Mary Christmas

"Mary Christmas" by Mary Ellen Chase is about the Wescott family, specifically the four kids, and their ordinary lives in a small Maine village in the 1890s. Their familiar world changes when Mary Christmas, a mysterious traveler from Armenia, arrives and introduces them to a life of excitement, and cultural diversity. The book explores themes of identity, finding where you belong, and the big differences between the kids' protected, simple lives and Mary’s background, steeped in ancient history and coming troubles. At the beginning, the story shows the Wescott family's unique habits, like the father's odd way of carrying his collar and tie, which the kids find a bit embarrassing. The arrival of Mary Christmas brings her enchanting appearance and tales from her homeland, which they learn is the dreamy Garden of Eden. The early parts of the story cleverly mix the kids' pure curiosity and their father's position in society with the complicated story of Mary Christmas, laying the foundation for deeper looks at connection and understanding as they get to know this unusual visitor.