Juniper's Christmas

It’s coming up to Christmas and 11-year-old Juniper Lane and her mum are just about looking forward to it, for the first time since her dad died. But then Mum goes missing and though Juniper and her friend Duchess, who lives in the park, look everywhere there’s no sign. So Juniper decides to go to Santa Claus for help. Fortunately, he’s living in the park that was her father’s pride and joy, disguised as Niko, a genius handyman constructing amazing tree shelters for the homeless, including Duchess. A run in with one of his reindeer – temporarily crazed after bingeing on rhubarb – is almost the end for Juniper but instead leaves her too imbued with Santa magic and imprinted onto a young reindeer, who becomes her best friend. With Christmas only days away, can Juniper and Duchess persuade Santa back into his sleigh for the first time in nearly ten years, and can they find her missing mum? Ranged against them are officious local councillor Dafydd Carnegie and the totally unscrupulous and criminal, Trude Madden, who is not above destroying donations for the homeless or taking out Santa! An additional plotline explains how Duchess, once a top scientist developed mental health problems and spent years trapped in the system before her life on the streets. Colfer puts his own special spin on this Christmas story, filling it with exasperated elves and brilliantly explained magic, as well as the true seasonal themes of forgiveness, hope and love. One to enjoy all year round.

Read our interview with Eoin Colfer.