My True Love Gave to Me Mini Review: Angels in the Snow

Book Title: My True Love Gave to Me

Editor: Stephanie Perkins

Story Title: "Angels in the Snow"

Story Author: Matt De La Peña

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: October 14, 2014
Source: St. Martin's Griffin for Review

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If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you’re going to fall in love with My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by twelve bestselling young adult writers, edited by international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins. Whether you enjoy celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or New Year's there's something here for everyone. So curl up by the fireplace and get cozy. You have twelve reasons this season to stay indoors and fall in love.

Mini Review: "Angels in the Snow"

I had heard of YA author Matt De La Peña before reading My True Love Gave to Me, but I'd never actually read anything he'd written. I'm so glad that "Angels in the Snow" was included in this anthology because it is a story that I fell in love with. I will be reading more of Matt's work in the future, and I can see myself wanting to read this story come Christmastime again and again. 

What I really liked about "Angels in the Snow" is that is has a more mature feeling than most YA short stories or novels. 

Shy is a freshman in college, and he's been struggling lately. He's in a financial pickle, and he's a bit homesick. To make matters worse, his father is not able to fly him home for Christmas, so he's stuck in New York City while all the other NYU students are off at home. While Shy is cat sitting, he meets a young lady named Haley, who is having problem with her apartment's plumbing. Shy quickly realizes that Haley comes from money, but he puts that aside as he tries to help her.

The two bond over things that they have in common, and while a lot of it is unexpected, it's cute. I love that De La Peña includes the wholesome "don't judge a book by its cover" lesson in this story, and I think both YA and NA readers will enjoy reading "Angels in the Snow."

Matt de la Peña is the New York Times best-selling author of six young adult novels and two picture books. Matt received his MFA in creative writing from San Diego State University and his BA from the University of the Pacific, where he attended school on a full athletic scholarship for basketball. de la Peña currently lives in Brooklyn, NY. He teaches creative writing and visits high schools and colleges throughout the country.