Books

The Blessing Box: Slog Dog’s Christmas Crusade

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All Hugh wants for Christmas is a dog, but an out-of-sorts Santa has something else in mind. Santa plans to give Hugh a gift that makes him work for what he wants, an idea Santa’s whimsical elves think is nuttier than a fruitcake.

When Hugh opens Santa’s unusual gift—The Blessing Box—his dream of a dog crumbles like a Christmas cookie. But Hugh soon realizes the mystical box isn’t empty after all. It holds an invisible key called an opportunity, which could help him prove to his parents he’s ready for a dog of his own.

From this Christmas to the next, the neurodiverse, shy sixth-grade boy works tirelessly for a dog. Hugh battles bullies and betrayal. Both will stand in his way unless he learns to stand up for himself. Hugh’s mischievous best friend will do anything to help him or land in the doghouse trying.

When an accident leads to a life-or-death decision, Hugh may be forced to abandon the key Santa gave him. If that happens, Santa’s elves worry that Santa may never come down a chimney again.

“THE BLESSING BOX: SLOG DOG’S CHRISTMAS CRUSADE, at 30,000 words, is a heartwarming Christmas story for middle-grade readers. It has positive messages that parents will love, too. The fresh take on Santa, the spirited and fantastical elves, and the coming of age of a bullied boy on the autism spectrum who is desperate for a dog make this uplifting tale one not to miss.

This book will appeal to young readers who loved Lisa Fipp’s STARFISH and R.J. Palacio’s WONDER.

Illustration by Quincy Batts.