The North Pole Challenge
(2011)(The first book in the Flea's Five Christmases series)
A novel by Kevin George
**A WINNER IN THE NEW YORK BOOK FESTIVAL**
Flea has always been different from other students in school. He's not smart or athletic, he's shorter than kids five years younger than him and his facial features are so pointy that everyone avoids him. His foster mother constantly warns him to avoid attention, though Flea has no idea who's after them. But Flea has recently discovered several abilities that change his life forever: snowy weather follows him wherever he goes, he can stop snowballs in mid-flight and he builds anything in shop class in a matter of minutes, despite his lack of training. An appearance on The Great Build-Off - a popular construction game show - leads him to a magical place he only thought existed in Christmas stories.
At the North Pole, Flea feels even more like an outsider. In fact, this storybook village reminds him of every school he'd ever attended, complete with overachievers and underachievers, popular elves and outcasts, even elves who aren't afraid to march to their own beat. But during his training to become a proper builder elf, he discovers the North Pole has an arch-nemesis bent on invading elfish lands and ending Christmas forever. With a war looming against the South Pole, Flea's sudden appearance at the North Pole is no coincidence, as he questions his role in the fate of the world's greatest holiday.
"The North Pole Challenge" is not your typical Christmas story. Everyone knows about Santa Claus, his elves and the North Pole, but this book provides a fresh outlook on old familiar tales. Imagine Santa Claus as a reclusive loner, Rudolph as a narcissistic whiner, the elves as cruel party animals. And no great story would be complete without an enemy of epic proportions, another familiar Christmas name with a wicked past never before told...
Until now...
READER REVIEWS
From IndieReader.com: "Part fantasy, part coming-of-age tale, part humorous romp, THE NORTH POLE CHALLENGE is both entertaining and imaginative. As the first book of five, the narrator skillfully positions his central character to have numerous other adventures."
From reviewer Oh My Bookness: "This is a perfect children's tale, even good for interested adults to read who like the holiday season and a twist on characters such as Jack Frost, Old Man Winter, and the creation of Christmas. If you are interested in taking a magical ride through the holiday season this the story for you or any child."
From reviewer Ionia Martin: "I will say, that I wish there were more books like this in the world. This book is appropriate for all age groups and would make an excellent gift for anyone. My kids adored this book and so did I. I can't recommend this title enough."
From reviewer Mandy2000 "I started to read this to my eight year old son before bed each night and couldn't stop reading when I knew he was asleep!!"
CHECK OUT OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR
FLEA'S FIVE CHRISTMASES
BOOK ONE - THE NORTH POLE CHALLENGE
BOOK TWO - THE RUDOLPH CHALLENGE
BOOK THREE - THE JACK FROST CHALLENGE
BOOK FOUR - THE FROSTIE CHALLENGE
BOOK FIVE (THE FINAL BOOK) - THE SOUTH POLE CHALLENGE
COMET CLEMENT SERIES
LIFE, INC. - If you could learn the exact moment of your death, would you? If you could see a deceased loved one for one more day - at the cost of one year of your life - would you? These are the answers Life, Inc. wants to know...
CRYO-MAN
BOOK ONE - CRYO-MAN
BOOK TWO - ROBOTROPOLIS
BOOK THREE - DEARBORN
BOOK FOUR - BEYOND RIVER CITY
KEEPER OF THE WATER SERIES
BOOK ONE - DRINKING LIFE
BOOK TWO - RECRUITS
BOOK THREE - THE WATER QUEENS
Genre: Children's Fiction
Flea has always been different from other students in school. He's not smart or athletic, he's shorter than kids five years younger than him and his facial features are so pointy that everyone avoids him. His foster mother constantly warns him to avoid attention, though Flea has no idea who's after them. But Flea has recently discovered several abilities that change his life forever: snowy weather follows him wherever he goes, he can stop snowballs in mid-flight and he builds anything in shop class in a matter of minutes, despite his lack of training. An appearance on The Great Build-Off - a popular construction game show - leads him to a magical place he only thought existed in Christmas stories.
At the North Pole, Flea feels even more like an outsider. In fact, this storybook village reminds him of every school he'd ever attended, complete with overachievers and underachievers, popular elves and outcasts, even elves who aren't afraid to march to their own beat. But during his training to become a proper builder elf, he discovers the North Pole has an arch-nemesis bent on invading elfish lands and ending Christmas forever. With a war looming against the South Pole, Flea's sudden appearance at the North Pole is no coincidence, as he questions his role in the fate of the world's greatest holiday.
"The North Pole Challenge" is not your typical Christmas story. Everyone knows about Santa Claus, his elves and the North Pole, but this book provides a fresh outlook on old familiar tales. Imagine Santa Claus as a reclusive loner, Rudolph as a narcissistic whiner, the elves as cruel party animals. And no great story would be complete without an enemy of epic proportions, another familiar Christmas name with a wicked past never before told...
Until now...
READER REVIEWS
From IndieReader.com: "Part fantasy, part coming-of-age tale, part humorous romp, THE NORTH POLE CHALLENGE is both entertaining and imaginative. As the first book of five, the narrator skillfully positions his central character to have numerous other adventures."
From reviewer Oh My Bookness: "This is a perfect children's tale, even good for interested adults to read who like the holiday season and a twist on characters such as Jack Frost, Old Man Winter, and the creation of Christmas. If you are interested in taking a magical ride through the holiday season this the story for you or any child."
From reviewer Ionia Martin: "I will say, that I wish there were more books like this in the world. This book is appropriate for all age groups and would make an excellent gift for anyone. My kids adored this book and so did I. I can't recommend this title enough."
From reviewer Mandy2000 "I started to read this to my eight year old son before bed each night and couldn't stop reading when I knew he was asleep!!"
CHECK OUT OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR
FLEA'S FIVE CHRISTMASES
BOOK ONE - THE NORTH POLE CHALLENGE
BOOK TWO - THE RUDOLPH CHALLENGE
BOOK THREE - THE JACK FROST CHALLENGE
BOOK FOUR - THE FROSTIE CHALLENGE
BOOK FIVE (THE FINAL BOOK) - THE SOUTH POLE CHALLENGE
COMET CLEMENT SERIES
LIFE, INC. - If you could learn the exact moment of your death, would you? If you could see a deceased loved one for one more day - at the cost of one year of your life - would you? These are the answers Life, Inc. wants to know...
CRYO-MAN
BOOK ONE - CRYO-MAN
BOOK TWO - ROBOTROPOLIS
BOOK THREE - DEARBORN
BOOK FOUR - BEYOND RIVER CITY
KEEPER OF THE WATER SERIES
BOOK ONE - DRINKING LIFE
BOOK TWO - RECRUITS
BOOK THREE - THE WATER QUEENS
Genre: Children's Fiction
Used availability for Kevin George's The North Pole Challenge