Milly McCarthy and The Christmas Calamity
The latest festive instalment in the popular Milly McCarthy series follows Milly in the build-up to the Christmas season. Milly’s school are staging a festive concert, and she is very excited to take part. The stage is set early in the novel as Milly’s fun, gently self-deprecating narration hint at the derailing of the school Christmas concert. The story still manages to build to an unexpected, unique and truly entertaining conclusion as the festive fiasco unfolds.
The atmosphere of an Irish school preparing for Christmas is wonderfully captured here and Milly’s witty, honest insights into school and family life create a joyous page-turner, bringing the reader on a memorable journey. Forde’s use of the Irish language throughout the text is done with care and precision, and enhances the reading experience as well as creating a vivid, realistic voice for Milly. Even readers with little to no Irish will enjoy the cúpla focail throughout. The illustrations are beautifully simple and lively, cleverly enhancing the characterisation and humour in the novel. Older children and even some pre-teens will love this illustrated novel and will undoubtedly relate to Milly’s enthusiasm about the Christmas play, as well as empathise with her struggle in keeping everything under control in the midst of all the excitement.
A funny and relatable tale from Forde and Harte.
