“Dad, why do they call this mountain Faith Hill? I overheard some people in town saying something about a miracle. They said that something very special happened, but they didn’t say what. Do you know what happened? Do you know the story?”

This story is primarily a flashback to an earlier time when two mountain towns were not in agreement. One was struggling with drought, and the other did not want to share its water source. Boys in each community decide to take some quiet action to help the situation. The end result is a miracle of reconciliation that came about through the gift of faith.

What I liked about the book …
This is a story that reflects the true meaning of Christmas. The nativity story is a part of the narrative. But more of the focus is on having faith in the midst of struggles. Being a good neighbor is also an important message. Since children play a prevalent role in the plot, this would be a great family read-aloud. With shorter chapters, one could read it over several nights or even finish in one setting if there is a captive audience.

The illustrations are beautiful. They add to the timeless feeling of the tale. This expands the audience because younger ones who are accustomed to reading picture books will appreciate the illustrations. I am glad that I have the hardcover book because I do think the pictures play a pivotal role in telling the story.

What distracted me in this book was the fact that we were introduced to several characters in the first chapter that were never seen again. The beginning is slower and does not draw a reader into the story. Once the narrator stars the story, the plot becomes more interesting. The author mentions that he wrote this story for his family. Maybe the first chapter connects to them.

I was provided with a copy of this book for a tour. I wanted to read and review it. All opinions are my own.