Izzie: The Christmas That Almost Wasn't

Title	Izzie: The Christmas That Almost Wasn't
Publication Type	Book
Year of Publication	2002
Authors	Wilson, Budge
Series Title	Our Canadian Girl Izzie
Publisher	Penguin
City	Toronto
ISBN Number	0141002727 (pbk.)
Descriptors	Chapter Book; Christmas; English Language; Families; Friendship; Halifax; Holiday; Nova Scotia; Sailors; Second World War; War
Abstract	In this chapter book, Izzie lives on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, in Granite Cove, near Halifax. It is 1941, and Canada has been fighting in World War II for over two years. Christmas is coming and Izzie and her best friend, Jasper, are responsible for organizing the Christmas party for their families. The day of the event, a big snowstorm arrives which prevents their relatives from travelling, during which a minesweeper is sunk and two sailors and one German come ashore. They are invited to Izzie's to warm up and enjoy Christmas so Izzie's party plans don't go to waste. She is able to enjoy the holiday despite the fact that her relatives could not make it. Includes a glossary of regional terms and war terms, nautical terms, a map of the setting, and a timeline. Izzie is written in third person, past tense.
Jurisdiction	Nova Scotia
Age Range	8-11

Author Profile:

Budge Wilson

Quotation:

“Everyone would be arriving on December 24. Just thinking of the arrival of all those people made Izzie’s tight red curls jiggle up and down with excitement. Behind her round glasses she closed her eyes and thought about the food. It was hard to stop thinking about those two huge, juicy turkeys, the big plum puddings, and the candy canes. But first would come the ride in the truck.” (34).

“‘Okay,’ she said. ‘The meeting will now begin. I’ll write down your suggestions.’
Jasper was all ready. ‘We’ll make a ton of popcorn and pick a lot of rosehips. We can string them together for the table. And maybe for the tree.’ There were enough wild rosebushes in Granite Cove to cover a football field.
‘What tree?’ asked Joey.
‘The one I’m going to cut down,’ said Izzie.’” (39)

Reviews, Awards and Further Information

Themes:

World War II; Christmas; Weather; Rural Environment; Rural Youth

Analysis:

World War II: Izzie’s declaration, “This stupid old war! … Why does Halifax have to be so full of all those people?” exemplifies common frustrations of children during war-time: confusion over the sacrifices they have to make for a war they don’t understand being fought seemingly so far away. Though Canadians were lucky during the Second World War in that this country was not a setting for direct fighting (unlike Great Britain and other European countries) The Christmas that Almost Wasn’t demonstrates how the War still affected Canadians; rations, black-out curtains, war ships in the harbour, soldiers on the streets became a part of life and the deaths of neighbours, relatives and friends. Thus, seemingly simple pursuits, such as planning a Christmas party or coasting (i.e., sledding) after a snowstorm, became important events at a time of sacrifice and sadness.

- Nicole Dixon, BA, BEd, MA, MLIS