The Oak Leaves

March 26, 2007
After Talie Ingram finds an old family journal while helping clean her mother's house, she enthusiastically settles down to read about the life of her ancestress Cosima Escott Hamilton, whose diary dates as far back as 1849. From the very beginning, Lang, a romance novelist and author of Pieces of Silver, deftly navigates back and forth in history between Cosima's 19th-century confessions about the strange circumstances surrounding her family and betrothal to Sir Reginald Hale and Talie's growing, present-day fears about her heritage and its potential impact on her beloved son, Ben. With each passing day, Ben shows more signs of struggle with tasks that even the smallest toddlers usually have mastered; waving goodbye, chewing food, and crawling are beyond his grasp. This causes Talie to wonder if the family "curse" Cosima writes about-that the women on her father's side only produce "slow-witted children"-is more than mere legend. The bulk of this tale is really Cosima's, centering on the complications that ensue regarding her postponed marriage to Sir Reginald and the deep feelings she develops for another man. And it's Cosima's lingering voice-her determination and faith-that inspires Talie to reconcile her son's diagnosis of fragile X syndrome (a disability Lang's own son suffers from) with her belief that God is merciful.

June 1, 2007
Lang ("Pieces of Silver") tells alternating stories set in Victorian England and modern times in this mystery about accepting God's will. Talie Ingram finds an old family diary discussing a secret tragedy that affected her ancestors' children. As the history unfolds, Talie begins to suspect her own son might suffer from the same fragile X syndrome (a form of mental retardation) about which her great-great-great-grandmother, Cosima Hamilton, wrote more than 100 years ago. This novel was inspired by Lang's own similar experiences. Such firsthand knowledge and her skillful use of flashbacks make this clever tale of deceit and revenge as entertaining as it is enlightening. A tender account of unconditional love and the deeper joy that results from overcoming the odds, Lang's latest is recommended for all collections and is an essential read for those with fragile X syndrome in their families.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.