Moore's Code - IgniteLit

Title: Moore’s Code
Author: Chautona Havig
Major Themes: Christmas, Santa Claus
Synopsis: When Andy hears something he didn’t expect in a Christmas poem, he sets off on a quest to make himself the best Christmas ever—and finds himself in over his head with an unexpected series of events and consequences.

I don’t believe in Santa Claus. I never tell my children about Santa Claus. Why in the world would I read them a book about Santa Claus? Why did I read Moore’s Code in the first place? Well, that question is easy to answer. Chautona Havig wrote it; I have loved almost everything she wrote; therefore, when I got hold of a copy of Moore’s Code, I read it. I enjoyed it. Last year, I decided to read her children’s books aloud to my children, and this was one of them, so I read it. So if anyone thinks they have me figured out, have another think!

Andy Heath was a terror. This 8-year-old knew exactly how to manipulate and guilt his mother and most other adults in his life into doing exactly what he wanted them to. A tantrum? He had it perfected. A look of sadness at the right time? Easy. When he heard something in a Christmas poem that he had never heard before, he knew he had to investigate. If all went well and he was able to capture Santa, he would have the best Christmas ever!

When Santa didn’t return to the North Pole, Merry Claus and the elves were worried. They had more to worry about than a missing Santa Claus, though. Santa’s brother Scrooge took advantage of the situation to take over—could Santa’s helpers hold him off long enough? Would love and forgiveness win the day?

Andy soon figured out that he was in over his head. How could he resolve the mess he found himself in? This turns into quite a funny story! We loved it. This author knows children and how they think. My favorite aspect was seeing the effect Andy’s mistakes had on his character and what ended up happening. If you don’t like fantasy and/or can’t handle books about Santa Claus, avoid Moore’s Code, but it’s worth reading, in our opinion.

WARNING: Andy frequently lies, but there always end up being consequences sooner or later.