Schmuck the Buck: Santa's Jewish Reindeer by EXO Books, Illustrated by Karina Shor (ARC) - Review

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I received a free ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Larry was just your regular caribou, who was cruelly excluded from his crew. He and his kin happened to be the sole Jewish reindeer in the North Pole. Larry was bullied and treated the worst way, until his plan saved one Christmas Day.

Schmuck the Buck: Santa's Jewish Reindeer is the newest release by EXO Books.  It's a 60 page holiday book that is illustrated by Karina Shor.  It's a modern and refreshing take on the classic Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  Usually, I'm not all that interested in holiday themed stories (and it's so early in the year), but I particularly enjoyed the voice and style of the author in their previous sci-fi novel, The Last Day of Captain Lincoln which I read during Sci-Fi Month back in 2016.  Although, the two couldn't be much different on the surface both have a great heart and provide intriguing social commentary with a touch of humor.  This tale, like that Christmas classic and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, also rhymes - you can get a bit of a sense in the summary.  While the rhymes may not quite roll off the tongue throughout, none of them feel forced or out of place.  This seasonal story also features fantastic full color art which I personally enjoyed a bit more than the style used in the author's previous release.  The art here certainly fits the tone and the little details throughout make it quite special to explore.  Overall, if you're looking for an illustrated Christmasy story with more of an adult tone, you may want to give this quick read a try.  Thanks again to EXO Books for this opportunity!

I read Schmuck the Buck on August 23, 2018 and it will be released on September 1st.