Happy Holidays, Jessi

Jessi is filled with holiday excitement. She loves Christmas, and she can't wait for Kwanzaa, when her whole family- including out-of-town relatives-will celebrate together. But then a terrible accident occurs. Squirt hurst his head in a car crash and is rushed to the hospital. Everyone is relieved to find out that Squirt will be okay. But meanwhile, the stress of the accident has taken it's toll on the family. If holidays are supposed to be being together, then why is Jessi's family being pulled far apart?

In Happy Holidays Jessi, Jessi wants to have the kids in the neighborhood celebrate Kwanzaa. But then when Jessi, her sister, Aunt Cecelia, and Squirt get in a car accident, Squirt gets hurt. Will the Kwanzaa celebration happen? Or is it history?

I really liked this installment. Jessi, the narrator describes Kwanzaa, the African holiday and the history and traditions about Kwanzaa. Jessi's redoubtable Aunt Cecilia is just as overly punitive as ever, until her father intervenes and reminds her that as long as she is living in HIS house, she will have to abide by HIS rules and not try to enforce her own. He defends his children and reminds his sister yet again that Jessi and her 8-year-old sister are still children and to cut them some slack. Chastened, the girls' aunt vows to do an about face and once again takes them Christmas shopping. Instead of chewing them out for being hungry or clowing around, the aunt bites her tongue. The only thing I had trouble with was her allowing the girls' baby brother to ride outside of his car seat when he becomes restless and fussy.Unfortunately, they are involved in an accident and Squirt (John, Jr.) has to be hospitalized. Distraught over the baby's injuries, the parents chew the aunt out for her sheer irresponsibility (why would any ADULT allow a baby to ride in a car without being properly harnessed)? The Kwanzaa gatherings with other members of Jessi's family are strained and everybody is up in arms over the harm done to poor Squirt.The subplot is excellent. Ann Martin has a real gift for creating dialog and scenes. The other members of the BSC plan a Kwanzaa skit and the BSCers and charges alike all get into the spirit of Kwanzaa and actually learn a few things. I laughed at the hilarious story of Malindy's Soul, the story the group put on. It was a delightful farce and really quite well woven into the story.Fortunately, Squirt recovers and everybody has a wonderful holiday. Instead of Santa, everybody follows the Kwanzaa celebration. This book is really good.

I felt sorry for Jessi when her brother,Squirt, was knocked unconciousness in a car accident (at that time the other people in the were Jessi,Becca and Aunt Cecelia). But at the end Jessi's cousin comes for a special dinner for Kwanzaa and Squirt is back to normal. Poor Jessi she was really sad during that time.

I rate this a 10 because the plot was great. I know how Jessi feels about the car accident because last May, my bus, Trans 1, was in a bus accident and a car crashed into the side of the bus. It was a shortened day on a Friday (because of prom) and I was really scared. Also, the play was good, and it was really funny when that one kid went and flushed paper towels down the toilet when Mary Anne was baby-sitting. And Jessi's family wouldn't stop fighting! Will they ever make up? Jessi's stressed out! If you want to find out, read "Happy Holidays, Jessi!" Really. I recommend this book!