Every December, my To-Be-Read stack on the nightstand looks like a snowdrift—beautiful, slightly dangerous, and full of the promise of unexpected joy. This year, I dove into five speculative short stories from the authors of Catholic Teen Books, and let me tell you… these writers aren’t just sprinkling tinsel on young adult fiction; they’re crafting Christmas tales that wrap heart, humor, and holiness into charming little packages.
Most of the collaborative authors are bestselling and award-winning, but not all contribute to each story. One may feature four authors and another eight. They include Carolyn Astfalk, A.J. Cattapan, Antony Barone Kolenc, Stephanie Engelman, Leslea Wahl, Marie C. Keiser, Andrea Jo Rodgers, and Corinna Turner.
Each writes a sequential section of the story, and only the final author knows the entire story until they read it for the Jedlie’s Reading with your Kids Podcast on Christmas Eve. Whether you’re a teen looking for something quick yet meaningful or a parent desperate for wholesome stories that don’t feel like vegetable-sneaking sermons, these shorts deliver.
The Christmas Lights
Not long after her grandmother passes away, Camilla and her family are involved in a serious car accident during a blizzard. She must brave the storm to save them. Lost and alone, she feels the presence of her grandmother. Or is it her imagination?
A Fowl Christmas
Derrick gives himself a personal challenge to normalize Christmas. He wants Christmas dinner at home as planned. But his dad breaks his leg, his mom goes out of town, and no one can cook the dinner. He devises a strategy that’s working well until exotic Peruvian chickens redirect his focus.
A St. Nicholas Eve Carol
Ebby’s excited about the St. Nicholas Confirmation Retreat… until she’s partnered with the only confirmand with Down Syndrome. She’d rather hang with her bestie, Pastelle, during the activities. Then she and Pastelle are drawn into a modern version of A Christmas Carol for a lesson she’ll never forget.
The Gift of the Angel Tree
Patrick’s daughter sweet-talks him into finally returning to church after his wife’s death. When Patrick selects a tag from the church’s angel tree, he’s swept into an adventure to find a unique gift for the tag’s recipient. Will the dry cleaner’s teen son be able to help him fulfill the request?
A Lack of Christmas Spirit
Cal is looking forward to spending some extra time with Michaela during a Christmas service project. However, his missing grandmother and a freezing emergency bring Cal together with his arch nemesis, Nick, in an unlikely team effort to save lives.
Taken together, these five stories feel like a literary Advent wreath—each one casting a distinctive glow, yet forming a unified circle of faith, warmth, and adventure. I gave four of the stories five stars on Amazon. I tapped four stars for The Gift of the Angel Tree because the teen in the story plays a minor role. I like YA books with teen protagonists.
Proceeds from these stories are donated to Cross Catholic Outreach.
What are you reading this Christmas season?