State Library of Kansas  :  Kansas Center for the Book  :  Letters About Literature  :  Past Winners

2007 Winner: Grayce McAllister, Americus (Level 1)

Book Title: The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

Book Author: Susan Wojciechowski

December 5, 2006

Dear Susan Wojciechowski,

Your book helped my life. I was sad, sad, gloomy, gloomy after my mother miscarried my little sister. I know how Mr. Toomey felt when his tiny baby died. As I read The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, it changed my attitude about loss. I now understand that you do not have to be “Mr. Gloomy” when something is very sad. I learned from your book that when you are gloomy you push people away even though you do not know it. I did not serve others when I was gloomy and having a pity party attitude during my difficult loss.

Attitude can be a mess. I wonder if that is why you used “miracle” in your title. Like Mr. Toomey, I experienced the “miracle of Christmas.” When I began to serve others, Christ helped me be content even in my loss; healing came. One year later, I got to attend my next baby sister’s healthy birth. I served my Mother.

I have decided to become a Labor and Delivery nurse to serve many mothers. I know Christ makes me content during gloomy times. I want to serve other mothers who become gloomy if their baby dies. Of course I will throw back my head and laugh (like Mr. Toomey) for healthy births.

Sincerely,
Grayce McAllister

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