Wreath, a Girl (A Wreath Willis Novel)

How could a sixteen-year-old girl live in a junk yard her senior year while she keeps up her appearance so well that she sets the fashion trends for her school? Wreath makes it possible for a reader to believe such a thing could happen. Wreath is a greater-than-life character. Starving, she maintains her attractive appearance and super strength. She passes through a year in an abandoned van, where her companions are snakes, wild hogs, and mice. Wreath is a symbolic narrative. The title Wreath, the character Wreath, and the character Big Fun give the book the flavor of an allegory. It’s a bit like John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, with its characters Pilgrim and Christian. The discussion questions at the end continue to develop the impression that the book is a teaching tool developed to influence the thinking of teenagers. Each person needs to formulate her own opinion about what the story is teaching. Without preaching, the author gently takes the main character on a journey from not knowing about God to trusting in the goodness and power of God. Wreath, a Girl, has an abundance of coincidences, which require the reader to ponder over the cogency of the plot. The author is able to make the reader enjoy the anticipation of the implausible events. What matters most is that the book, Wreath, a Girl, engages the reader so much it’s impossible to stop reading except for the unavoidable interruptions of living until the story comes to an end. Also, the novel has a magnificent beginning. The first chapter grabbed my attention as Judy Christie jumped into the middle of Wreath’s thoughts and precarious situation. It’s exciting that the book has a sequel, Wreath in Summer.

Wreath and her mother, Frankie, live as transients never able to call any place home. After Wreath’s father dies in an accident, Frankie is not able to find love. Instead,o she struggles financially and finally settles for a relationship with an abusive man known as Big Fun (Fred). When Frankie gets sick and knows she mooay die, she comes up with a plan to protect Wreath and secure her future. However, when Wreath is faced with the challenges of executing the plan, she alters it in ways that lead to an unexpected outcome. This book will keep you engaged to the very end. Christie creates great characters and develops a story that is suspenseful and satisfying.

Wreath is a lovely, talented orphan trying to make it on her own living in a junkyard and hiding from her mother's vicious boyfriend. She wins her way into the hearts of many of the townsfolk and into the heart of the reader too! I loved her tenacity and resourcefulness. In situations where her life could have been easier if she stole or lied, she held on to her strong sense of what is right. Many of the situations in the book are pretty fantastic. I find it hard to believe everyone suddenly enjoyed wearing outdated yard sale knock offs, and I didn't completely understand what was happening with the store. I can't imagine anyone enrolling in school without a birth certificate and proof of residence. However, the story works. It's a delightful read and I look forward to reading the next one. (I believe there are several places where perhaps it was re written and mistakes happened. For example, Faye was putting together a purple and gold box...that seemed to become brown and pink...but overall the writing was of good quality.)

This stand-alone is easy to follow and difficult to put down. No editing errors, graphic violence or drag-you-down drama. Intriguing storyline with descriptive writing that draws the reader into the emotions of all characters. Realistic procedures, actions and reactions. Believable characters with distinct personalities. Thought-provoking dialogue and great review questions. No desire to re-read this story. I am always interested in other works by this author

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. From the beginning it got my attention and kept it. "Wreath, a Girl" is one of those books I had a hard time putting down each time I picked it up. Judy Christie took me on a journey with this girl. I hoped for her, feared for her, loved her, and wanted the very best to happen for her. It was amazing how God put people in her life at every turn, and when she thought she was all alone in this world God helped her have relationships with people who fell in love with her and did all to help her.In the end, one of these people turned out to be a long lost family member, so she found she really wasn't alone in this world in more ways than one. If you read this book, you will fall in love with Wreath, too, I am sure.

I liked the book and the characters(except for Big Fun). Although some of it seems unrealistic for a young girl to come to Landry, which is small town, and lives in the junkyard for a year without anyone knowing where she is living. And it talks about her going through the junkyard and finding a bunch of vintage clothing to wear, which seems like the clothing would be dirty and smelly. Yet there is no mention of her washing her clothes before wearing them. Her deceased mother's boyfriend coming to that town was a surprise to me, but then it seems like he is from there(which is where her mother and father came from). I did wonder why he was so set on finding her, but it is revealed near the end. I would have liked to hear about the prom too. Law and Wreath are good together and it was interesting to see how many friends Wreath made despite wanting to be a loner.I was worried she wouldn't be able to graduate and go to college after putting a fake name on the papers. Nice ending.