Catching Santa

By Marc Franco, David M. F. Powers and Aurora Pagano

Catching Santa was nominated to the Sunshine State Young Readers Award committee for consideration for 2014-2015 SSYRA List!

Awards
2011 Next Generation Indie Book Award Winner (Children's/Juvenile Fiction) Accelerated Reader Quiz #150476 (BL: 4.5, Pts: 9, MG)

Description
High-tech gadgetry and ancient magic has done little to aid in the centuries old search for Santa's rogue assistant, Servant Rupert. But Servant Rupert has been searching for someone too the fabled Pole, the one person who can see Santa. But the search has not fared well for Servant Rupert. To make matters worse his agents have contacted Santa s forces wishing to defect. A risky plan is quickly set in motion by Santa s Special Forces to divulge the location of Jakob Jablonski, the Pole, in hopes it will lead to the capture of Santa s forever naughty helper. Wasting little time, Servant Rupert recklessly contacts Jakob. In the ensuing mayhem Jakob is drawn into the mystery of Santa and his dastardly rogue assistant when proclaimed a Pole by Servant Rupert. He quickly demands that Jakob catch Santa on Christmas...or he will turn everyone Jakob cares for into coal! Jakob and his band of friends, partnering with elf spies and rogue agents of Servant Rupert, begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot involving more than just catching Santa. Now it is up to Jakob and his friends to set a trap to lure SR out into the open on Christmas using Santa as the bait.
In his exquisitely written Christmas fantasy debut and 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Award Winner, David M. F. Powers, aka Marc Franco creates an original yet simple world while staying true the traditions of Christmas and Santa. Jakob's adventurous journey to self-acceptance of his destiny is one readers will remember long after they've turned the final page.

Praise for The Kringle Chronicles:
"my daughter talked about this book... the entire dinner time!" Kelly Shrieves, Publisher, Macaroni Kid
"I think the book is going to be a best seller!" Laura Brainard, NBCT, Library Media Specialist, Lakeview Middle School
"...a good read it is." Dr. Frann Kelley-Rodriguez, Crisis Prevention Institute
"Catching Santa is now a very popular book in our media center and is being requested daily!" Betsy Bernstein, Media Center Secretary, Nelson Elementary School
"The book is great." Todd Merrick, Owner, Heroes Landing Comics
"We haven't been able to keep the book on the library shelf!" Susan Tkacik, School Media Specialist, Maniscalco Elementary
"The copies of your book were scooped up as soon as they hit the shelf. Looking forward to the sequels." Teresa Nichols, Media Specialist, Neptune Elementary School
"The students are really enjoying the book. And so am I!" Teresa McGrew, Library Media Specialist, Lake Whitney Elementary
"My class loves it!" Michelle Schultes, Third Grade Teacher, Windermere Elementary
"the Kids loved it..." Joyanne Herdman, Media Specialist, Bailey Elementary School
"While Catching Santa sounds like a seasonal title, I have just finished reading it and know that it is more a fantasy adventure." Joy Price, Media Specialist, Gold Hill Elementary

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pants On Fire Press
• Release date: Aug 26, 2014
• ISBN: 9780982727102

Marc Franco

David M. F. Powers, aka Marc Franco, is the author of A Butterfly Without Wings and Catching Santa. He lives in Central Florida with his wife and three children. Having grown up in Rota and Madrid, Spain, Powers is deeply rooted in the traditions of Andalusian culture since his mother is from Jerez de la Frontera. Homemade Churros are his specialty. Powers speaks fluent Castilian and always looks forward to his next visit to his second homeland, Spain.

Book preview

Pants On Fire Press, Winter Garden 34787

Text copyright © 2011 by Marc Franco

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form by any means without written permission from the publisher, Pants On Fire Press.

All names, places, incidents, and characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Illustrations and art copyright © 2011 by Pants On Fire Press

Cover art by Aurora Pagano

Interior illustrations by Drew Swift

Author photo: Katie Meehan

Book design by Jill Ronsley

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file.

Visit us at www.PantsOnFirePress.com

ISBN: 978-0-9827271-0-2

Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-9827271-5-7

For my three Js and the K who gave them to me.

Chapter 1 - I Get Drawn In

Chapter 2 - Logan Reads the Ten Christmas Rules

Chapter 3 - Logan Spams Santa

Chapter 4 - Snowmen Ring Doorbells

Chapter 5 - Logan Translates S.R.’s E-mail

Chapter 6 - An Old Friend Calls Rick

Chapter 7 - Rick Starts Smoking

Chapter 8 - We Learn Why Smoke Is Bad For You

Chapter 9 - Tiff Almost Loses Her Head to a Sharp Tongue

Chapter 10 - Tiff Spills Some of the Beans

Chapter 11 - Logan and I Are Attacked by Vampire Owls

Chapter 12 - I Watch a Boy Turn to Wood

Chapter 13 - I Meet an Elf Spy

Chapter 14 - I Think Fleep Makes the Wayward List

Chapter 15 - We Go to Christmas and Pet a Polar Bear

Chapter 16 - We Are Crystal Clear on the Forty-Fourth Floor

Chapter 17 - Mr. Raffo’s Gift Eats My Comics

Chapter 18 - X Doesn’t Mark the Spot

Chapter 19 - I Catch a Commando

Chapter 20 - We Almost Get Busted

Chapter 21 - We Read as My Book Writes

Chapter 22 - Reindeer Assault Our Fort

Chapter 23 - S.R. Gets His Goat

Chapter 24 - A Dragon Forces Us Out of Time

Chapter 25 - We Grow Up

About the Author

My index finger twitched uncontrollably. That’s how it always starts and it was starting again. I looked up at the classroom clock. It was twenty minutes before dismissal. No, this isn’t happening. Not after the day I’ve had. I tried to control my right hand, but it was no use. My pencil, captured by my hand like prey, was already rapidly sketching a comic of two commandos in armored battle suits. The scene took half the page. The commandos were crouched behind trees, dodging sharp icicles falling from the sky and return blasting a twirl of green-and-white energy from machines attached to their arms. It was the same battle scene I’d drawn last week. Now that the scene was sketched, my mind was being drawn in again—like the times before—into my comic, into the battle. Suddenly my head felt like it was being sucked through a vacuum. Then—just like that—the feeling was gone, but so was my classroom.

I was wearing commando gear, crouched between shrubs and looking through goggles at my familiar Florida neighborhood—but it was covered in snow. Suddenly there was a vicious shriek from above. Instinctively I glanced up, but a volley of deadly-sharp icicles forced me to run to cover. Snow, dirt and shrubs kicked up around me. There were more shrieks, this time much closer. I looked up again and was finally able to see what was threatening me from above. My first thought was snowmen gone mad. That was until I saw that they actually had icy, spiked skeleton heads; long, ice-skeleton bodies; and frozen-liquid wings. One thing was certain: they wanted to hurt me. Faces frozen in fury, hundreds of the figures swooped in from all directions. My only hope was to find cover. Suddenly a yellow light erupted from out of nowhere, and the sky was washed clean of the attacking ice skeletons. I sighed, but my relief was short-lived. Thick fog hung in the air, no doubt residual from whatever had evaporated the ice creatures. A terrible roar echoed from my right. I couldn’t see anything but fog, when suddenly a flaming fireball whirled out of the darkness, straight at me. Just as I stood frozen in fear, a dark figure, wearing military armor with the nameplate DASHER, burst from the fog and threw me to the ground, rescuing me from the fireball’s trajectory with barely a second to spare.

KA-BOOM!

No! I shouted and sat bolt upright in my desk, grabbing at the comics. I felt like I’d just awakened from a dream. Heart racing and head throbbing, I glanced around the classroom. Everyone was looking at me and, to make matters worse, my sixth-grade, gifted-class teacher, Mr. Swimdo, was walking toward me.

Suddenly a voice whispered in my ear from behind. You were automatic drawing again. It was Logan, one of my ex-best friends.

Don’t talk to me. I’m mad at you, I hissed.

Whatever. Just grab them, before he does, Logan said, reaching over my shoulder for the comics I’d just drawn. Too late. Rick Lang, jerk extraordinaire, grabbed them before Logan or I could.

Look everyone. More crazy Santa comic drawings. Rick jeered as he studied the drawings.

Shut up, Rick, I seethed, fist clenched. I wanted to feed it to him.

That’s enough, Mr. Swimdo said, taking my comics from Rick. He quickly paged through them, then dropped the papers on my desk. I studied the comics. Two pages of pencil-sketched images—everything I’d just experienced. But why was Rick calling it Santa stuff? My comics didn’t have anything to do with Christmas. They actually looked more like something from Halo or Star Wars. Weird, but that’s Rick for you.

You’re such a jerk. Wasn’t what you did to him at recess enough? I heard Logan say.

Whatever. It’s just a joke, Rick muttered dismissively.

Jakob, gather your stuff. Mr. Swimdo ordered.

What? Dismissal wasn’t for another ten minutes. Was I in trouble? Nervously and in record time, I packed up and stood as Mr. Swimdo motioned me to the door. That’s when it hit me. He knew what happened to me at recess. He didn’t say anything, and he didn’t have to. Letting me go early and sending me off with a wink was telltale enough. It was a little unsettling that Mr. Swimdo knew, because that meant all the other teachers probably knew also. Wonderful.

