Angels & Other Strangers: Family Christmas Stories

by Katherine Paterson

The true essence of Christmas - the birth of jesus Christ - takes on new meaning in these nine short stories by award-winning author Katherine Paterson. With love, humor, and compassion, she illuminates the familiar problems of modern-day life in unexpected ways. A lonely widower takes in two foster children over the Christmas holidays, a father seeks his runaway son, a mother deals with the loss of an infant, a minster helps a boy who has broken a window, a Japanese pastor holds a forbidden Christmas service for a single child. All of these people receive a blessing of grace as they overcome personal loss, fear, loneliness, and alienation, and find their way to healing, joy, and new life. "Happy Birthday, Jesus, and many happy reruns of the day," says one little girl, voicing the hope and celebration of this delightful collection. [These were] written throughout the course of her husband's ministry at the Takoma Park (Maryland) Presbyterian Church, these stories were read aloud by the Reverend John paterson to his congregation each Christmas Eve. (from the book jacket of the 1979 edition published by Thomas Y. Crowell; ISBN 0-690-03992-1)

Author Biography:

Katherine Paterson is one of the world's most renowned children's book authors. Ms. Paterson has received the National Book Award twice and has won the Newbery Medal for both Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved. She is also the author of two other I Can Read Books featuring Marvin, The Smallest Cow in the World and Marvin's Best Christmas Present Ever. Ms. Paterson lives in Barre, Vermont.

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Young Adult, Holiday, Short Stories, Childrens, Middle Grade

118 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1979

About the author

Katherine Womeldorf Paterson is an American writer best known for children's novels, including Bridge to Terabithia. For four different books published 1975–1980, she won two Newbery Medals and two National Book Awards. She is one of four people to win the two major international awards; for "lasting contribution to children's literature" she won the biennial Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing in 1998 and for her career contribution to "children's and young adult literature in the broadest sense" she won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award from the Swedish Arts Council in 2006, the biggest monetary prize in children's literature. Also for her body of work she was awarded the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature in 2007 and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal from the American Library Association in 2013. She was the second US National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, serving 2010 and 2011.

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas 2019 - it's a family tradition, I like to read at least one or two stories from this collection most Christmas'
Christmas 2018 re-read
******
It's been several years since we read this and since it was one of our favorite Christmas books, I think it's time for us to re-read it. Dec 2013

[Molly Grimmius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another collection of Katherine Paterson’s Christmas stories that she would write every Christmas. In true fashion, these are hard stories but always ending with hope.

[Nina Ely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this as an early teen, and was surprised how many passages still seemed fresh in my memory. This book has religious themes (the stories started as sermons) but they aren't heavy-handed for the most part. Very touching, and a moving read for the season.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katherine Paterson wrote these short stories for her pastor husband's congregation's Christmas Eve services. Each one reminds us to look for angels in the most unexpected places in our sometimes messy, chaotic, and unruly lives.

[Mary Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, comforting seasonal tales for the Christmas season. They'll keep you in the mood

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars -- I picked this up because of the author and because it is a collection of Christmas stories. I am not sure what I expected because of those two things, but my expectations definitely did NOT match what I read. My rating is based on the average of my ratings for the nine individual short stories. 1) "Angels and Other Strangers" - C+ - "And a child shall lead them." Thank goodness for Kevin. He saves the story. 2) "Guests" - B+ - This is an interesting perspective on WWII Japan. Japanese Christians were persecuted and killed for spreading the poison of the American God. In this, a brave pastor ministers to a young Korean slave girl despite the presence of a policeman. 3) "Many Happy Reruns" - D+ - What did I just read? I know that Katherine Paterson writes real stories, but OMG, what I did I just read?! 4) "Tidings of Joy" - C - This is a story that in some ways I can relate to, but I still do not see how this resolution occurs. Not well anyway. And where in the heck is the husband?! 5) "Maggie's Gift" - A - Finally! I love this story of Mr. McGee and two foster children. 6) "Star of Night" - C- - HUH?! I admire the dad for his effort to help his son, but something is just not right about this entire story. 7) "He Came Down" - D+ - Basically, a screaming Hispanic woman causes a crucifix to fall off the wall & break which leads to an older woman's breakthrough. Yep. 8) "Woodrow Kennington Practically Works a Miracle" - A- - I really enjoyed this story of Woodrow's attempt to help his younger sister, Sara Jane, and by doing so, learns the real reason for her behavior. 9) "Broken Windows" - B+ - A minister tries to help a mother & her two sons, and in so doing, is helped by them & helps himself.

