Book Review--The Memory Keeper's Daughter

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter
By Kim Edwards

I thought I had to read this book for a project. Turns out I didn’t, but more than one person said it was really good. And it was at some levels. The premise is that when a physician/father discovered that one of his new-born twins has Downs Syndrome, he gives her away and tells his wife that she died. His goal is to prevent the sadness and pain of having a disabled child in the family. It is a spur of the moment decision, and by the time he regrets it he can’t take it back. The rest of his life, and his wife’s and his son’s are deeply marred by the missing daughter/sister and the lie he never confesses. Meanwhile, the Downs baby grows up healthy, happy and loved. Edwards explores family dynamics from an interesting perspective. It looks at disability from several angles, including its impact on a family, a parent, a brother and the adoptive parents. Plenty of food for thought and worth the read.