About The Book
Despite loving Halloween Town, Sally feels trapped and longs for more. She learns that Jack, the Pumpkin King, shares her desire for change, and they vow to reshape their fates together. Guided by a vision, Sally discovers the festive Christmas Town, but she grows suspicious of its overly perfect appearance. Dark secrets threaten Christmas Town, and Sally must save it before it’s too late.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/43wUmeq
My Rating
This book is part of the Disney Twisted Tales series, where each story takes a Disney classic we all know and love and reimagines it. In this one, we get a full story set in The Nightmare Before Christmas universe. But this time, Sally finds Christmas Town instead of Jack. Honestly, it was such a fun ride. I never know what I’m going to get with a retelling, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
I really enjoyed the concept of Sally being the one to discover Christmas Town, especially because it wasn’t as holly jolly as it is in the movie. There’s no kidnapping Santa, and the direction of the story is quite different from the classic film. But it still manages to be just as fun and interesting. That said, I’ve read other books that follow Sally, like Long Live The Pumpkin Queen, and I’m still not sure if I truly enjoy her character. In the movie, we only know a little about her thoughts and her feelings for Jack. The more I read from her perspective, the more I feel like she just isn’t a character who fully intrigues me.
I will say that I loved the version of Christmas Town in this book. There was something a little sinister going on there that added an extra layer to the story. I also really liked the friend Sally made along the way and how quickly she picked up on the fact that Christmas Town wasn’t as perfect as it seemed. It was also funny that she didn’t realize just how different the town was from Halloween Town. Being in a new place really made her appreciate her home more.
“She found herself staring straight into the eyes of Jack Skellington.”
But honestly, the highlight of the book for me was Jack. His character felt very true to the movie. I loved his confidence and the way he spoke his mind a little too much, not always realizing he might want to blend in. It felt so very Jack, especially since in Halloween Town he’s the Pumpkin King and naturally stands out. I enjoyed watching him and Sally go on this journey together, helping the people of Christmas Town and growing closer along the way.
Overall, this is a solid read for teens and adults. It’s a quick book with a cool twist on a classic Disney film. My all-time favorite part was the ending. I cried, which isn’t saying much since books make me cry pretty easily, but still. The final moment was just so sweet, I think even readers who don’t usually cry at books might tear up. But don’t worry, they’ll be happy tears. If you’re looking for something that feels like Christmas, I definitely recommend giving this one a read.
I’d say that if you’re interested in the book, you should give the audiobook a listen on Everand, as the narration really helps bring the story to life. If you enjoy retellings and book reviews, please consider signing up for my mailing list before you go. And if you could leave a comment, like, and share this post with others, that would be amazing!
Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny