Matchless by Gregory Maguire #bookreview #blogmas

Title: Matchless
Author: Gregory Maguire
Publisher: William Morrow
Published Date: October 27th 2009
Genre: Fantasy, Children's, Christmas, Fairytales
Page Count:112
Format: Hardcover

My Rating: ★ ★ ★

Goodreads Summary: 
With Matchless, Gregory Maguire has reinvented the Hans Christian Andersen classic The Little Match Girl for a new time and new audiences. Originally asked by National Public Radio to write an original story with a Christmas theme, the New York Times bestselling author of Wicked and A Lion Among Men was once again inspired by the fairy tales we all loved in childhood—and he composed a poignant and enchanting tale of transcendence. A lovely and beautifully illustrated gift, Matchless places Andersen’s pitiful waif in the august company of Maguire’s previously re-imagined Snow White (Mirror, Mirror), Cinderella (Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister), and, of course, the Wicked Witch and other denizens of Oz. 

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 My Review:

I had never read or even heard of Little Match Girl by Christian Anderson until reading this book. I do plan to try and find it so I can read it now though. Fredrick is a little boy who lives with his mom in Victorian-era London. He's rather lonely and has to take care of both of them as his mom works so much. With no real friends, he has created his own little world that he is able to escape to when his mom is busy. 

On Christmas Eve we get to meet the Little Match Girl who is trying to make some last minute sales so the family can survive, but with no sales and having lost her shoe that has her house key she doesn't go home for fear of disappointing her father. Instead, she spends the night lighting the matches to stay warm until they are all gone. 

Who found her shoe? Well, Fredrick of course who plans to use it for a boat for his own little world. Except he thinks the key that was in it is important as well and tells his mom who insists they take it back. When they find out what happened to the shoe owner though Fredrick doesn't say anything and they just leave the key. Fast forward to the next Christmas and the Matchless girl's father has married Fredricks mom and they are living happily ever after. 

I'm still a little unsure of how I feel about this story. One a lot of important details seemed to be missing. Two if the queen needs the mom so much why don't they just live in the castle? So many questions with no answers. I wonder if I read the Christian Anderson one if it will provide me with some answers?