This book was tough to rate. It was probably closer to a 3.5 of four but I just couldn’t justify a four.

It was an interesting read and I really loved the overall idea of the story. Especially once Fletcher goes home for Christmas I was very invested.

I thought the ending was abrupt and left me underwhelmed. It felt like the story was leading up to a big moral soapbox or something. But, the book kinda has one heroic deed then ends. I felt like it was missing a conclusion or rather that without a conclusion the message felt a bit missed.

I also didn’t think that what Fletcher witnessed at the Underground Railroad Rally and on his visit with the Quaker boys should have been enough to convert him. It just wasn’t quite reasonable to me.

Also, and this is neither good nor bad but something to consider before picking the book up. It is written in very old language. It sounds like it might come from the 1800’s but the book was published in the 1980s.

I found at times the language tripped me up. So, if you don’t care for classics in tone this book might not be for you.

Overall, I do recommend. It was a nice Christmas read with all the feels. I loved the message of brotherhood and the look at morality over tradition. ( )

A Different Kind of Christmas by Alex Haley
1855, time of slavery and underground railroad.
Fletcher has been granted a move on campus and he meets other religious groups of people and talks to them to understand about their lifestyle.
He attends President Lincoln's address about freeing the slaves and he knows he will be the master of the plantation in time.
Love details to make it a special day for everyone.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device). ( )

This short book set in 1855 is more about slavery than Christmas. Fletcher Randall, son of a prominent NC plantation owner is attending Princeton when he meets the Ellis brothers who invite him to their home in Philadelphia. He's astounded to see black people interacting with whites as though they had the same rights. The Ellis family shares their Quaker beliefs in a quiet yet forthright manner. I can't help but agree with Fletcher that he is being exploited when they take him to a rally sponsored by the Underground Railroad.

Although their tactics were calculating, they aroused Fletcher's consciousness about a problem he didn't even know existed as he had never given a second thought to slavery. The book was simply written and predictable. It lacked the passion I was expecting in Fletcher's transformation. This little book won't take much time to read, but its inspirational message relates the true meaning of brotherhood. ( )

This novella set in 1855, follows 19-year old Randall Fletcher, son of a slave-holding plantation owner. While attending college at Princeton, he is befriended by three brothers who happen to be Quakers. Through his interaction with them and visits to their hometown of Philadelphia, he slowly awakens to the evils of slavery. Can Randall partner with a slave to betray his family as he is asked to plan the escape of slaves from his father’s and neighboring plantations on Christmas Eve?

While there are no surprises in the book, I did enjoy how Haley weaved in historical facts about the Friends/Quakers and the operation of the Underground Railroad into the story. A nice uplifting read for the holidays. ( )