Customer Reviews:
 Treacly December 17, 2008
P. Mann (Los Angeles)
While working at the local market, sixteen-year-old Scott Reid sees an older man sitting outside despite the cold weather. After investigating, Scott learns that the man, Zachery, is stranded because his car has broken down. Scott calls his father, who knows a thing or two about cars but cannot get this one going again. With Christmas nigh, Scott and his father invite Zachery to join them for dinner and then to stay through Christmas.
For the Reids, Christmas is a difficult time. Roughly a year earlier, a drunk driver struck Scott's younger sister, Jenny, who has been in a coma ever since. Jenny is at home, where the family cares for her. Scott is tortured by guilt for failing to protect his sister, though there was nothing he could have done. The family is consumed by rage at the driver, who is in prison. However, on that first night, Zachery suggests that it is time for the Reids to forgive the driver.
The remainder of the novel is rather predictable--and far too rushed. What could have been a truly heartwarming novel is, at least to me, marred by a too-pat ending in which problems disappear too easily, without people having to work to solve them. A similar--and, to me, better--Christmas novel dealing with the same premise is The Christmas Bus.
 This review refers to the audiobook December 29, 2005
Donna K. (Long Island, NY)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I wish I would have had the chance before Christmas to play these tapes to my religion classes. Contained within the magical story is a powerful and very important message about forgiveness and freeing oneself of bitterness and resentment. George S. Irving has a delightfully booming James-Earl-Jones-style voice that it felt as if Santa, or even God himself, was the storyteller - his inflections and animations were highly effective!
In the tradition of classics such as It's A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol, The Special Guest is an outstanding, well-presented story. The characters are unselfishly giving, in stark contrast to the self-centered society most of us live in today. The Law of Reciprocity is wonderfully illustrated: when one reaches out to others, they too will be reached out to. We get out of life what we put into it, and Christmas is the perfect time to remind us of what Christianity and the miracle of Christmas is all about!
 Good Book for Everyone December 13, 2000
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I teach a class of 5th and 6th graders. This book was brought to my attention by one of my students. I used it as a read aloud to the class. It was a great Christmas story to send them off to their winter vacation. While there were several Christian references and examples, they were not overbearing to distract from the story's use in a public school. The story was predictible, but it has several lessons including forgiveness, giving to others, kindness, etc. It makes for a good famiy/school tradition.
A Special Holiday Story! December 22, 1999
hitman5703@yahoo.com (USA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
A wonderful short story with a very special message. Even though some of the story line is predictable it still has some twists and turns. This is a good book to share with all family members young and old!
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