Santa Girls

Two of a Kind Diaries #32

by Diana G. Gallagher

Ho-ho-how are Mary-Kate and Ashley supposed to earn enough money to buy everyone Christmas presents this year? By working as Santa's Helpers at the mall! The girls think it will be tons of fun. But five children crying, four parents yelling, three missing paychecks, two stolen presents and one big accident at work leave Mary-Kate and Ashley needing a Christmas miracle to get through the season this year!

Genres: Fiction, Christmas, Childrens, Middle Grade

112 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2003

About the author

Diana G. Gallagher was an American author who wrote books for children and young adults. She also wrote the space opera The Alien Dark (1990), but was best known for her tie-in work for television properties including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Charmed, Star Trek and The Secret World of Alex Mack, among others.

She was also a prolific filk creator, winning Pegasus Awards in 1986 and ’94. Gallagher won a Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist in 1988 under the name Diana Gallagher Wu. She sometimes also wrote under the name Diana Burke.

Born in 1946, in Paterson, New Jersey, she lived in Florida with her husband, the writer Martin R. Burke, who predeceased her in 2011. Gallagher was married four times; her third marriage was to author William F. Wu (divorced 1990).

Gallagher died December 2, 2021 of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 75 years of age.

Reviews

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little Christmas read! I really enjoy these books 😍

[Rebecca Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas at school, how upsetting. at least the girls have fun with it. I loved how Ashley wanted more money for gifts but didn't run to dad to ask for more. she came up with a plan to get the money. and I think Mary Kate learned that if someone gives you a gift don't pass it on.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.5

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this one!

[Fire Storm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!! I couldn't put it down. You can understand both of the sisters' points of view and relate to how they feel around Christmastime.

[August Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read these to escape adulthood for a while, but this one is only a reminder that no matter what we do or what we plan for, another expense will always come along to mess with our plans.

[themelaniewaite · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was purely for the nostalgia of it all. As I was getting my Xmas decorations from the attic, I was filled with this sudden urge to read one of these classic Two Of A Kind books I loved when I was a kid, just to throw myself back to how fun it was when I used to collect them. And it was everything I remembered, and everything I hoped for upon awakening my inner child.
Sure, they’re not the best books - but for a tween that was obsessed with the Olsens, these books were great. They held up and aged so well, at least this one did.
It was just a fun Christmas story that ties up neatly at the end like all these books always did. Now, I may be reading far too much into a kids’ book and all of its details - but the conflict of the sweater being given away and then having another friend make a new one felt like a bit much. It could have just been returned to Mary-Kate. But who am I to judge this work of art?

[Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

mary kate and ashley are my heroes.

[Maisie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed these as a pre teen

[Salome · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was quite nice! especially when ashley had a hard time shopping for presents! money !money !money!