Charlee Alexander's family is down on their luck. They move to a new town for a fresh start. Charlee makes friends with Marva, an 80 year old widow. They become the best of friends, talking everyday. Charlee is soon diagnosed with a brain tumor just before Christmas. Marva creates the 13 days of Christmas to give Charlee little gifts each day to lift her spirits. As Charlee gets better Marva becomes ill. When Marva's life ends Charlee and her brother Zach take over the 13 days of Christmas tradition giving to those who need a lift. ( )

WOW, Just WOW!!!
I ave know Jason Wright is a great author, but THIS book and video has to be among his VERY BEST work! I wish every home in the world could experience this uplifting, heartfelt, and meaningful work of literature!
This immediately peaked increased interest in me because one of the key people in the book is named Marva. Marva is a very unusual name. I have only known of five Marvas in my many years of life. One is an aunt I never have met, who died at age three. Two were close, friends, much older than I who shared the legacy f Aunt Marva's name. I was told she was too good for this earth. She was always a very happy, loving, accepting child. She sought out other children who were not treated well and made them her best friends. She was clever, old beyond her years, and loved to play gentle practical jokes on others,.. never unkind ones. My two friends were like that, also. They were very angelic sweet, accepting, helpful, and CHristlikein in every way. The fifth one is my third daughter. I named her in honor of my Grandmother's desire that one of her children would name a daughter after Marva, of which none did. At that time, I did not know the other two Marvas. My daughter is of the same nature as the other four Marva's I know of. She is the serene mother of five children and the wife of a devoted husband and a friend to all who meet her. The Marva in the story depicts the same personality.
With that said, the story is a perfect hope and inspiration for anyone who has suffered through pain, illness, financial difficulties, or has been close to anyone who has. It also brings to mind Canadian Boxing Day, the day after Christmas which was always curious to me, but now has a new meaning.
Amidst the story, the author puts in an inspirational message before proceeding with the story. It was brilliant!
I emphatically urge all to read/listen to this story and share it with family and friends. THERE IS EVEN AN ADDITIONAL HELP OFFERED TO ALL BY THE AUTHOR AT THE END OF THE STORY!
The Narrator, Dawn Harvey did a very good job in narration. She really put detailed thought and energy into her narration. ( )

Author: Jason Wright
Published by: Shadow Mountain
Age Recommended: All Ages
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Book Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 5
Review:

"The 13th Day of Christmas" by Jason Wrightwas a wonderful Christmas book that I throughly enjoyed and well written. It was a quick read for me in that once I got started I didn't put it down until the very end. It was a interesting story of how this story of the 13th day of Christmas came about along with this authors development of characters were simply well thought out. You will have many thoughts from the read...'heartache, love and giving of ones self.' This is a loving story of a family what is 'hard up on their luck, and a widow who befriends them.' Now, this is where I say that you must pick up this excellent read to she how there will be lots of low and even humor that will lead this to a loving lesson on "The 13th Day of Christmas." Would I recommend this novel? Yes because it will bring to you a new true meaning to the 'Christmas Holiday.' ( )

The 13th Day of Christmas by Jason F. Wright
5 Stars
Warning don't forget the tissue. This story touched me in so many ways. I shed tears for bad news, for good news & most of all for the Love of God has for us all.
Our family has had the twelve days of christmas given to us. We have had fun giving and trying to runaway without being caught. I wish I had thought about giving the 13th Day then but I will in the future.
Marva Ferguson collects aprons she has over 150 of them. She is a lovely widow, who's only son died in the Vietnam war. They used to have lots of land but they sold most of it to the city and trailers have moved in. She loves to hang up clothes to dry on her line through out the years she has shared the chore with lot of different friends.
Charlee is a little girl who is close to her father and he tells her wonderful stories at bedtime. Then things started to change and her father was sad and tired to tell stories very often. They had to sell thier house,car and lots of thier possesions. They were moving to a new town and starting all over in a trailer park. Charlee was having a hard time making friends and one day out in the field she was dancing on a tree stump she heard clapping. Saw thier neighbor hanging clothes and was invited over by hand jesters.
Charlee and Marva started a good relationship and became best friends. Charlee got to help her decorate for christmas even if it was only Oct.
Marva likes decorating early so when the trick or treaters came they would see her decorations and that way she could share them.
Zach is 15 and got suspended in his last school. He met Mrs. Ferguson when he went to pick up his sister. Mrs. Ferguson was really interested in Zach's life too.
Mrs. Ferguson invited Charlee's whole family over for Thanks Giving and planned a big dinner. She was excited to have company come.
Thomas had to file for bankrupty. He has a hard time finding fulltime work now. His wife Emily got a job working at Walmart. They both fought and worried over money trying to keep thier kids that things were alright.
Then Charlee got cancer and thier family really got more worried. Charlee after surgery to remove the tumor got to come home but could not to much and could not have friends over.
Marva got walkie talkies and she kept hers on all the time and carried in her apron. Charlee could talk to her when ever she wanted now. Charlee loved that she could talk to her best friend. Asks her everyday what apron she was wearing and what it said today.
Then Charlee got a letter on the front porch that told her that they would be sharing the 13 days of Christmas with her and she could share them with her family.
each day the traveling Elves shared with them what the song really meant because they wrote it.
The first day they were traveling and wanted to buy the best Pear tree and picked it up when a big bus pulled in and teen girls surrounded it and David Cassidy made a run for it and hid in the tree. So they had a Partage in the pear tree. So they sent her the last fruit of that tree with Charlee.
The stories that came with each gift was charming. I loved it.
But I admit to crying way to much in this book. I have a feeling this will be a favorite christmas book to read every year. I loved the characters and the little details of the characters, the lessons in the apron sayings and Marva sharing her love with a little girl who brought joy back to her.
If you read one book for Christmas read this one but read it before the 12 days of Christmas because it might give you ideas for your own special Christmas Season.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange of a honest reviews from Netgalley.
10/09/2012 PUB. Deseret Book Imprint Shadow Mountain ( )