[Robert Schneider · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cover copy may say "Family Christmas Stories" and "...celebrate the magic of Christmas" but these were more on the dark depressing side. When I chose this book I was looking for the usual, happy, Christmassy, maybe tug at the heart strings fare. that is not what these stories were. What most of these seemed to be were character studies of people who had lost (or were questioning) their faith set against various standard type backdrops who by the stories end (usually in the last sentence or two) would suddenly have an epiphany that changed their outlook of things. Sometimes that left me scratching my head as to what that actually was. there were one or two that seemed to be going somewhere and then would suddenly stop with the tacked on feeling of the happy change. While the writing was good overall only 2 of the stories left any real impression on me.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have been reading these in the tub over the holidays. The stories remind me of the short stories I used to read in 'women's magazines' (McCalls, Good Housekeeping, etc.) that my mother subscribed to, back in the 1950s and 1960s.

It's kind of an uneven collection, some with a strong religious focus, others more secular and including the occasional twist. But all pleasant enough, a nice distraction in a hectic season.

[Marisa Maloney · Rating 4 out of 5]

My goal is to try to read all of Katherine Paterson’s Christmas short stories. This was my second book of hers and I enjoyed getting drawn in to her short story worlds. This book ,however , deals with much more mature themes than her previous book. What a great writer to draw you in so fast and leave you wanting to read more. Plus not your typical Christmas read and I think that is why I enjoyed it. It’s pain and lost mixed with hope and joy.

[sage young · Rating 3 out of 5]

aggressively religious but i tend to be very vulnerable toward christianity during christmas time so some of it worked for me. someone verbatim says “but it did happen” and that sent me off on a spiral of thoughts about magnolia so shout out paul thomas anderson. magnolia is lowkey the bible to me

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 4 out of 5]

the book is wonderfully written. this is not a selection of warm, & fuzzy short Christmas novels. all of the stories have problems, doubts, fears but there's still an element of hope

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked these stories a lot. Sweet-spirited, goes down easy, very enjoyable, with a point.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of Christmas stories. Some were great. Some not so much.

[Larena · Rating 4 out of 5]

C: CHILDREN: No offensive language, sex or nudity but might contain occasional comedic Violence.

E:Easy: 3rd grade Vocabulary

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katherine Paterson is just such a lovely writer. While most of her books are kids books- her stories intended for adults are amazing.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book to read to prepare for the Christmas season.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous Christmas collection. My favorite stories are: "Angels and Other Strangers" and "Star of Night."

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved rereading these stories. katherine paterson spoke to me as a child and she still does.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still well written, but grittier than her other Christmas collection.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Christmas stories. Good bedtime reading!!!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the stories for what they are, short stories. However, I am a gal who likes series of books to really get to know a character, so a story that starts and ends in a few pages is a bit of a stretch for me. However, I thought the characters were engaging and I was left wanting more, which I suppose is a good thing. I like that these stories of Christmas were about people looking for, living like and actually aware of God. That was encouraging to me.

[Aban (Aby) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katherine Paterson is a writer of children's fiction and all her books are outstanding. This is a book of short Christmas stories, which is suitable for all ages and, over the years, I have read and reread these heartwarming stories which write of loss, heart-ache, love and (above all) hope. I have been ill this holiday period and what could be better than to curl up with this delightful book? I would HIGHLY recommend it!

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book I read during the Christmas holidays every 2 years or so. I enjoy the first story Angels Other Strangers the most. Some readers will see them as as dated such as the references to the Biafran famine (Tidings of Joy). All the stories provide a sense of hope in the midst of very human failings and suffering. The first Christmas began with the poor and simple. These stories remind us that He has a "preferential option for the poor."

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed these stories. They are darker than other Christmas stories, but nearly all the characters find hope in the end, which is inspiring. They do get a little old after a while (I've read her other collection, too), but it's understandable since she wrote a story every year for around twenty years. These were almost the very first stories she ever wrote.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an old favorite. It is a collection of short stories that all center around Christmas. Perhaps the most famous is "Maggie's Gift" about an old man that takes in two foster children because he doesn't want to be alone for Christmas.

On a side note, Katherine Paterson is the same person who wrote "Bridge to Terabithia."

[Reba · Rating 2 out of 5]

Katherine Paterson + Short Stories + Christmas. I was psyched. But for me? = Meh. These read like dated scripts for Lifetime movies, and not in a good way. I just wasn't feeling the magic. Maybe I'm to cynical and jaded, but I don't really think that's it. Even allowing for schmaltzy-Christmasey gooeyness, many of these stories fell flat for me.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Katherine Paterson explores the ramifications of the birth of Christ in this small volume of short stories about Christmas. Her characters are drawn from real life, but her approach is a bit sentimental.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

A collection of what are supposed to be inspirational Christmas stories, but turn out to be overly sentimental or mawkishly sappy. Apparently it really is difficult to write a good Christmas story. Dickens, here I come.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie's Gift is included in this wonderful collection of Christmas stories. It is a winner for a family read. An defiant orphan and her little brother, a widower on a pension, a church service and an unexpected outcome come together to reinforce the real meaning of Christmas.

[Tricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not very critical when it comes to books. I like most of what I read. But this book of short Christmas stories was bizarre. The stories were more dark and depressing than uplifting. Good thing it was short, because it was a waste of time.