title: The True Story of Christmas
author:  Anne Fine 
description: Grade 4-6-Banished to his room on Christmas Day, Ralph recounts the disasters that occur when his highly eccentric relatives come together to celebrate the holiday. Funny dialogue ("-I'm not going to sing `Away in a Manger' because I don't love the Little Lord Jesus and I don't think he has a sweet head-"); unique characters, from a demonic preschooler to a daft great-aunt; and hilarious but believable situations make this book a great read-aloud. It's reminiscent of Helen Cresswell's "Bagthorpes Saga" (Macmillan; o.p.), but accessible to younger readers. Fine is in fine form here.-S. P.<br />Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
zlib_text: ## Chapter One CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
  
  
  IT was the last week of the Christmas term, and all the girls at Gaylands
  School were looking forward to the Christmas holidays. Anne sat down at the
  breakfast-table and picked up aletter addressed to her.
  
  
  ‘Hallo, look at this!’ she said to her cousin Georgina, who was sitting beside
  her. ‘A letter from Daddy - and I only had one from him and Mummy yesterday.’
  
  
  ‘I hope it’s not bad news,’ said George, She would not allow anyone to call
  her Georgina, and now even the mistresses called her George. She really was
  very like a boy with her short curly hair, and her boyish ways. She looked
  anxiously at Anne as her cousin read the letter.
  
  
  ‘Oh, George - we can’t go home for the holidays!’ said Anne, with tears in her
  eyes. ‘Mummy’s got scarlet fever >\- and Daddy is in quarantine for it - so
  they can’t have us back. Isn’t it just too bad ?’
  
  
  ‘Oh, I am sorry,’ said George. She was just as disappointed for herself as for
  Anne, because Anne’s mother had 