Meet 13-year-old Rubie. She's rich, beautiful, and she knows it. She rules her school and isn't afraid to use her power, regularly making some of the other kids and even her nerdy new little stepbrother, Elliot, cry. In other words, she's a classic bully. Every bully has their "favorite" victim, and Rubie’s is Olivia, who isn't nearly as rich or as pretty as her. Rubie goes out of her way to make her life miserable.
Rubie's father takes Rubie to meet the mall Santa, Freddie De Grate, where she lists a long string of Christmas gifts she wants. The mall Santa tells Rubie that she doesn’t know the spirit of Christmas, and Rubie snaps that he’s not the REAL Santa because, as she implies, she can have him fired if he doesn’t do exactly what she wants. The dynamic is clear: the family’s wealth and Rubie’s arrogance are intertwined with a diet of power and control.
On Christmas Eve, Rubie hears a noise in the house and discovers Santa coming down the chimney. But this Santa isn’t the jolly storybook figure; it’s the same mall Santa. He tells Rubie that she is ugly on the inside and that he will make her as ugly on the outside as she is on the inside. Rubie initially believes she’s dreaming, but come Christmas morning, she wakes to find that the transformation has begun: frizzy hair, pimples, hair everywhere, a unibrow, scars on her face, and bad teeth. Ironically, Elliot experiences the opposite transformation: with a new look, he sheds thick glasses, a haircut, and a wardrobe that places him among the popular kids. The changes shake the family, and Rubie’s father and stepmother, Patricia, worry about both children.
That Christmas Eve marks the beginning of a harsh lesson. Patricia delegates a full makeover at a high-end salon, but no cosmetic fix can erase Rubie’s inner cruelty. The visit from Santa makes Rubie confront a crucial truth: to reverse the spell, she must obtain a real gift from a real friend by the next Christmas. Rubie realizes the path won’t be easy and that she has no true friends to rely on.
The school year resumes with Rubie bracing for judgment. At first she tries to hide under a head scarf, hoping her new look goes unnoticed, but the truth comes out, and she begins to move from bully to target. Meanwhile, Elliot’s new appearance gives him a social boost, and he starts to imitate Rubie’s old behavior, catching the eye of the popular crowd. Patricia grows increasingly determined to teach both kids a deeper lesson: the outside appearance is far less important than the inside character.
Over time, both Rubie and Elliot recalibrate their attitudes. Rubie slowly learns to see past her own status and begins to reach out to Olivia, the girl she had tormented, discovering a shared love of astronomy that leads them to space camp together during the summer. This unlikely friendship becomes a turning point for Rubie, who starts to understand that genuine connection matters far more than social advantage.
Back at home, the Christmas season returns, and Rubie resists asking for anything for herself. Instead, she aims to repair what she damaged. On Christmas Eve, Rubie tries to mend the rift with Olivia by offering a very thoughtful, expensive necklace to replace the one Olivia had worn—only to learn from Olivia’s father that the “ratty” necklace once belonged to Olivia’s late mother. The gesture backfires, leaving Rubie feeling hurt and uncertain. Santa returns, reminding Rubie that he prefers the new, kinder version of her and encouraging her not to abandon the progress she’s made.
Guided by this renewed sense of generosity, Rubie seeks a heartfelt gift rather than a pricey one. She crafts a scrapbook that documents their friendship and travels to Olivia’s apartment to apologize in person. The act of apology—paired with a sincere scrapbook—touches Olivia, who responds with a scrapbook of her own. This exchange marks Rubie’s first real gift and signals a return to her true self. By Christmas morning, Rubie and Elliot reappear in their original shapes, and they emerge with a deeper appreciation for compassion and empathy.
Back in school, the social landscape shifts again. Rubie’s renewed kindness wins back friends, but she chooses to align with Olivia and her brother, the one small circle that now feels like a real support system. The story closes on a note of growth: Rubie’s power is tempered by care for others, and her friendship with Olivia—and a shared curiosity about the stars—becomes the anchor of her better self.
