The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

The unnamed narrator of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is an elementary school girl. She is curious about the Herdmans, excited about Christmas, and mostly indifferent to the Christmas pageant itself. She functions as the reader’s guide. The fact that she evolves throughout the story makes her a more reliable narrator since her experience feels more real than other characters who serve as mere plot points or comic relief.

Initially, she is clearly aware of how to turn a clever, humorous phrase when she describes the Herdmans:

The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lied and stole and smoked cigars (even the girls) and talked dirty and hit little kids and cussed their teachers and took the name of the Lord in vain and set fire to Fred Shoemaker’s old broken-down toolhouse (1).

Regardless of whether she enjoys the performative narration, the narrator is initially skeptical—and slightly afraid—when the Herdmans join the Christmas pageant. She is not close-minded toward them, but it has never occurred to her that they might change in any way. However, she is insightful enough to recognize hypocrisy and to admit her ignorance when necessary.

The narrator receives a gift from the Herdmans: They remind her that not everyone knows the Christmas story.