There are plenty of books about New Year's for little kids, but almost none for teenagers. Of course, teenagers are skeptics; they don’t believe in Father Frost or magic anymore—so why would they need books on the subject?… But this realistic story is actually for teenagers, not young children, so it doesn't have any magic in it. Well, almost none... Maybe just a tiny, little bit... No, but how could it be otherwise?! What kind of New Year's is it without magic?!
So, at the school where sixth-grader Mika attends, there is an unexpectedly long winter break—they’re off for the whole of December! Sounds great, right? Well, actually, not really. No one was ready for this; the prospect is to rot at home for a whole month, sleeping half the day and moping around the other half.
With nothing else to do, Mika sends a greeting card to a random address, imagining how someone will be surprised and happy to find a surprise in their mailbox. She gets inspired and sends another card. And another. And another. And another... And she decides that since she has so much free time in December, she will work on spreading holiday cheer.
For all its festive theme, this is a very calm book. It’s not about the kind of New Year’s that younger children expect—with piles of gifts, parties, treats, and a whirlwind of emotions. It’s not an advent calendar where every day brings a new adventure. Mika doesn't rush around the city in a state of high excitement, doesn't frantically shop for presents, and doesn't perform good deeds with desperate intensity. Mika sits quietly at home, writing cards and making snowmen out of modeling clay. The holiday draws her in slowly. It draws in her and everyone she comes into contact with: her parents, classmates, kids in the courtyard, fellow passengers on public transport, post office workers, and random passersby.
This is a book about New Year's from an adult's perspective, about how the holiday creeps up unnoticed, how snow falls in huge flakes, how it gets dark early, and how all the people around, as if initiated into some secret, become closer to one another. It's about the anticipation of a miracle, the same kind of anticipation that existed 30 or 50 years ago. It’s about a timeless kind of holiday.
Yes, this is a book for teenagers, but if you, as adults, still love New Year’s, we recommend you read it too—the pages will waft childhood sensations your way. If you managed to celebrate many New Year's holidays before emigrating, this novella will transport you back to the atmosphere of your hometowns, to school vacation days, to December evenings when the windows of apartment blocks glow so cozily, to snow-covered courtyards shining under streetlights full of noisy little kids, to warm trolleybuses with fogged-up windows...
Natalya Evdokimova is one of the best contemporary writers. Each of her books is completely original; the author never repeats stereotypical plots or herself. The language is rich yet easy to grasp, every sentence is well-thought-out, and there is a very pleasant, gentle humor.
By the way, if you love writing New Year's cards for your loved ones, you can find inspiration in this book; take the ready-made texts from here—they are truly breathtaking! None of that "wishing-you-happiness-health-success" stuff—just the genuine magic of words.
And what a beautiful edition, what atmospheric pictures! Imagine: on every page, confetti turns into snow, and snow turns into confetti! The "Five Quarters" publishing house always gets the design just right; every book is like a candy with cool illustrations on excellent paper; technically, everything is always flawless.
But "The Time of New Year's Cards" just goes straight to the heart
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