Friday Fiction: The Golden Hour by Carrie Brownell

Imagine a fantastical story that teaches children history. That’s what you’ll see in The Golden Hour, written by Carrie Brownell and illustrated by Hannah Hill. You’ll see wooden angels of Westminster Hall come to life and meet a boy who’ll grow up to become an important historical figure.

The book takes place at Christmastime in 1889, in London. I like how the narration captures the holiday coziness with plum pudding, flickering fires, lamplighters, and people settling down to sleep on Christmas Eve. The adventure itself begins at Westminster Hall, where wooden angels perch on overhanging beams. While the people of London are asleep, golden dust courses through the angels’ bodies, and they fly off their beams and sing “Gabriel’s Message” in remembrance of Christ’s birth. The golden dust contours the angels’ features, adding beauty to the pictures.

The main character is Benedict, an innocent and hopeful angel who loves the story of Gabriel and the Annunciation. He wishes he had a special job, even if it’s not as huge as Gabriel’s. The Hall’s door is open a crack, and he sneaks through it to explore London. In one illustration, he soars over London Bridge, and in another picture, he floats toward a boarding school. I get Peter Pan vibes as he flies with the golden dust trickling behind him.

Benedict does something he has never done before: befriend a human boy at the boarding school. The boy doesn’t shrink back from a living wooden angel, and his intelligence shines as he distinguishes Benedict as Cherub-like. Benedict feels compassion for him, as the lad is staying at the boarding school for Christmas. When they touch hands, something new surprises Benedict. A prophecy flows out of his mouth, telling the boy that London will be in danger, but the boy will save it. Courage emanates from the lad as he accepts the prophecy without trembling or protesting.

Many years later, danger comes to London. Only the angels feel it as a deep, sad darkness, especially as the lights in London, including the clock face of Big Ben, are dimmed. As readers continue reading, they will learn that this is World War II. London wins the war, and the angels’ light glows brighter, but more sadness happens at Christmas 1964. This time, it’s only felt by Benedict. The end of the book reveals the boy as Winston Churchill, who dies in January 1965. After his coffin is placed in the Hall, Benedict cries golden tears over it.

Readers will read historical facts related to the story: the building of Westminster Hall, the hymn “Gabriel’s Message,” and Winston Churchill’s dreams about Great Britain being in peril and him saving it. It’s creative that in this book, it’s the wooden angel who gives Winston the vision. Also, Brownell lists the definitions of the angels’ names, and considering their temperaments, their names are perfect. For example, Benedict means “blessed,” and Benedict is blessed to give Winston his message. His friend Valerius, whose name means “healthy,” is the grumpy angel, particularly when Benedict sneezes.

This picture book will appeal to children in grades first through fourth, and it’ll spark great discussions on how the historical events happened in real life. They can also talk about how creative Brownell and Hill are in retelling the story without ignoring the sadness of war and death. Despite the sadness, Christmas wonder is sprinkled throughout the tale. And who knows? You might add “Gabriel’s Message” to your list of favorite Christmas carols.

K.A. Ramstad lives at the foot of the Bitterroot Mountains in western Montana where wildlife—including moose—regularly pass by her house. She enjoys writing about young heroes, their travels, and their animal friends. She wants her readers to have fun in a fantastical world while encountering God-honoring themes.

Her short stories are featured in Chipper Press’ anthologies The Spelunkers and The Princess, and she’s featured in Beyond the Bookery’s Of Dangers and Dreams. Besides reading and writing stories, she loves coffee, her Corgi Maggie, and her cockapoo Benny.