I will admit this holiday book was just not my favorite. I really did not love the main character and felt was she was not well-developed and was rather annoyed me throughout most of the novel. But the concept of this novel made me love it. I enjoyed all the dares and also all the international settings. I read it rather fast. But I did not love the main character. It was cute holiday novel but it did not wow me! ( )

I will admit this holiday book was just not my favorite. I really did not love the main character and felt was she was not well-developed and was rather annoyed me throughout most of the novel. But the concept of this novel made me love it. I enjoyed all the dares and also all the international settings. I read it rather fast. But I did not love the main character. It was cute holiday novel but it did not wow me! ( )

Literary Merit: Very Good
Characterization: Good
Recommended: Yes
Level: 7-9

Christa is an only child, growing up in Chicago. She felt loved and secure in her home; however, on November 1st all that changed when her parents tell her they are going to file for a divorce. Just weeks away from Christmas and their anticipated trip to Europe, Christa's world is falling apart. Tears, devastation and anger fill Christa's thoughts as she's forced to face the reality of the situation watching her parents divide their household possessions. In spite of her heartache, she helps her mom move from their home to a tiny city apartment to be closer to the theater where she works as an actress; while her dad, who owns a Travel Agency remains in their house. Loving them both, she finds it painfully difficult to accept. Each year, her dad created a holiday scavenger hunt which she was really looking forward to; but now, a thing of the past or so she thought.

Christa's mother, Joselyn is cast in a play that is touring Florence, Paris and London, so the two of them are going to Europe over Christmas break along with the other cast members and their teenaged children. Madelyn and Miles, are the hired as tour guides from her dad's travel agency to provide activities for the group while visiting those countries. The flight to Europe is a rough one for Christa as she doesn't get any sleep. During the flight, her mom is greeted by one the actors, named Todd, who has taken a special interest in her mom as he greets her with a large smile and places his arm around her. Todd has brought his daughter, Kylie with him, who is a very pretty girl with a shallow personality. She does not like either one of them. Upon her arrival to Florence, and getting no sleep along the way, thinking about her parents divorce, an extremely tired Christa must attend a cast dinner party at their hotel. After dinner, while seeking to find the restroom, she sees her mom kissing Todd in a very passionate way; setting off great anger toward her mother as she assumes Todd is the reason for her parents' divorce. Upon coming back to her seat, she's so angry that she confides to Colby what she witnessed between the two of them. In fact, Christa and Colby remain close friends throughout the story and she's able to express her anger, fears and resentment towards her mother and "ST" or Smug Todd as she calls him. It is not a physical friendship until the very end when he does kiss her.

The only saving point is Christa's dad, Adam reaches out to her by communicating through Skype messages and sending her gifts and dares for their Scavenger Hunt. To keep her dad's spirits up over the holidays, she accepts each dare which takes her to many interesting places, yet sometimes, makes her feel foolish. The tour guides are aware of the game, but there are 13 dares which Christa accepts along with Colby, who is there to help her accomplish each one. In spite of all the challenges Christa faces during her trip, whether it's embarrassing moments with her new group of friends, a poor relationship with her mother or the heartache over the divorce - she keeps a level head and little by little learning to accept the situation. In the end, her dad reminds her that the whole purpose of the Scavenger Hunt was to: "Allow the unexpected to lead you somewhere you were always meant to go." More importantly, Christa learns that it was not her mother who initiated the divorce, but rather her father and very much a mutual agreement between the two of them. He also tells Christa that he likes Todd and Kylie his daughter, when she confides in him about her mother's actions on the trip. A fact, that opened up a whole new perspective for Christa and enabled her to have a change of heart toward her mother. The book has some very well documented places to see in Florence, Paris and London. It would be a great way for kids to research these places. The book could also help kids trying to cope with divorce issues in their own families. ( )