Catholic Teen Books Collaborative Christmas Collection

At each other's throats since the recent contentious presidential election, Cal's youth group finally settles on a Christmas service project. If Cal can just keep his distance from Nick, maybe he can enjoy some quality time with Michaela while they're at it. But when Cal's elderly grandma goes missing, all of the youth group members, especially Cal, will be put to the test. Can they get along well enough to do some good? Maybe even save some lives?"A Lack of Christmas Spirits" is a collective short story written sequentially in individual pieces by five Catholic Teen Books authors and originally presented aloud on Reading with Your Kids Podcast. Our fiction reflects our faith with Catholic themes, characters, and perspectives. The characters in our stories struggle with challenges that we all face. Some stories follow the lives of saints, of those who dared to live counter-culturally and give themselves entirely to God. Other stories bring to light the beauty and power of the unique aspects of the Catholic faith. The Catholic element is more subtle in some works, but the worldview and themes bring the message of truth. We hope that our fiction will challenge and inspire, that it will awaken within our readers some of the mystery, joy, and beauty of the Faith. We hope to stir within our readers a desire for something beyond themselves. Because God calls everyone to the fullness of faith and happiness, we invite readers of any faith or no faith at all to read our fiction.

In late 19th century Chicago, Jenny wants only one gift from her father. She wants him to go back to church. It's what her late mother would've wanted too. But curmudgeonly Patrick is bitter. Bitter about his wife's death. Bitter about the changes in his city.With reluctance, Patrick nevertheless sets out to find a special Christmas gift for an out-of-work man. With the help of the most unlikely companions, Patrick might be able to let go of his bitterness just enough to enjoy the blessings of Christmas."The Gift of the Angel Tree" is a collective short story written sequentially in individual pieces by five Catholic Teen Books authors and originally presented aloud on Reading with Your Kids Podcast. Our fiction reflects our faith with Catholic themes, characters, and perspectives. The characters in our stories struggle with challenges that we all face. Some stories follow the lives of saints, of those who dared to live counter-culturally and give themselves entirely to God. Other stories bring to light the beauty and power of the unique aspects of the Catholic faith. The Catholic element is more subtle in some works, but the worldview and themes bring the message of truth. We hope that our fiction will challenge and inspire, that it will awaken within our readers some of the mystery, joy, and beauty of the Faith. We hope to stir within our readers a desire for something beyond themselves. Because God calls everyone to the fullness of faith and happiness, we invite readers of any faith or no faith at all to read our fiction.