Even so, I welcomed the head start he gave me. It settled my nerves a bit because I’d avoid all of the peering eyes, pointing fingers, and whispering voices as I walked across school to the bus.

I got to my bus without any problems and climbed aboard just as the dismissal bell rang. Grateful for the privacy, I walked down the aisle and sank into my usual seat, three rows from the back and on the right side. Christmas music was playing on the radio.

Boy was it hot. I noticed the windows were open. Great, I thought, no A/C. Just because it was winter didn’t mean it wasn’t hot. It was Florida, for crying out loud. A song caught my attention. A man was singing Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Yes, I thought, let it. All in rapid succession, I clasped my hands together, closed my eyes, and prayed. Dear God, please let it snow! Yeah I know, wishful thinking, but maybe God was listening and feeling really generous today.

Suddenly hooting and hollering kids poured from their classrooms to welcome the end of a very special Friday and the beginning of the weekend. But it wasn’t just any weekend. It was Christmas break.

I wanted to partake in the celebration but was still mad—obsessing on my twentieth replay of what had happened to me at recess—when the bus moved ever so slightly. I looked up over the green vinyl seatback in front of me and saw a stream of kids boarding the bus. I stared out the window to ignore them all, then felt a tap on my shoulder. It was my eight-year-old sisters, Jordan and Jadyn. I didn’t look anything like them because I was adopted. They, on the other hand, were identical twins down to the same number of freckles. But I could tell them apart—even with their perfectly braided brown hair and matching garb—by their voice. The difference was subtle, but enough for me to distinguish the two. That’s why they didn’t speak to me unless they really had to. It was some sick game they played.

What? I demanded, shrugging.

They didn’t say anything, just pointed to the front of the bus. I looked. Ugh, it was my three best friends, although at the time I was so mad at them, I no longer considered them friends.

They walked, Shigeru Sugihara in the lead and heading right to me. He was really tall—definitely the tallest sixth grader at College Park Elementary. Shoot, he was already wearing size 10 adult sneakers. He went by Shigfor short. Below his bowl-cut, straight black hair was a gentle face with a fair complexion, flat nose, and large lips that almost always smiled. He plopped down beside me but didn’t say anything.

Logan Raffo was next, staring at me intensely with her dark, demanding, almond-shaped eyes as she forced an apologetic smile. She had black hair also, but hers hung long and silky over her tan complexion. She sat in the seat in front of me and slid over to the window.

Fleep Sanchez slid in next to her. His real name was Felipe, but he went by Fleep—something about his brother not being able to pronounce Felipe when he was little. His curly, long locks of blond hair swung from side to side as he walked. He had caterpillar-sized eyebrows, large brown eyes that seemed too big for their sockets, and thin, freckly cheeks. He was tall like me, but still not as tall as Shig. We were all eleven years old. I’d be the first to turn twelve though, just after the new year.

Shig tried to get me to talk, and Logan begged to read the comics I’d drawn in class, but I ignored them and just kept looking out the window. Then he got on the bus, the little pipsqueak Rick Lang, with one of his loser friends. His ferret eyes glanced around. I couldn’t understand why kids would let him bully them. He was so short and skinny, and his shoulder-length hair made him look like goldilocks in skater clothes. Heck, I’d eaten cotton candy that was more intimidating.

Our eyes locked.

I’ll just sit up here in the front, Rick said, looking around and trying to act cool.

The ride home was pretty annoying because my friends kept trying to get me to talk. I guess that’s what friends do, but I just ignored them and stared out the window. The bus finally stopped and we all got off at the same place, the entrance to our subdivision. Yep, we were neighbors and friends … and most of the time it was cool, but not today. Today it was just plain irritating!

Rick and his bud were the first to exit and took off running like a pair of rats. I won’t lie; I thought about chasing them, but Rick wasn’t worth it. Besides, I still had my ex-friends to deal with. I stormed past Shig and made sure to distance myself from my bratty sisters and ex-friends, hoping they’d all get the message that I was really mad at them.

As I came up to my street, I spotted something odd over at Rick’s house. Rick’s older sister, Tiff, was out front. That in itself was odd because she was in middle school and wasn’t supposed to be home for another forty-five minutes. Still watching Tiff, I walked across the street to my yard. She was looking through a pair of binoculars at Logan’s roof, then Fleep’s, then Shig’s, and finally mine. That’s when she saw me. I must have startled her because she immediately hid the binoculars by her side and waved distractedly. I waved back and walked to my front door, wondering what that was all about. I reached for the door handle but my curiosity won out. I had to know what was up with her strange behavior. Heart rate rising, I went into commando mode and stepped into the shrubs to watch whatever this was. Tiff was still at it with the binoculars, but now looking at an orange MINI Cooper parked in front of the house across the street from mine. The house was for sale and happened to be one of my mom’s real estate listings. The tint on the MINI Cooper was dark, but not dark enough to conceal the silhouette of a man inside, peering back at her through his own binoculars. He was watching Tiff, and she was watching him. Weird.

Suddenly the MINI Cooper started and Tiff took off, running inside her house. When she came back, about a half-minute later, the MINI Cooper was gone. Whoever it was sure was in a hurry. It was all kind of strange but a bit boring. Just then I heard my little sisters walking up from the driveway. Awesome, I thought. Still hidden in the bushes, I waited eagerly then jumped out just as they passed by.

BAAAH! I shouted.

They screamed, and I laughed and chased them inside our house.

MOMMY! The twins wailed.

In the kitchen, my mom announced. We raced to the kitchen. I won, of course.

Jakob scared us, Jadyn whined.

Yeah, Jordan gasped. He was in the bushes. My mom kissed them.

Okay, go do your homework. And Jakob, don’t scare your sisters.

I nodded and gave my mom a hug, then sighed.

She held me back at arm’s length and studied me. Hey, what’s wrong?

Don’t let any of the three in, I said in a huff.

The three? she asked, releasing me.

Logan, Fleep, or Shig.

She raised an eyebrow and stared at me as I grabbed my bulging backpack and ran upstairs to my room. I’d been messing around on my computer for about thirty minutes when the doorbell rang. Pretty confident it was one of the three, I didn’t get up.

It’s Rick’s sister, Tiff, my mom called up.

Hmm. What in the world does she want? She never comes over, I thought. I could hear my mom telling Tiff I was upstairs in my room. Tiff was thirteen and, even though she was in middle school, spent a lot of time with Logan because there weren’t any kids her age in the neighborhood. I logged into Pandora Radio on the Internet and selected something Christmassy, then leaned back in my chair just as Tiff walked into my room.

Hey, she said, waving her hand. Her red hair was pulled back into her usual ponytail, and stood out against her pale skin and green eyes.

Hey, I said, waving back. Done with your binoculars?

What? Tiff answered like I’d accused her of a crime then quickly recovered her cool. Oh, yeah, birds. I was watching a pair of cardinals. They just had a baby bird.

Birds, I thought, staring into her secretive eyes. You weren’t watching birds. You lie like a fly, just like your brother. Tiff interrupted my thoughts.

I heard what happened—Logan told me.

Logan and her big mouth.

I just wanted to say I’m sorry. You know, about my brother and all. It was wrong, and I’ll make sure my parents hear about it.

Don’t bother. It’s not your fault he’s a jerk. There was an awkward pause as she studied some of my drawn comics hanging on the wall. They were head shots of armored commandos in a wintery scene.

Hey, at least you didn’t curse yourself, right? Tiff remarked in an exaggerated, yet relieved, way.

I cocked my head. Curse?

What curse? I asked suspiciously.

You know, it’s what happens when you publicly say that you don’t believe in Santa.

How do you know?

Oh, there’s an entire chapter written about it in my dad’s old German Christmas book. It’s been in my—

I know about your book. Logan talks about it whenever I mention anything related to Christmas, I snapped, irritation in my voice.

"Yeah, well the thing’s, like, ancient." I shot Tiff a doubtful look.

Seriously, the book has been in my family for generations, she laughed. Logan’s been begging me since summer to let her read it, but my dad is a little peculiar about letting people see it. You know parents.

I nodded.

Anyway, Jakob, the curse is real.

Oka-a-ay, I said, drawn-out-like. So far she hadn’t said anything convincing to make me believe the curse was real. Tiff stared at me hard.

You really don’t know about the curse, do you? she said accusingly. I shrugged my shoulders. I wasn’t going to tell her either way. Well, whether you believe it or not, Logan, Shig, and Fleep cursed themselves the instant they told my brother that they didn’t believe in Santa.

Yeah, so now what happens? I asked, not buying a word of it.

No more presents from Santa forever; that is, unless of course they lift the curse. But they only have until six a.m. on Christmas Day, Tiff said somberly. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Santa wouldn’t do that!

Just then the doorbell rang. She ran outside my room, I guess to see who it was, then ran back to my room as I got up from my chair.

It’s Fleep. Where’s your bathroom? Tiff said hurriedly.

Outside my room, there on the right, I pointed, following Tiff out of my room.

My bathroom door shut as I got to the banister and looked down at the front door. Fleep was standing on the other side, looking up. My first thought was to hide, but he saw me and waved. I didn’t wave back. A hard, cold stare was what he deserved and what he got. Why did you do it, Fleep? You’re supposed to be my friend, and you sold me out in front of Rick and the other kids.

Fleep’s cautious face quickly grew a smile the moment I finally, and reluctantly, waved him in. Before he could say anything, I turned on my heel and hurried back to my room, plopped in front of my computer and stared at the screen. Fleep ambled into my room a few seconds later.

Jakob, you still mad? he asked.

You can’t tell? So much for my upset look.

Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. It’s not what I really believe. I was embarrassed—we were all embarrassed—and you, well, you were the first to answer Rick’s question. And you answered so fast that by the time everyone stopped laughing at you, well, we all knew we had to answer no. But I believe in Santa. Really, we all still believe in him! Just then the doorbell rang, again.

Fleep and I raced to the banister and looked

Reviews for Catching Santa

[jackiewark · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Certainly not your typical Santa book, Catching Santa takes the reader on a fast-paced, Star Wars like battle between good and evil when Jakob and his three friends mistakenly speak fateful words...that they no longer believe that Santa is real. Conjuring up some age-old folklore, a magical, fantastical world opens up where an evil being named S.R. tries to lure Santa to him, in order to capture and use for his own evil purposes, Santa's power. Little does Jakob know that he is a Pole, one who has some powers of his own and can see what others cannot. It is a battle against, not only evil, but time, as time is of the essence, if Santa is to continue delivering presents to good little boys and girls throughout the world. On a fateful Christmas Eve, Jakob and his three friend, Logan, Shig, and Fleep try their best to align with other good forces to defeat an enemy that has at his fingertips the ability and the power to defeat all that is good. Catching Santa may appeal to some older, tween readers, but, in all honesty, do we really want to be reading about such evilness in conjunction with our beloved Santa...even if he isn't real? I, for one, think not. Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers for choosing me to receive a copy of this ARC. However, I never received it, but decided to read it anyway.

[writergirl15 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When eleven-year-old Jakob's best friends said they didn't believe in Santa, they never expected anything to happen. But when their neighbor, Tiff, tells them of a Christmas curse; Jakob dreams of a man who turns children to wood or coal; and snowmen deliver magic letters to his friends' doors, the children of Central Florida start to wonder what's the truth behind Santa and Christmas.This book is an amazing first story in a series called The Kringle Chronicles. The plot is completely unexpected and just barely believable; the characters are fairly well created, although there are some 'loose' bits and pieces. I was actually sucked into the story; at many parts I couldn't put it down - for an indie author, that's an achievement!While the story itself would deserve all five stars, there were some mechanical issues that call out for adjustment. Most were small, isolated incidents - the wrong form of a verb, or mixing up he's and she's. A couple things, though, seemed to stick out through the whole book.The first problem would be 'big words.' When you consider that the story is being narrated by an eleven-year-old, some words simply don't belong. I think this problem is emphasized by the fact that the kids get a mystery email and have to look up words like 'portly' before they understand the email. Later, though, Jakob - the narrator of the story - uses words like 'hyperactive,' 'disintegrating,' and 'contemplated' without hesitating. These are normal 'book words,' but not normal eleven-year-old words. (Trust me, I have twelve- and nine-year-old brothers.)Then there was the grammar issue. Throughout the book, run-ons stuck out at me. Granted, an occasional run-on or fragment is necessary in a novel to make the writing sound natural. This, however, was the unnatural sort of thing. While tween boys usually do talk - and probably think - in fragments, it made the writing seem stilted or rushed at times.Finally, the storyline itself had one problem: it jumped. During an action scene, the readers want to hurry on from one part to the next - they want to see what happens. We do not, however, want to feel like we're reading at a clipped pace. Near the beginning of the book I noticed a lack of transitions, mostly between paragraphs. This did improve as the book progressed, though.All in all, this was a stellar story that just needs some grammar maintenance. I give it four stars, and I can't wait to get the sequel into my Kindle!I received this book for free through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[cerle-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Catching Santa is not your typical holiday read, but it will appeal to tween boys and girls alike. The plot is action filled, and keeps the reader interested until the end. I look forward to the next book in the series. thought this book was very unique and creative in telling a story about Christmas and Santa. I was quickly captured in the book and did not put it down until I had finished it.Fun read for young adults! Especially during the holidays, this would make a good chapter book to give to young adults, especially if they have an e-reader available to read from. It's about a boy who discovers a secret involving Santa. Great story line. Hooks older kids, and not to difficult for younger readers who are interested in chapter books.

[sallyawolf · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Are you tired of the old tale of Santa in his jolly red suit? Do you think he would be more fun if he was more like a commando? Well then this book is for you. When a rogue assistant of Santa named SR starts turning naughty children into wood and locking them up instead of just giving them a lump of coal, it is up to Jakob and his friends to set a trap to catch Santa and lure SR out into the open. Do they succeed? You are going to have to read this book to find out. This is a children's book but I would recommend it to readers of any age who are still kids at heart or if they were once teased about still believing in Santa.

[wynne68 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very cute to read to any child around the holidays. My nieces and nephews enjoyed the book.

[reciperhon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thought this book was very unique and creative in telling a story about Christmas and Santa. I was quickly captured in the book and did not put it down until I had finished it. I definately recommend this book.

[kssunflower_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I admire the courage and hard work it takes to write a children's book. Good children's literature captivates both young and adult readers. Even the simplest story, well told, endears itself to any age reader. However, children's literature requires a strong vision and an even stronger set of writing skills than fiction writing for adults. Adults can fill-in, excuse and overlook weak spots, but children need seamless blending of skill and vision. They deserve writing that is crafted for them, but has deeper levels that can resonate for them over time. This author shows promise, but Catching Santa (The Kringle Chronicles, Book I) falls short of that future potential. There are many passages that show strength and imagination, but more that simply lie before you, gasping for direction, depth and dimension. I wanted this book to succeed, and I believe the next one in the series will, if the author puts more effort into developing sympathetic characters and refining his pacing. A strong editor could easily assist this author by pointing out the weaknesses and bolstering the strengths; there is potential here. Mark Franco can become a significant young adult author, particularly for boys, but he needs polishing and fine tuning. He is closer than most to being a solid writer, but he needs a firm hand and honest critique to be the writer I think he can be.As others have noted, the first half to two-thirds of the book move slowly without any real insight into the characters or the main plot narrative. Then, suddenly, the book is galloping away with scenes of warfare in what appears, finally, to be a fight between good and evil. Mythic elements are thrown into a suburban setting and time becomes a tool to be manipulated – all without any warning. The groundwork for these possibilities was tenuous at best. To make matters worse, there is a sudden, surprise ending that hits the reader with a heavy implication that this may be a heavily veiled Christian-oriented theme. It could be that this is not the intended message, but the theme lingers at the end nonetheless. Where it came from or why it is there is hard to pinpoint.Good versus Evil is not, and should not be seen as, an exclusively Christian battle. If the author did not intend this, I hope he will model his next volume in the series on a clearer platform. Images of high-tech war are not compatible with the values of a faith built on the peace and tolerance. If this sense of religious messaging is intended, I hope the author will make it clearer because the series target audience needs to be clearer. We know Santa is derived from Saint Nicolas, but the Santa most folks relate to now is an almost secular, good-natured fellow with magical abilities. This book strikes a tone that is not quite religious, but not quite secular; it is as if the author hasn't decided which way to go. It took me months to finish reading what should have been a light read, partly because the characters failed to capture my sympathy and partly because the pacing was uneven. There is a heavy-handed insistence in making the reader aware of how tech savvy these young people are. I fear references to Wikipedia and Skype and currently popular aspects of the internet will date this book faster than its relevance to current tastes can bolster its relevance. Better to have kept references to them more generic rather than named programs, sites or services. Well-heeled suburban kids will identify with the smart phones, the computers and using email, instant messaging and Skype, but not all children will. The gender treatment was uneven as well. The boys talk about how smart and brave the girls are, but very little opportunity is given for the girls to show those traits. The main character seems well immersed in technology and the language of warfare, which becomes a primary feature of the last part of the book. That may be expected of a teenager and even a pre-adolescent male, but I wonder how it will fare with younger, female readers.There is certainly a thread of darkness throughout the book. Unresolved issues like disappearing children, parents with hidden talents or agendas make for some gaping holes in the narrative. There was a sense of too many threads left dangling, no cathartic growth for the characters. That said, the author did conceive a novel approach to the Santa myth and did lay the groundwork for what could be a good series for young adults if he will spend time smoothing out the pacing and developing these characters into people we care about. I think Marco is an author to watch. First efforts are not always dependable gauges for success. There is talent here, enough that I look forward to seeing if the next book in the series is stronger from lessons learned for both the author and his characters.

[dltj_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book did not resonate with me, although I am admittedly probably not in the target audience. The plot lines are rough and herky-jerky. The character development is thin at important places. The dialog is unreasonable for the age of the children in the story. And the story arc leads to an improbable conclusion that is seemingly only designed to sell the next book in a series. In short, I would pass on this and any sequels.

[bevfuller · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

"Catching Santa" gives a different and interesting take on Santa Claus.

