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Christmas Spirit: Two Stories
A pair of Christmas stories involves unexpected holiday visitors--a young boy receives a warning of impending disaster from the "Christmas Ghost," and a girl's unhappy holiday visit is redeemed by a pregnant cat in "The Christmas Cat."
160 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1994
About the author
Robert Westall
122 books111 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Robert Westall was born in North Shields, Northumberland, England in 1929.
His first published book The Machine Gunners (1975) which won him the Carnegie Medal is set in World War Two when a group of children living on Tyneside retrieve a machine-gun from a crashed German aircraft. He won the Carnegie Medal again in 1981 for The Scarecrows, the first writer to win it twice. He won the Smarties Prize in 1989 for Blitzcat and the Guardian Award in 1990 for The Kingdom by the Sea. Robert Westall's books have been published in 21 different countries and in 18 different languages, including Braille.
From: http://www.robertwestall.com/
Robert Westall was born in North Shields, Northumberland, England in 1929.
His first published book The Machine Gunners (1975) which won him the Carnegie Medal is set in World War Two when a group of children living on Tyneside retrieve a machine-gun from a crashed German aircraft. He won the Carnegie Medal again in 1981 for The Scarecrows, the first writer to win it twice. He won the Smarties Prize in 1989 for Blitzcat and the Guardian Award in 1990 for The Kingdom by the Sea. Robert Westall's books have been published in 21 different countries and in 18 different languages, including Braille.
From: http://www.robertwestall.com/
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 5, 2025
4.25🌟 What a lovely mini-collection of Christmas stories! Both of these stories were interesting and really unique, but I have to admit that I loved The Christmas Cat (the second story) the most. (There's a character in this story that reminds me SO MUCH of Mrs. Pringle from Miss Read's stories - lol!)
WHAT I LOVED:
🎄 Easy-to-read and cozy writing style
🎄 Charming black and white illustrations (similar to John S. Goodall's art)
🎄 Touching (and also entertaining) stories
🎄 A wonderful way to boost your holiday spirit
If you love Miss Read's Christmas books (they're all my favorites!), you need to get this book! I'm so glad that I just randomly found this book while browsing Etsy. Highly recommended!
WHAT I LOVED:
🎄 Easy-to-read and cozy writing style
🎄 Charming black and white illustrations (similar to John S. Goodall's art)
🎄 Touching (and also entertaining) stories
🎄 A wonderful way to boost your holiday spirit
If you love Miss Read's Christmas books (they're all my favorites!), you need to get this book! I'm so glad that I just randomly found this book while browsing Etsy. Highly recommended!
December 7, 2024
"A ghost and a cat arrive for the holidays in this pair of Christmas stories.
In The Christmas Cat, a girl's miserable holiday at her uncle's vicarage is saved by the appearance of an unruly neighbour and an abandoned, pregnant cat. In The Christmas Ghost, a boy has a hair-raising Christmas Eve encounter with a ghost at the factory where his father works - a ghost who must convey a desperate message.
It is only by convincing the adults around them to believe - in them or in other people - that the two young protagonists can save the spirit of Christmas.
Two classic Christmas stories by Robert Westall, winner of the Smarties Prize, the Guardian's Children's Fiction Award and twice winner of the Carnegie Medal."
(Thanks Len - highly enjoyable, refreshing, and a perfect edition to the Christmastime shelf!) <3
ISBN 0749723971 (Mammoth, 1995) is illustrated by John Lawrence and does NOT have the default cover currently shown by GR (07/12/24). My cover: A boy and a man in a peaked cap smile at one another in the glow of a lamp from a street vendor's cart in the snow outside store fronts (a Christmas tree is carried in yhe background)
In The Christmas Cat, a girl's miserable holiday at her uncle's vicarage is saved by the appearance of an unruly neighbour and an abandoned, pregnant cat. In The Christmas Ghost, a boy has a hair-raising Christmas Eve encounter with a ghost at the factory where his father works - a ghost who must convey a desperate message.
It is only by convincing the adults around them to believe - in them or in other people - that the two young protagonists can save the spirit of Christmas.
Two classic Christmas stories by Robert Westall, winner of the Smarties Prize, the Guardian's Children's Fiction Award and twice winner of the Carnegie Medal."
(Thanks Len - highly enjoyable, refreshing, and a perfect edition to the Christmastime shelf!) <3
ISBN 0749723971 (Mammoth, 1995) is illustrated by John Lawrence and does NOT have the default cover currently shown by GR (07/12/24). My cover: A boy and a man in a peaked cap smile at one another in the glow of a lamp from a street vendor's cart in the snow outside store fronts (a Christmas tree is carried in yhe background)
October 3, 2014
I thought this book had two great stories about two different lives. The first part of the book had a happy go lucky kid that couldn't wait tell Christmas. The second story was about a young girl that spent her Christmas at her uncles house. She always disliked going their. At the end of each story each character found there inner happiness.
December 19, 2022
This is a new author to me, although I see that he actually wrote lots of books, several of which have won various literary awards. This was originally published as two books, but has been combined in this edition. The first, The Christmas Cat is about a child sent to stay with her uncle, a vicar in a small town. Her stay doesn't get off to the best of starts, as the housekeeper takes an instant dislike to Caroline, but things look up when she, having been sent out to play in the garden, meets a young trespasser called Bobbie. In the second, The Christmas Ghost, a young boy (son of Jack, but I don't think he's actually named) encounters a ghost at his father's place of work and is convinced it's a sign that some kind of disaster will happen.
Both stories are set in the north east of England in the 1930s, and both are really sweet, evoking a Christmas of times gone by. They are illustrated by John Lawrence, who reminds me of one of my favourite illustrators, Edward Ardizonne.
