Fotinoula and the Christmas Goblin
By R. G. Fraser-Green
A thrilling battle of wits between girl and goblin in snow covered Athens...
'Never forget how devious a Kallikantzaros can be. It will try to snatch Mirtoula. It will keep trying until it has her. And if it succeeds you'll never see your sister again.'
11-year-old Fotinoula doesn't believe her grandfather when he warns her about the Christmas goblins. After all, the Kallikantzaroi were just an old Greek myth. Creatures with blood-red eyes didn't really climb up from the underworld during the Twelve Days of Christmas to steal little children, and certainly not in a busy city like Athens.
But Fotinoula soon discovers that some folktales have more truth to them than others. With her father away at sea and only an old book for guidance, she must summon up all her courage and problem-solving skills to save her little sister from one of these hideous creatures. In the process she comes to realise just how much her sister means to her.
This touching story weaves together Greek customs, music, food and history to bring alive a fascinating culture and a rather creepy festive folktale.
A great story for 8-12 year olds or any lover of a scary story with heart.
A wintry, modern-day Athens, with its snow-capped Parthenon, is the evocative setting for the struggle between 11-year-old Fotinoula and the sinister goblin set on stealing her little sister. Throughout the story, the creepiness of the spine-chilling goblin is countered by the warmth of family love and friendship.
I read this story with my 9-year-old son. The vivid writing (which he described as "intense") and the hooks at the end of each chapter kept us entranced until the nail-biting showdown. Greek customs, culture, food and music are skilfully woven into the adventure. We follow the door-to-door carol singing, learn of the curse of the evil-eye, witness the traditional smashing of pomegranates, and even discover something of the Greek-Turkish population exchange of the 1920s. The useful glossary at the beginning is easy to understand and helps with the pronunciation of Greek words and names.
After finishing the book I immediately investigated some of the tasty treats which feature - the honey-drizzled pastry diples, the buttery almond shortbread kourabiethes, and the syrup-bathed walnut melomakarona cookies. I also looked up the piece of Rebetiko, or Greek folk music, that Fotinoula dances to (as depicted on the book's cover).
This is one of those children's books which adults can genuinely read as much for their own pleasure. It was absolutely fascinating. I highly recommend it to readers young and old for an enthralling immersion into a festive Athens - ideal reading ahead of a trip to the city."
