holiday High. This intriguing story follows Arbor as she navigates her place at the school, and her role in securing a successful path for her holiday, all while trying to find her true identity. Jimmy uses great imagery which makes it really fun to envision the wonders of Holiday High. I highly recommend this wonderful read for anyone aged 11 years & older! It is such a fun story for kids as well as adults who are young at heart. The protagonist, Arbor, is really relatable & likeable, making it easy for the readers to feel all her feelings. Other fun characters you will read in this book include Spring, Patrick, Shadow, Columbus, Santa, Prez, Valentine, April, and many more. The excitement of the Holiday Games and the Confirmation really draws the readers in, and the twist at the end leaves readers vying for more! Arbor says “it's almost like Holiday High is just as much alive and active as the people that inhabit it,” I would say this rings true for the readers as well. This book brings back the magical imagination of everyone’s inner child and will awaken their love for reading.
November 2, 2023
Holiday High is the perfect coming-of-age, high school story drama for fans of Sky High and Mean Girls.
Arbor faces off against Valentine, Frost, and most importantly her own insecurities as she strives to prove that her holiday deserves to remain at Holiday High. Does Arbor have what it takes to be the next leader of Arbor Day? Will she be able to overcome the challenges awaiting her at her very first year at Holiday High? All that remains to be seen as the magical world of Holiday High unfolds.
The characters in Holiday High are interesting, well-rounded, and refreshing. They are easy to relate to, and many of the struggles and much of the drama they face are things we all go through as grow up and try to find our place in the world. Holiday High was an easy and delightful read sure to make just about anyone smile!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Arbor faces off against Valentine, Frost, and most importantly her own insecurities as she strives to prove that her holiday deserves to remain at Holiday High. Does Arbor have what it takes to be the next leader of Arbor Day? Will she be able to overcome the challenges awaiting her at her very first year at Holiday High? All that remains to be seen as the magical world of Holiday High unfolds.
The characters in Holiday High are interesting, well-rounded, and refreshing. They are easy to relate to, and many of the struggles and much of the drama they face are things we all go through as grow up and try to find our place in the world. Holiday High was an easy and delightful read sure to make just about anyone smile!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 31, 2023
Overall, this is a fun book to read. The story is compelling, a coming-of-age story where real life meets historical holidays personified. The relationships among the characters, protagonists, and antagonists alike are fun to see and recognize as they often reflect what happens in real life.
This book would make a fun read for young readers of all ages. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy of the book to read to review.
This book would make a fun read for young readers of all ages. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy of the book to read to review.
December 6, 2023
The melding of teenage coming of age story with the tension of a classic heroes’ journey with all of holidays we know and love is a page turner! I for one will be looking forward to the hopeful sequel story and every celebration Major and Minor in between. Perfect for young audiences and a great conversation starter about how our differences can be the thing that brings us togetherness.
I purchased this book.
I purchased this book.
December 24, 2023
Interesting book!
This was an interesting book idea! I enjoyed the story. It does have Harry Potter vibes. I am looking forward to a sequel!
My only criticism, would be that it needed more editing. There were a lot of tiny mistakes that interrupted my reading flow, but I am a picky English major and teacher. If the author didn't have a wide range of beta readers before publishing, that would be one of my recommendations.
This was an interesting book idea! I enjoyed the story. It does have Harry Potter vibes. I am looking forward to a sequel!
My only criticism, would be that it needed more editing. There were a lot of tiny mistakes that interrupted my reading flow, but I am a picky English major and teacher. If the author didn't have a wide range of beta readers before publishing, that would be one of my recommendations.
January 3, 2024
Holiday High is a fun romp into the surprisingly high stakes world of the high school lives of our favorite holidays. The inner dialogue of the main character, Arbor Day, and the peek into her thoughts and feelings was very enjoyable. I also really enjoyed the transformation she went through during her year at Holiday High and how she overcame some negative thoughts and emotions. This was a fun read and I definitely plan on adding it to my classroom library!
April 15, 2024
This is a great book with a new fresh adventure. This book address what it would be like for the holidays to have kids and those kids go to school. It's a fresh, new creative idea. This book is perfect for all ages. I have enjoyed this book so much.
April 29, 2024
I loved loved loved this book! I’m so proud of the author and so happy to be able to have helped!! Such a wonderful book with a beautiful story line and a fun and unique main character!!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews