An epic tale of good and evil, where kids in the past and adults in the present must face an ancient evil mythical creature. 

• Scare factor: ★★★☆☆
• Christmas factor: ★★★★☆
• Originality factor: ★★★★★
• Entertainment factor: ★★★★★
• Coming-of-age factor: ★★★★☆
• Epic factor: ★★★★☆

Everything is Temporary feels like a magical journey into the realm of a mythical monster. Christmas is a magical time and when the magic becomes real, it also becomes dangerous and nothing is what it seems. An epic battle, original storytelling, an interesting and creative narrative full of imagination, ensures a great read for Christmas, and whole year round. 

It consists of 252 pages. 

Plot

When Tom Barnes was a teen boy he met Mrs. Claus by accident after he was running from his bully Terry. Mrs. Claus was a sweet older lady who facilitated Christmas days for terminally ill children, so they could enjoy one last Christmas. Her house is full of Christmas ornaments, treats and presents, small figurines and a Christmas Tree. And that Christmas Tree is a magical tree, just like the little figurines. They come to life and speak to Tom. Tom is very impressed and full of wonder and he admires the work Mrs. Claus does, so he becomes her Little Elf, her helper when the children are coming over. He likes his job, and the magical items even help him fight off a bully. 

But then he finds out Mrs. Claus isn’t what she says she is, and instead of helping children she hurts them. It’s up to Tom, his best friend Danny, his crush Julia and her twin sister Stephanie and former bully Terry to stand up to Mrs. Claus and defeat her so she can never hurt children again. 

Now Tom is all grown up. He’s married to Sarah and they have a daughter Emma, who has been caught shoplifting in a mall. When they come to get her and watch the surveillance camera’s Tom sees something strange. He sees Emma with a man. A man who looks familiar to and reminds him of Mrs. Claus. He has to do anything to protect his daughter. 

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Short Review

Tom has written down all these events,  and the fight with the ugly monster in a book that he called Everything is Temporary. He changed the names of himself and his friends in a very obvious way. As his actions to protect his daughter went too far, he encourages Sarah to read the book. 

The main story of what is happening now is told by Sarah herself. She starts reading the book in full disbelief and thinks it’s all the imagination of little Tom and his now delusional adult mind. But something tells her to read it, keep going only if it can help Tom. The book switches from what is happening in the present and the story Sarah is reading. A story that truly did happen, but it’s so fantastical it’s hard to believe. 

There are thus two main storylines. The story about the adult Tom and his family. Tom wanting to protect his daughter and wanting his wife to believe him. It’s a very smart and interesting choice to let Sarah tell the story of the present. While a young Tom tells the story of the past. 

As the story progresses these storylines are slowly coming together and form one big epic tale about kids and adults fighting an ancient evil.

The folklore the monster/Mrs. Claus is based on is well-chosen and original. Although not imbedded in Christmas traditions, the story does feel very Christmassy. The story development in the past is a coming-of-age story, about losing loved ones, about coping, about friendship, bullying and courage. The children act as realistic children. Bullying others to deal with their own problems, coming up with a plan to kill the monster in Home Alone style, and being unaware of real danger. 

The story development of the present is very contrasting to the past. The adults are not so receptive to impossible beings. Although they still can be hurt by it. They react more reluctant, although some will surprise you, even Sarah. 

Just like in the past, where the kids fight together to defeat the monster, so do the adults. Two storylines that eventually play out the same way, but with different outcomes.

Everything is Temporary is original, thrilling, with eventually very likable characters. The switching between the events in the past and the present is done in a very original way, that feels playful and even more magical. It’s a story about an epic battle between good and evil, between kids and adults against an ancient mythical monster.