Both stories are set in the north east of England in the 1930s, and both are really sweet, evoking a Christmas of times gone by. They are illustrated by John Lawrence, who reminds me of one of my favourite illustrators, Edward Ardizonne.
November 16, 2020
Oh my! That has to be one of my favorite Christmas books ever! No offense to the cover, but I truly judged this book by its cover and did not expect to be crying like a baby at the end of the second of two stories.
Fan-Christmas-tastic!
*The Christmas Ghost* - The first story was an old-fashioned ghost story...but not scary at all. Sweet. Magical. Wee bit suspenseful.
*The Christmas Cat* - this! This is the story that brought me to tears. The cat was a minor character. The main characters: two children, a Vicar, and a mean ole housekeeper are where the drama is found. Pure bliss!
Sure, sure this is a Children’s book...I suppose. (Reading level 9-12 years). But I bet no 10 year old will cry like I did! I’m not ashamed either.
I’m shocked this book was written in the 1990s. It has such a wondrous old-timey feel to it!
Please read this book!
Fan-Christmas-tastic!
*The Christmas Ghost* - The first story was an old-fashioned ghost story...but not scary at all. Sweet. Magical. Wee bit suspenseful.
*The Christmas Cat* - this! This is the story that brought me to tears. The cat was a minor character. The main characters: two children, a Vicar, and a mean ole housekeeper are where the drama is found. Pure bliss!
Sure, sure this is a Children’s book...I suppose. (Reading level 9-12 years). But I bet no 10 year old will cry like I did! I’m not ashamed either.
I’m shocked this book was written in the 1990s. It has such a wondrous old-timey feel to it!
Please read this book!
November 29, 2025
This is a book that I would love to read on a cold night under a blanket with a dim, yellow light and a hot coffee on my bedside table. It’s a book for kids and teenagers though.
The book has two stories set around Christmas Eve. The writing style of the author is commendable. The stories are set in England. Some working class themes are also apparent. The author has described situations and scenes very well. Really tickles the reader’s imagination.
For me, it’s also a book I’d love to read every year in the winter season. Only if I always have it around me. I’ll also like to introduce it to my child someday.
The book has two stories set around Christmas Eve. The writing style of the author is commendable. The stories are set in England. Some working class themes are also apparent. The author has described situations and scenes very well. Really tickles the reader’s imagination.
For me, it’s also a book I’d love to read every year in the winter season. Only if I always have it around me. I’ll also like to introduce it to my child someday.
December 13, 2025
Written in the early 1990s, these two stories take place in northern England in the early 20th century. One is about a boy who sees a ghost that is known to appear when a lethal accident is imminent at the factory where the boy's father works, leading to a frantic effort to discover the danger and prevent the accident from happening. The second is about a girl sent to spend the school Christmas holidays with her uncle, an unhappy parish priest. She quickly discovers the source of his unhappiness and what keeps him from connecting with his congregation is his fiercely unpleasant housekeeper. With the help of a neighbor boy and a pregnant cat, the girl enacts a plan to turn the tables on the housekeeper.
In both stories, a child finds a way to save the adults and bring communities together. That makes it an excellent Christmas read.
In both stories, a child finds a way to save the adults and bring communities together. That makes it an excellent Christmas read.
December 24, 2019
A kids book really, but a lovely little book to read. 2 stories; Christmas Spirit and The Christmas Ghost - loved the first story - it really was about true Christmas spirit, very heart warming.
April 13, 2020
What a pleasure to dive into a young adult book and two wonderfully written Christmas stories. Christmas love abounds.
January 12, 2022
Love this little book. I love stories that are set in classic Victorian England.
January 1, 2024
I liked the second story best and definitely want to read it aloud to my kids.
December 16, 2024
Cute Christmas Stories!!
December 18, 2024
Really enjoyed this, proper old stories and a good little read.
December 26, 2024
Meant for a younger audience than myself, but I really liked those stories.
December 17, 2021
Two Christmas stories.
The Christmas Cat - in 1934 a girl is sent to North Shields to visit her uncle who is a vicar. An adventure ensues involving a nasty housekeeper, a boy who climbs walls, and a cat with kittens. 4 stars.
The Christmas Ghost - I'm not sure of the setting of this one (year or place) but I think it was close to the above. In this story, a boy delivers his father's supper to the chemical works and sees the ghost who appears when a tragedy at the works is about to happen. I liked this quote from the story: "That out there in the snowy dark was this utterly powerful being who knew all about me, and whether I'd been a good boy all year, and who meant to reward me with incredible gifts. I wonder I didn't get him mixed up with God. But Santa seemed more like God's kinder, merrier younger brother, who you might dare to speak to, if you were lucky enough to catch him on his rounds."
The Christmas Cat - in 1934 a girl is sent to North Shields to visit her uncle who is a vicar. An adventure ensues involving a nasty housekeeper, a boy who climbs walls, and a cat with kittens. 4 stars.
The Christmas Ghost - I'm not sure of the setting of this one (year or place) but I think it was close to the above. In this story, a boy delivers his father's supper to the chemical works and sees the ghost who appears when a tragedy at the works is about to happen. I liked this quote from the story: "That out there in the snowy dark was this utterly powerful being who knew all about me, and whether I'd been a good boy all year, and who meant to reward me with incredible gifts. I wonder I didn't get him mixed up with God. But Santa seemed more like God's kinder, merrier younger brother, who you might dare to speak to, if you were lucky enough to catch him on his rounds."
January 3, 2015
Two lovely Christmas stories. Could be read at any time of year. I love Robert Westall. He writes very real characters and situations. This is another winner.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews