by Amber Hunt
First published 1994
Eight-year-old Emma finds a bundle of unopened letters addressed to Santa Claus hidden in her grandmother's attic. The letters span decades, filled with wishes from children who never received replies. Emma becomes determined to answer each letter herself, but soon realizes the task is bigger than she imagined. Some letters ask for impossible things like bringing back dead parents or curing sick siblings. Others request simple toys that were never delivered. As Christmas approaches, Emma must decide whether to keep trying to fulfill these forgotten wishes or accept that some dreams cannot come true. Her journey transforms her understanding of hope, disappointment, and the real magic behind Christmas giving.
Genres: christmas, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, transformative-journey
Period: Decades
32 pages · Hardcover · Templar Publishing, Dorking