The Ornaments at the Back of the Tree

Today, my neighbor advised a book his brother wrote called The Ornaments at the Back of the Tree by Shawn and Amy MacGregor. All the ornaments love Christmastime and being hung on the tree, but they dread where they will be hung. The 'Backsiders' (you can guess where THEY will be put) are old and torn and frayed while the 'Frontsiders' are new and shiny. The Frontsiders gloat and compare each other on the front, but the Backsiders are shy and hang back. A new, special ornament arrives and takes the place of wise old partridge on the top. The Frontsiders love the angel's perfectness. But the Backsiders soon have enough of the shiny ornaments' bragging. They decide to try and tip the tree so the Frontsiders will be covered and they will be visible. The Backsiders aren't strong enough to fell the tree, but they are strong enough to knock the angel off. The angel was one of Nana's favorite things and Nana, who was adored by everyone, had just died of cancer. The family is devastated when they find the shattered doll. They try to piece the angel back together, but one of the eyes is missing. So all the ornaments, quarrel forgotten, hunt for the missing eye. The partridge and a sloppy wooden soldier set out together and look for the missing eye. They pass a mirror and the solider quickly passes by. The partridge asks why he doesn't like looking in a mirror. The wooden soldier says he does not like his messy face and loose joints. The partridge says he sees memories and Christmas' long ago. The partridge looks in the mirror and sees a solution. He tells the soldier to take his last eye and give it to the angel. At first the soldier hesitates but the partridge persuades him to take it. When the partridge gives up his eye, the angel is magically fixed. The family finds the angel fixed and on top of the tree. Standing by her side is the little wooden soldier, now proud to be at the front. When I first read the book, it left me with mystery and love. The partridge gave up his sight for the sounds of Christmas joy. The wooden soldier found joy in being messily done. I felt like the partridge was unable to find happines in a broken angel and a gloomly bird on the tree. It's worth it for that, huh? This is a great story for families all year round.-J.E.