This book could be read by any audience and enjoyed by all of them. It is a work of fiction and the main theme is anonymous service. It should inspire the reader to do their own random acts of kindness.

It is the story of Louise Jensen, a lonely woman who finds and adopts an abandoned baby girl. The girl, Hope Jensen, grows up to become a newspaper writer. Louise becomes ill and dies just a few days after Christmas when Hope is about 24 years old. The following Christmas Eve, Hope comes home to find her home has been burglarized. She has lost anything of value including $500 emergency cash. While the police are busy with the investigation Hope notices a brown paper sack by her front door. In it she finds a jar of coins. She decides to investigate and find the giver of the jar. Eventually Hope meets the Maxwell family, learns the secret of the Christmas jars and writes a story that changes her life and the lives of others. Sorry, but I can't reveal any more then that.

Christmas Jars is a well written story that encourages good works, something that fits comfortably inside the LDS culture. It is one that I have gladly added to my Christmas book collection and will read every year because it is so inspirational. This story touched me so much that I found it hard to put down and I read it in one day. Keep a box of tissues handy. It's that good.

-----------------------------------

M. McQuarrie
January 18, 2006