[bobwaldo1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a good ride. This story is very fast paced, well written, and keeps interest throughout. Also has a very interesting take on the classic Christmas story. Fully enjoyed reading, looking forward to the next book.

[jurai2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The best word to describe this book is 'fun'! Franco does an excellent job bringing the story to life, with quirky dialog and descriptions that allowed me to see vivid pictures in my head. I recommend this book for children of all ages, including adults who know that they still have a child within.

[nanajlove_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an absolutely delightful book,  I felt it is a truly unique take on the mythology of Santa. The pace is great and characters are engaging. I look forward to more from this author, and although the target audience is young adult, I found it highly enjoyable on multiple levels, there is depth in the story and characters to satisfy older readers looking for an adventure.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author through the LibraryThing Member Giveaway program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

[karpow-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don't understand the last one star reviewer. This book is written for children and not adults. Why can't some adults simlpy try to understand what a child's likes instead of making assumtions that a child will like what the adult recommends. Like it or not, children like what they like and not what adults like. There is a huge problem with children reading --especially boys. A books direct competition is not other books but video games and tv. Anyone who does not see this is ignorant and way out of touch! The author here tries to compete in the ntertainment arena and hold the attention of young readers. This book is not written to teach a lesson or support a growing trend or want the child to feel understood. It is written for pure fun! There may be flaws, what story doesn't have them, but the story is entertaining and provides an escape from everyday life. I do not understand why an adult would think that they are an authority on children. I am mother of three and never know what my children like except when I ask them and they liked this story. It was a fun read that was pure entertainment. If they got a lesson from it then that is a plus. I don't understand why teachers and librarians constantly recommend books to children that are not positive. If my doughters have to read another book about parents dying or having cancer or divorce I am going to scream! These things happen but reading should be fun and transport readers somewhere else and awake the imagianation and allow an escape from everyday life. This book does that! We need more stories and books like this to show the posive side of life --the hopes, dreams and happily ever afters is what we need!

[collsers_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Just because a book is directed at young readers does not mean that subpar writing is permissible. This book was just awful. The premise is clever enough, and has potential, but the writing made it almost impossible to read. For a book that is supposed to be an action-packed adventure, barely any action is actually narrated until the final chapters of the book--everything that happens is just told to the characters. Why show the backstory of Santa and S.R. if you can just tell the characters through a Wikipedia page and website? I had to force myself to finish this book, and I will not read the rest of the series. As a librarian, I know that it can be difficult for parents and others to find books that will attract boys of the age that this book targets, but there are much better options out there than this novel. I love Christmas, I love YA and Childrens' fiction, but I did not love this book.

[aphillips5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I got this book for my niece and she loved it. We had a hard time getting her to put it down to go to bed. She is wanting to read the next one.

[47linda · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Since I love all things Christmas, I was curious about "Catching Santa". At first I did not connect with what was going on, now I get it! This book is great for a preteen boy, it has all the elements a boy would like - science fiction and fun. Is there a Santa or not? I believe and my house has Santa up year round, what can I say.

[marared9 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read this as an early reviewer and shared it with my 11 year-old daughter, who also read it. My daughter's review: "Mom, can you get me the next Kringle Chronicles book right away?" 'Nuff said. She is a voracious reader and this one was definitely a hit for her. I was a little more skeptical at the beginning of the book. Initially I found the writing style awkward (too much "telling," not enough "showing"). Once I got past the first few chapters, though, I really enjoyed the plot. The novel includes a lot of imaginative details and is a good addition to the fantasy genre. As I mentioned, I'll be getting the next book in the series for my daughter, and I expect to read and enjoy it myself as well.

[jubilant_joy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great twist on the classic Christmas stories. This book definitely appeals to the upper elementary age group. Lots of adventure and excitement. It is a good fit for children with a higher reading level who just aren't ready to move into the teen books yet.

[sdrobert_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Good story. Theme is more for a young child, but the dialog would be a bit too over their head. Other than that, creative change to a traditional story. Will be interested in the next novel.

[danettedorsey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book! Young boys and girls should enjoy it. It was definitely not what I expected but I was glad I was given the opportunity to read it. Get it for the young children who enjoy reading. It is a gift you can give without any worries of the content.

[kostal1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received an ebook copy of this book from Library Thing Early Reviewers. Very good story. Its great for 8 year old plus...especially those who like superhero type stories. I enjoyed it and can't wait to read it to my son when he's a bit older...at 5 years he's still into Santa as we know him. This is commando Santa! Looking forward to the sequal.

