To his chagrin, Ralph Mountfield’s entire extended family has descended on his house for the Christmas holiday. Nasty Great Granny rarely has anything nice to say. Vague Great Aunt Ida is still sharp enough to have an excuse every time the possibility of having to lift a finger is raised. And Ralph’s young cousins—terrorizing twins who wreak havoc and destruction, and an annoying moppet always eager to perform her latest song and dance routine—are the most unwelcome visitors of all. Caught up in the mounting family tension—and sometimes adding to it with his attitude and antics—all is not calm and bright for Ralph. As personalities clash, family togetherness begins to fray in Anne Fine’s hilarious holiday story. Roguishly over-the-top, the novel maintains a lighthearted warmth, acknowledging that this is simply the way families—even loving families—sometimes are. (Ages 9–11)

A Christmas quiz brings out some hidden truths for the Montfield family.