The year is 1991 and 11-year old Lee loves everything about the holiday season: Christmas trees, the lights, songs of the season, the tradition, and yes, even snow. Almost equal to her love of Santa is a love of building snow forts in December. A tradition she missed last year thanks to the lack of snow, but one she hopes to take advantage of this year.
One week before Christmas, Lee is in full countdown mode. Snow has started to fall, the decorations are ready to be put up, and she's even prepping for her part in the school's Christmas program. Even as her three siblings attempt to distract her from truly enjoying the Christmas season, Lee maintains a happy disposition as the big day approaches, dreaming of the purple ten-speed bike that tops her Christmas list. Alongside her best friend Stacy, Lee aims to make this the best Christmas yet.
Lee's goals for a perfect last week before Christmas slowly start to fall apart, whether it's dealing with her family, the return of her former best friend, challenging the queen of the fifth grade, or attempting to identify with the pain of Stacy and her family, who have recently suffered a loss.
With Christmas Day fast approaching, Lee's faith and holiday spirit are put to the test. Can she remain on her best behavior? Is there a way to help Stacy? Will there be enough snow to build the grandest snow fort ever created? In her attempt to do all of this and more, with her faith in the season and mankind waning, Lee must re-discover her joy or risk watching another December pass her by.
