The Holly Wreath Man

by Christopher Scanlan, Katharine Fair

Handmade Christmas wreaths used to be a cottage industry in the United States. City dwellers would order them every year to add a touch of the forest to their holiday decorating. Farmers living hand to mouth would make and sell the wreaths every December in order to afford a Christmas of their own. The trade disappeared in the 1970s due to the increasing popularity of imitation evergreen, minimum wage laws, and new fire codes. The Holly Wreath Man evokes this lost craft along with the lost true meaning of Christmas. The story centers on Jeff Henderson, a frenetic executive who is separated from his wife and is struggling to co-parent two children. When his kids run away, he ends up back on the holly farm where he spent his childhood with his mother and grandfather. An injury and a subsequent dream transport him back to the days of helping his family and community make holly wreaths. A snowstorm, runaway children, and his past and present relationships-including a troubled one with his own son-all play a part in this moving tale of rediscovering what is truly important in life. The Holly Wreath Man has proven so popular that it is being made into a television movie. AMUSE, the television/movie development arm of Andrews McMeel Universal, has partnered with Chris/Rose Productions for it's development.

Genres: Christmas

112 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[Heather]

Closer to 3.5, but it’s Christmas and I’m feeling generous, so let’s round up.

[Bernardine Estanich]

Holly

I enjoyed this book. It transported me back to my 70s. Oh yes I was a plastic person. I wanted a real wreath
I feel this book is a great family read.

[pdarnold]

A bitter sweet trip down memory lane. Strife and healing. Trying to keep a family together and learning what's important.

Christmas, holly, wreaths, family, stubbornness, searching for what's good and true, wage laws, heartbreak and love, friendship and community.

[Laura]

This could be a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie! Maybe it already is and I just don't know it.

[Monica]

I enjoyed this book I thought the last few chapters were the best. I liked the part after Jeff visited NYC. It was an easy read and 2 of my children read it also.

[Alecia]

Cute quick read. Sweet Christmas story. Good reminder of what's important. Made me cry (big surprise)!

[Jane Patterson]

This is not really a book but a 150 page story. Read it in one day. It's a feel good story.