The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards ***1/2

This book surprised me. I enjoyed it more than I expected. The cover informs you that the basic story is about a couple that give birth to the second infant of fraternal twins (a boy and a girl). The father, David, is a doctor and delivered the two infants at his office in the midst of a snow storm. The baby girl has Down syndrome and the father makes arrangements to put her in an Institution without consulting the mother. He informs the baby was still born.

I assumed the story would be about the little girl. However, the novel focuses on the arbitrary decision that was made by David and the impact it has on him, his wife, the son and the nurse who was instructed to take the baby to the Care Facility.
The plot is complicate by the fact that the nurse does not leave the baby at the Institution but takes the baby, named Phoebe, as her own, moves to another city and raises her.

The dynamics of both families are greatly influenced by the decision and pervade their existence for the chronological period (1964 – 1984) that is covered in the book. By the conclusion we are reminded that making decisions without involving the input of those who will be affected by the decision can have extraordinary impact. Although it is not stated, we also know that involving them in such decisions of such magnitude also has the potential for the same.

The focus on the issue of Down syndrome is woven tastefully as the novel progresses, and ultimately raises the reader’s consciousness by the time the infant has grown to adulthood.