Hi all! I hope you guys liked my review on Will Smith’s autobiography!
I’ve taken a break from biographies and this time I read something fictional. It’s by none other than Barbara Delinsky! And yes- she hits it out of the park yet again with Family Tree.
Let’s dive in, shall we?
This book tells the story of Dana and Hugh Clarke, who’re expecting their first child. When the time finally arrives, what’s supposed to be an ecstatic moment turns the couple’s lives upside down. Their newborn daughter, though beautiful and perfectly healthy, has darker skin and is discernably of African descent, despite both parents being Caucasian.
As you can imagine, many questions are raised about the girl’s heritage, particularly by Hugh’s parents. Hugh comes from an affluent background with careful documentation accounting for every family member. While on the other hand, Dana’s mother passed away when she was young, and she never knew her father.
Accusations of betrayal ensue, putting a strain on their relationship and the Clarke family questions facts they thought for their whole lives were true.
Dana and Hugh’s daughter’s birth takes them as well as those close to them on an explorative journey encompassing hard looks at internalized bigotry and classism, while most of all, engaging in much self-reflection.
Honestly, I did not want this book to end. I felt sad as I read the last page. I thought: “No! There has to be more!” I kid you not, every book Barbara Delinsky writes is so gripping that you think about them long after you’ve finished reading it. If I haven’t mentioned this already, (and I’m sure I have) her writing simply amazes me time and time again.
On top of that, I’ve been doing a lot of self-reflecting, so I really appreciate seeing authors go in-depth with their characters in this respect.
Overall, please take the time to seek out Family Tree. It’s a fantastic read that won’t disappoint.