The Diamond in the Window

Hall Family Chronicles #1

by Jane Langton

A mysterious poem and a series of dreams compel young Edward and Eleanor to search for Prince Krishna's treasure.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Mystery, Young Adult, Magic

Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

Langton was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She studied astronomy at Wellesley College and the University of Michigan, receiving a bachelor's degree in 1944. She received an M.A. in art history from the University of Michigan in 1945, and another M.A. from Radcliffe College in 1948. She studied at the Boston Museum School from 1958 to 1959.

In 1961 Langton wrote and illustrated her first book for children, The Majesty of Grace, a story about a young girl during the Depression who is certain she will some day be Queen of England. Langton has since written a children's series, The Hall Family Chronicles, and the Homer Kelly murder mystery novels. She has also written several stand-alone novels and picture books.

Langton's novel The Fledgling is a Newbery Honor book. Her novel Emily Dickinson is Dead was nominated for an Edgar Award and received a Nero Award. The Face on the Wall was an editors' choice selection by The Drood Review of Mystery for 1998.

Langton lives in Lincoln, Massachusetts, near the town of Concord, the setting of many of her novels. Her husband, Bill, died in 1997. Langton has three adult sons: Chris, David and Andy.

Series:
* Hall Family
* Homer Kelly Mystery

Reviews

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been looking for this book for decades (under the wrong title) and finally found it on a vintage children's fiction blog...and on eBay. Reading this book again after more than 40 years was one of those rare times when something actually is as good as the memory. The Diamond in the Window is a top notch children's book for any decade. Even for adults, it's both a fun and gripping read, and filled with valuable, not-too-pedantic lessons for children (and grown-ups too). The "funny uncle" character, Uncle Freddy, is a brilliant addition to the story because his nutty antics hold the reader's interest while serving as a primer to the Transcendentalist movement. It's a scintillating tale about two good little children who save the day. Loved it. I won't be letting this one go a second time.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I read it in sixth grade. The story stuck with me through the years -- probably more than any other novel I read at that age. It's spooky and unpredictable and completely engaging. But as much as I liked it, I forgot the title. I was thrilled when I finally figured out the title and got a copy of it as an an adult.
I think young readers might be impatient with all the information on transcendentalism. I suspect I skimmed through some of that as a kid, but it obviously did not hamper my enjoyment of the novel.

[Jennifer Ritchie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those books where it’s difficult to decide on a star rating. If I were only evaluating the book’s artistic/literary merit, I’d give it five stars. But from a philosophical/worldview perspective, I’d give it one star.

One thing you need to know about this book is that it is set in Concord, Massachusetts, a place that is known for its association with Transcendentalist writers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Louisa May Alcott also came from Concord, and her father, Bronson Alcott, was also associated with the Transcendentalist movement. This book is built firmly on the foundation of the ideas of the Transcendentalists, as all three of these authors are quoted many times and at length, and the philosophical ideas are deeply embedded in the structure of the story.

Now, a children’s book based on the Transcendentalist worldview is a problem for me, since as a Bible-believing Christian I recognize that, while Emerson and Thoreau are very eloquent, and their ideas often sound quite nice on the surface, their worldview is completely incompatible with authentic, Biblical Christianity. If I were to have my kids read this book, I’d have a lot of explaining and teaching to do, to help them sort through the truth and falsehood.

But the problem is even worse than that. The main characters of this book are portrayed as going to church, singing real hymns both at church and around the house (the hymns are quoted in the text), and quoting the Bible, while at the same time they are passionate Transcendentalists. In some of the fantasy sequences of the book, Christianity and Transcendentalism are referenced side-by-side: in one place, we see Jesus carrying a bright light that signifies truth, but Emerson and Thoreau come along later carrying truth-lights as well. When the children are trapped in a maze and must come up with noble thoughts to escape each room, quotes from Emerson and Thoreau work just as well as Bible verses. This attempt at syncretism is disturbing to me.

The story is very clean, and the characters seem very morally upright; if the reader isn’t paying close attention, he is likely to see these references to Christianity and think that it’s just a nice, wholesome, Christian story. But as I pointed out, the real foundation of the story is NOT Christianity, it’s Transcendentalism; and Transcendentalism is NOT compatible with the Biblical Christian worldview.

My kids are probably discerning enough to recognize a bad word when they see it, or to recognize a bad attitude as something that is wrong, but at this point they are not discerning enough to sort out this tangled philosophical mess. It’s a shame, because Langton was clearly a gifted writer, and the story is quite compelling and full of wonderfully relatable characters. But there are lots of great books out there for kids that aren’t so potentially confusing and deceptive, so we’ll be giving this one a miss.

[CLM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently I found the scrap of paper upon which Ms. Langton drew me a map so I could find the house in that inspired her! Unfortunately, when my friends and I went to Concord we found out the house is no longer there.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sexism fairy has slightly visited this book since my last read - Edward is a lot more proactive and decisive than Eleanor, he is going to grow up to be President, and she is not going to worry so much about her red hair and freckles - but other than that it was the same charming story I remember.