[librarianeternal · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A must read for boys, period. Let's face it fellow educators-- we need more action packed stories to recommend to the video game playing boys. It's what they want. Sure, Franco's book will not win any literary awards but it will captivate the right reader. The characters are developed enough to match the pace. I just love the names and character diversity. The dialogue is witty and reminds me of some of my students and neighborhood children. When they argue, they argue. My only beef with the book are the characters age and their belief in Santa. Not sure how many sixth-graders believe. Oh, i'm just being overly critical. Remember fellow reviewers, this fantasy book is written for children. I'm truly amazed when I read another review that mentions something wasn't believable in the story. No duh! It's fantasy. Forewarning: if you are a traditionalist you will not like this book. I'm giving it five stars for it's definate appeal to boys.

[bbellthom · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I received this book from Library Things early reviewer program.When I selected this book I was very intrigued by the cover, but the actual story feel short. I feel bad because I am an adult reading this book and not a child which was the intended audience but t I didn't enjoy the story. The beginning of the story felt very disjointed. One minor thing that bothered me in the beginning is all the kids had such bizarre names that it was difficult to follow. As a mother of a fifth grader I have a hard time believing that there are a lot of kids in six grade that believe in Santa as much as these children. It didn't seem very believable here these kids are in a major crisis regarding their friends and they were over sleeping, making mistakes, and just generally not acting like kids with a major crisis. The story just didn't seem that believable to me, maybe a younger person would enjoy the action but it wasn't for me.

[booklady123 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Disclosure: I received an e-galley of this book from Librarything's Early Review Program in exchange for an honest review.Catching Santa: The Kringle Chronicles Book 1 by Marc FrancoIt is six days before Christmas and weird things are happening in 11-year-old Jakob's Florida neighborhood. His friends are convinced their Christmas is in danger, and then live snowmen strangely appear and confirm the threat. Jakob dismisses the bizarre events as an elaborate hoax concocted by the neighborhood bully. But when the bully turns into smoke, a devilish stranger appears as the mastermind behind the mayhem demanding that Jakob catch Santa...or else!What I liked about the book: It's an intriguing story, that will appeal to young boys who like adventure. Santa is not your typical Jolly Old Elf with the white beard and tummy that shakes like a bowl full of jelly. Santa is a modern day commando in charge of a special operations team - those reindeer don't just magically fly! It's nice to have another story that will appeal to my young male readers. If you are looking for an unusual holiday read this one just might fit the bill.What I didn't like about the book: At times the story felt rushed. The first half of the story was hard to follow as the author seemed to jump all around. But about midway through the story, the author seemed to find his path and I found myself more engaged. This series has great potential. I'm looking forward to learning more about Jackob and who he really is as well as seeing how the battle between the "naughty" and the "nice" is resolved.Recommended for 3rd grade and up.

[jshepherd929 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

When I first requested this book I was very intrigued by the title and the description, but it fell short of it's expectations. The character development, to me, was very poor and I could not find any of the characters relatable.

[mmeckenstock · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This digital book did not meet my expectations, raised when I first viewed the "cover." Sentences repeatedly began with adverbs intended to excite the reader, such as suddenly and immediately, butthe choice words did little but fall flat when sentence content failed to match. This fantasy was poorly unwrapped and failed to invite me back if I sat it down. Rarely do I give up on a book, but this one escaped my interest. I am pretty well versed on younger readers, so I question if this is going to captivate and awe.

[lms8esmith · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Kringle Chronicles: Catching Santa had me excited when I read its description. The idea for the novel is cool, but unfortunately for me this was not a favorite read. I felt like the characters kept chatting in random conversations but they never got to the bottom of anything. Once the action started in the last few chapters, I felt better but not enough to really give great reviews.

[drewandlori · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This was an interesting idea for a story, and I could see why some others would like it, but I really didn't like this book. It was painfully slow, virtually nothing happens for almost a hundred pages. There was no character development at all, just the same group of kids having the same arguments (in the same awful dialogue) over and over again.

[spartyliblover · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I found this story to be a bit lacking in character development because I couldn't find any characters to identify with, which, for me, is a rare occurrence in books. Jackob was the only one with some development, and I didn't find him relatable, but Logan and Tiff could have been possibilities if I had been able to learn more about them. The plot seemed to move in chunks of time where sometimes it was slow and other times very rushed. But I think that many upper elementary and middle school readers would enjoy this story. It certainly had some very interesting parts and I liked the drawings at the beginning of each chapter.

[bookishdame · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I'm a traditionalist, so this book was just not up my alley, as they say. I found the character development slim to lacking. And, on the whole I was not really convinced that this was a story of value. While so many books are being written by excellent authors today, books that are inspirational, fun and of exceptional quality, I found "Catching Santa" just not up to standard. I'm sorry to have to say all this, particularly because I know it was a good try... But, I can't recommend the book to others.