I had to get this through InterLibrary Loan. It's a vignette of a Christmas Eve at the Austin's house, told through Mrs. Austin's POV. It is primarily concerned with (brace yourselves) the redemptive power of love. I know, I know, what a surprise from L'Engle.

The illustrations by Mary Chambers are quite charming, and the story snuggles into the Austin canon without a ripple. The only false note, for me, was the line where the pregnant babysitter's mother was referred to as "no better than she should be".



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Told from the point of view of the mother of the family, this Christmas story captures the beauty of the holiday - opening our hearts and homes to those around us. ( )