The Tree Nobody Wanted, A Christmas Story
Tom McCann
Exeter Press, $14.95, 40 pages, ISBN: 9780979740701
reviewed by Barry Hunter

In this partially autobiographical story, McCann relates the adventures of a young boy being raised by his grandmother in 1946 Brooklyn and how they spent Christmas that year.

As with many poor people, they would wait until the tree vendors left the unsold trees on the lots and they would pick them out one from what was left. This year, the tree he picks is not the best, or the biggest but one that seems to be perfect for their needs.

Nanny puts their prize possessions on the tree and they seem to have one of the best Christmas’ ever even if it is filled with only memories. After Christmas, rather than tossing out the tree, the boy takes it to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and leaves it with a group of pine trees and the real miracle happens.

McCann has written a touching memorial to the simpler times and how people made it through tough times with love and caring. Miracles may not have always happened like they did in this book, but sometimes when a miracle happens we might not realize it. Get this one before Christmas and read it to the family around the Christmas Tree.