The Return of Light: A Christmas Tale [Hardcover]

Faith Mountain is home to hundreds of budding Christmas trees. Lovely pines that wish, dream, and hope that they will be taken to a home, and have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with a real family. Each year, just before Christmas arrives, the magical Christmas Deer visits Faith Mountain. During this visit, the Christmas Deer selects the trees that will be chopped down, and brought to the city, where they will be sold to happy families for the holidays. This is called The Return of Light; the time when the trees will bring light to the families that select them. Trees are usually six-years-old when they are bestowed with this honor. But things are different this year.

Five-year-old Treewing doesn't believe that he'll be selected to be chopped down and brought to a family by the Christmas Deer this year. He knows that he is underage, and hasn't matured enough; therefore, harvesting him is out of the question. The Christmas Deer, however, doesn't think so. According to the Christmas Deer, little Treewing has a special destiny; thus, he bows before Treewing, touches him with his starry antlers, and is off. The trees on Faith Mountain are shocked by this revelation; as is Treewing. But before he knows it, Treewing has been chopped down, and shipped to the city. Treewing sees families come and go each day, but no one ever purchases him. In fact, as Christmas draws closer, Treewing is the only tree left in the lot. In his mind, he has failed the Christmas Deer who selected him for a special destiny. But on Christmas Eve, things change. A young boy, a group of homeless people, and a special baseball gather round Treewing, and help him to understand his special destiny. A special destiny that brings The Return of Light to people who need it the most.

I can't resist Christmas books that highlight the spirit of the holidays, and goodwill; therefore, it was impossible for me to pass up Dia Calhoun's THE RETURN OF LIGHT. Calhoun's imagination runs rampant in this very special package. The emotions, feelings, and thoughts that Treewing and his fellow Christmas trees express are so unique, and interesting to experience. Paired with the emotions, feelings, and thoughts that the group of homeless people, along with the young boy (Luke) experience; readers have the ability to partake in an emotion-filled book that lends nature, and the underprivileged, a voice. Calhoun has crafted a delightful little tale that mixes creativity, imagination, love, and a few supernatural moments that will certainly appeal to readers - both during the holidays, and throughout the rest of the year. Perfect in every way!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Very well written story . Will impact young minds to regard trees as living entities.

"The Return of Light - A Christmas Tale" is a small (5 1/2 inch by 7 1/2 inch) 67 page book suitable for a stocking stuffer or Christmas gift. The book is a fast read and can be read in less than an hour. It is a delightful children's fantasy which highlights some very meaningful and needed values. The author lives in an area full of fir trees and must have a background with cutting and selling trees from a Christmas tree lot because she uses that setting and plot in her book. Dia Calhoun, the author, writes an intriguing fantasy tale in the tradition of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.

The story takes place on Faith Mountain where all the fir trees are growing and looking forward to the day when the magical Christmas Deer comes and chooses trees to become light for the families who buy them. The trees on Faith Mountain had to be six years old for the Christmas Deer to choose them. However, this year the Christmas Deer touches Treewing who is only five years old and tells him, "My child you have a special destiny." Treewing held tightly to that promise even when it appeared that no one was going to buy him for Christmas. He, like so many of us when discouraged, fear that we are beginning to lose our faith. Even though it was difficult, Treewing continued to hold onto that promise. Readers could actually spiritualize this part of the story and compare it to God's calling in each of our lives and how when we are discouraged we have a tendency to give up but then God's light shines through us in a marvelous way. All of us must continually remind ourselves that God gave us a message too. That message is "My child you have a special destiny." You will want to read this book to find out how Treewing was instrumental in returning light to several people and families at the end of the book. Children will love this story and those in 3rd Grade and above should grasp the hidden meaning. Adults, also, will enjoy this delightful heartwarming Christmas tale.

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