Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus. Virginia grew up. Yes, that Virginia—who became a teacher—encouraging students through the Great Depression, World War II, and the Polio epidemic. “The Santa Claus Girl,” a novel drawn from true events, imagines Virginia’s far-reaching influence and her exceptional gift of inspiration. Set in NYC, December 1952—the height of the polio epidemic—the story soars with the challenges faced by a young WWII veteran, who must race against time, public fear of the disease, and demons from his past, to rally his community to help save the life of a young girl.New York City cab driver Ben Wilson was enjoying his drive to the airport that February morning in 1952. His passenger was his WWII Army buddy, pilot Joe Martinez, who’d just formed a small air cargo company with two weathered C-47s, luck, and a prayer. With the best of intentions the men promise to stay in touch.The year passes quickly, filled with extraordinary news events. The height of the polio epidemic spreads across America—with no vaccine available. Candidates spar in a Presidential election year. The Senate votes for sweeping immigration reform. Two US citizens remain jailed for conspiring with the Russian government. And July becomes the hottest month ever recorded for New York. A great year for news stories and a banner year for newspapers. In December, a cocky young reporter named David Lindsey is assigned to interview “the Santa Claus Girl,” now a principal at P.S. 401 at New York General Hospital, where classes are held for children unable to attend traditional schools. After an eye-opening interview, David learns that a little girl was recently hospitalized with the onset of polio. The girl’s life depends on treatment in an iron lung, but because of the scale of the epidemic none are available. The reporter stumbles upon the story of Ben and Joe who’ve devised a daring plan to procure a respirator for the young patient. Ben reveals they were inspired by their former teacher Virginia O’Hanlon, the subject of David’s interview. Unaware of the story’s front-page potential, the rookie reporter unwittingly amplifies the plans of the humble do-gooders. But Ben must overcome a race against time, public fear of the disease, and demons from his past, to transport the life-saving machine to NYC. When a snowstorm threatens to close the airports, can the cabbie’s colleagues mobilize to rescue the mission before it’s too late? Armed with a new angle on his holiday story, the once cynical reporter discovers the power of the press is matched by the larger power of the people who unite for the greater good. www.thesantaclausgirl.com
✔ Author(s): Patricia P Goodin
✔ Title: The Santa Claus Girl
✔ Rating : 4.5 out of 5 base on (365 reviews)
✔ ISBN-10: 0578776367
✔ ISBN-13: 9780578776361
✔ Language: English
✔ Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
✔ Device compatibles: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle
Readers' opinions about The Santa Claus Girl by Patricia P Goodin
Melody Blake
I must confess, this book made me shed tears like never before. The themes of love, loss, and resilience struck a chord with my soul. It was an emotional journey I'm grateful to have taken.
Katherine Stevenson
I loved the powerful messages hidden within the story. The book tackled important social issues and made me ponder the world we live in. It's a must-read for everyone.
Daphne Garner
The characters in this book felt like old friends, and I was sad to say goodbye to them at the end. It's a testament to the author's talent for creating memorable and relatable personas.
