Book Review: What Child Is This? by Caroline B. Cooney

This is a heartwarming story of two foster children who feel like outsiders and the community in which they live. It is a Christmas story about love, hope, and miracles that is likely to bring tears to your eyes. The main characters in this story come from three families—the Kitchell family, the Knight family, and the Rowen family.

The Kitchell’s are an affluent prominent family. Mr. Kitchell owns an inn. His focus is on his business, his clients, and his wealth. Mrs. Kitchell is an avid shopper who cares more about decorations and appearances than she does the actual holidays. They have two daughters and a son-in-law. The two daughters are more grounded than the parents are. The oldest daughter Allison is married to Daniel. The young couple are grieving the loss of their baby daughter. The Kitchell’s youngest daughter Liz is a sixteen-year-old high school student who is seeking answers to some serious life questions. During the hustle and bustle of her family preparing for Christmas, Liz asks her father, “Do you ever think about what Christmas means?” She asks herself, “Could there really be a God?” The family doesn’t go to church and the parents never talk about God or Jesus.

The Knight family own a restaurant. They are a functional family and all work together to make the business a success. Each year the Knight’s put up Christmas tree in their restaurant with ornament’s displaying the gifts wished for by children in need. They like to provide their customers with an opportunity to help fulfill these wishes. Their son Tack attends school with Liz Kitchell and the Rowen’s foster child Matt.

 Mr. and Mrs. Rowen are foster parents to Matt and Katie. In general, they are good hard-working people. They don’t invest a lot of time or energy into their foster children but do expect them to do well in school. They don’t mind having Matt around. As a teenager, he can take care of himself. However, eight-year-old Katie requires more effort than they want to give. Matt is a longtime foster child who prefers to be quiet and keep to himself. Matt works in the Knight’s restaurant. He helps his foster sister Katie with spelling and arithmetic. The two foster children bond when Matt places an ornament on the wishing tree with Katie’s true Christmas wish—a family! Katie runs away on Christmas Eve after being informed that she won’t be getting a family for Christmas. Members from all three families, along with members of the community, join together to search for Katie.

I liked this book. It was a short and easy read that told a sweet inspirational story. It provides a reminder that happiness comes to those who help others, and that Christmas is really about Jesus.

This is a wonderful holiday read. I give it a full four stars.