First sentence: Carla Mae and I were sitting in our little kitchen at the old wooden table, with our spoons poised in mid-air. In front of each of us was a hard-boiled egg perched in an egg cup. We both stared intently at the faces we had drawn on our eggs. The longer the stare, the better the hex. "Who's yours today?" she asked. "Billy Wild," I said, making a face.

The House Without a Christmas Tree is a nice holiday read. Addie Mills is the ten-year-old heroine in the novel. As Christmas approaches, she has one thing on her mind. Will this be the year that her Father gives in her begging--her pleading, her imploring--and buys a Christmas tree? Or will this be another disappointing Christmas season? She can't ever recall having a tree of her very own. She's not sure she completely believes her father's excuse that since they'll be spending Christmas day at her uncle's house--and he has a tree--that there is no need for a tree of their own. Her grandmother is on her side. But both seem a bit timid, and hesitant, to speak their full minds in front of Father.

Here are some other things it's nice to know about Addie:

She is best, best friends with Carla Mae.
She is worst friends with Tanya Smithers.
She definitely does not like-like Billy Wild. (Or does she?)
She loves her Grandma, and feels fiercely protective of her.
She loves but does not understand her Father at all.
She feels very misunderstood by her Father.
She's curious about the mother she never knew.

The book is set in a small town in 1946.

I have read this one a handful of times through the years. I do like revisiting the characters and their complex relationships. There are three more books, I believe, in the series. I have not read them all. But I'd be interested in reading them if I can find them. ( )

I remember watching this movie as a kid. Really enjoyed the book. ( )

A cute story about a young girl living with her father and eccentric grandmother. Every year she begs in vain for her father to buy a Christmas tree. However Addie is now ten years old, and determined that things will be different this year. ( )

This is a terribly sweet and heart warming Christmas story. Its all about family and caring about other people more than yourself.

I would recomend this to anyone really, who just wants a heartwarming story. However, I think it would be a lovely family read around the holidays. Something to help kids to understand the real reason for the season. ( )

Addie Mills just wants to have a Christmas tree like her classmates. But she has to contend with her grouchy father who seems to lack interest in Christmas trees and sadly, has a poor relationship with Addie.
Addie's mother has passed away and Addie relies on her loving and compassionate Grandmother for advice.
This book is beautifully written and hopeful. ( )