Books : The Diamond in the Window (The Hall Family Chronicles)

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Rating:

- Read this book,it's great!
Eleanor and Edward were two normal children. They were raised by their aunt and uncle. One day when they were playing outside, Eleanor noticed a window made from stained glass that she had never seen before. It was very beautiful. Pink roses covered it, with shiny green leaves and a background of blue zigzagging lines. She knew that she would have remembered if she had ever looked out of that window before. Eleanor and Edward decided to look for the beautiful window. They looked everywhere inside their house. When all of a sudden they found a trap door on the ceiling. They pulled a string from the ceiling and out slid some steps.They stepped up to the room. It was a small room with two beds.The window was in between the two beds.It was Ned and Noras room. Their aunt told them that Ned and Nora had been missing for years. They had to find them. Every night that they spend in Ned and Nora's room they have dreams that take them to a magical world. In the magical world they find clues to rescue Ned and Nora. Every dream gets them a step closer to Ned and Nora.

I think this book is good to read for all ages. I think the author did a good job writing this book because I could understand every sentence in the book. When you read this book it makes you fell like you are not only reading the book but you are a character in the book,experiencing all the events in the book. If you like mysterious and funny stories, this book is for you.

Rating:

- Thrills with a touch of Transcendentalism - and treasure
The Diamond in the Window is the start of Jane Langton's Concord series (for children, unlike much of her writing). It is, without question, one of the true classics of children's literature, fit to stand next to E. Nesbit, Edward Eager, and J.K. Rowling.

In The Diamond in the Window, Eleanor and Edward discover a boarded up room in their attic - and with it, a family mystery. Their Uncle Ned and Aunt Nora disappeared, years ago, from that attic room, and a few days later, so did a houseguest. While investigating the disappearances, they find a poem written on the stained glass window of the attic, which leads them to adventure and treasure.

One of Langton's great strengths is the amount of adult references she can pack into a book without alienating her child audience. Diamond is full of Transcendentalism and the history of Concord, but the information is presented in a way that makes it accessible to readers of all ages. This is an ideal book for reading aloud to an older kid (6 - 10) - sure to promote discussion, and able to hold interest for both adults and children.

Rating:

- Passing it on!
A watershed event occured for me this weekend when my daughter asked about this book as I put it securely in a place of honor on a new bookshelf. I was lucky enough to find an older hardbound last year with the classic 'orange' cover. I explained the story in general and told her she could read this copy, just take very good care of it. She has begun to read the book and I am almost envious as she discovers the mystery of the riddle. I recall the summer that I had the good fortune to check this out from the library for the summer reading club. I clearly remember reading it in my back yard on the evening of the summer solstice. Every time I read the poem etched in the window, I still get shivers... 'transcendental treasures, which of them is best?' The whole series! My collection of the Hall books is near complete, with only "The Fledgling" to be added. Jane Langton, you are much loved by this reader's family! OUT KNAHT!

Rating:

- The ultimate children's fantasy book
I first read this book when I was in elementary school, and it took me about 10 years to find my own copy (from amazon, nonetheless). Although I think the stuff about transcendentalism and Emerson and Thoreau might be a little deep for the average 7 or 8 year old, I highly recommend this fantasy for children and adults of all ages. You won't want to leave the world of dreams-that-turn-nightmares that Eleanor and Eddy are drawn into, and I love figuring out which part of the riddle goes with which dream. All in all, a book I am sure to read again and again and enjoy every time.

Rating:

- This book is the diamond in MY window!
This book is abosolutely great! I read it about a year ago, and I've read at least five times since then. It's about two kids named Eleanor and Eddy, and a riddle they stumble upon in their own house. They got all sorts of clues, such as real dreams, to find the treasure described in it. They end up learning that it was right there in front of them.

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