A large part of the charm is the interior illustrations that just capture the spirit of the book but the story itself gives moral lessons, and an education in Louisa May Alcott, Emerson and Thoreau thrown in for free, without being preachy or talking down to children. It is also structured for an ideal bedtime read.

Edward and Eleanor need to save their house from repossession by an evil bank (nothing much changes) whilst also solving the mystery of how their aunt and uncle vanished when they were children many years ago. Could the two be linked?

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just read this for the first time and I don't think it has aged particularly well. The first chapters had such promise, with a crumbling old house I would have loved to live in as a kid, two adventurous protagonists with fun quirks, and an intriguing mystery for them to solve. However, as Eddy and Eleanor began to dive into their Transcendentalist dreams, the book began to lose me. I appreciate the attempt to teach readers about Transcendentalism in such an imaginative way, but it came off as moralistic and ham-handed. I didn't think the dream/fantasy sequences were well-integrated with the daily lives of Eddy and Eleanor, and I was frustrated that the "rules" for the fantasy realm were unclear to me; each dream was so different than the last. I wanted to know how Krishna had the power to create the dreams; it seemed like he was just plugged into this "mysterious man of the Orient" stereotype. His characterization was part of an overall Western- and Christian-leaning bias in the book. Perhaps it is unfair of me to take contemporary mores and foist them onto a 50-year-old book, but the dream of a parade of truth seekers who prominently included Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, followed by Jesus, was a little much for me to take. The "happily-ever-after" ending didn't feel earned, and I was annoyed that character believability seemed to take a backseat to the working out of the plot. Aunt Lily was entirely too accepting of the initial disappearance of her siblings, and of the flimsiness of the story they concocted to explain their disappearance after their return. Uncle Freddy's madness and return to sanity were just too convenient. I can see how I might have enjoyed this more as a kid, but as an adult reader trying it for the first time, it felt dated and didactic.

[Amanjot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a Christmas gift when I was eight, I am now 30. I still find myself entirely enchanted by its wonders. The characters are so well developed, I still have a soft spot for poor Uncle Freddy and his embroideries. What a wonderful introduction this is to some of our most influential and revered historical figures: Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau. I also loved the mystical elements of India and the Transcendental movement as a whole. Superbly thought out and executed, Ms. Langton's work in this novel never fails to delight in this unusual and captivating tale. Ms. Langton has a wonderful sensibility for creating appreciation for artifacts both physical and intellectual. The novel is able to smoothly offer the idea of choosing wisely now for the future you create for yourself, but it never comes off as preachy. I was so thrilled the day I was able to put up a gazing globe in my own yard, and those of you who read this treasure will know why!

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A curious book - there are some aspects that reminded me of Treasure of Green Knowe and others that reminded me of an E. Nesbit - I think it's The Enchanted Castle. There's also a connection to The Best of Enemies.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a child and still like it as an old lady. The situation of the family (genteel poverty) is background for a series of adventures in dreams shared by the young brother and sister. Images stick with me--the scene with the chambered nautilus and the footprints in the sand, the wedding dress made of snowflakes, the hall of mirrors, the evil jack-in-the-box, the imprisoning bubbles, the diamond. I also like the interracial marriage. That is very unusual for a kids' book of 1962, especially as no big deal is made of it. By a stroke of good luck, I grew up in a literate household, so was able to appreciate the references to the transcendentalists and reformers of the 19th century. I read this the first time in 1964 or so and the last time possibly two years ago. I've read one or two of the sequels and don't think they live up to this book.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I re-read this children's novel that I hadn't read since childhood. It's always interesting to see how a book strikes me differently at different ages.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best kids' books I've ever read--it's mysterious, funny, smart, touching, suspenseful, and thought-provoking.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I *might* have enjoyed this when I was child. But it left me flat now, and this is my second attempt. I guess I never felt like the magic was following any interesting rules, as it does in, say, Eager's series. And the casual sexism is downright painful... why are all the footprints left by great men? Why is Louisa assumed to be in need of a wedding? Etc.

I do see my review on librarything ... not sure why I gave it four stars then... only two now, so reporting the average of three.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Diamond in the Window" was a book I read to my kids this summer. I use the term "kids" loosely, as they're now 12, 14, and 16. Moms out there, enjoy your days of reading to your kids! I really do -- or did -- but by this age, I have to say that they (or at least certain ones) are far less amenable to being read to than they used to be.

Anyway, one daughter recommended this book after reading a review of it. I did like it. It was written in the '60s, and I tend to like that because all of our politically-correct, quota-requiring type stuff of modern books isn't around in books like these. It's really refreshing! This book is the tale of Edward and Eleanor Hall, two orphaned kids who live with their sweet, hard-working aunt and their scholarly-but-decidedly-quirky uncle. About the time that their house is going to be taken away due to tax issues (gee, I guess the book is kind of current!), they stumble upon a mystery: apparently, two children lived in this house years back, but they disappeared. Eddy and Eleanor set out to discover what happened to them, and along the way they save the family home. Hooray!

Along the way, you'll learn more about Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, transcendentalism (!) and more. It's a smart book that doesn't talk down to kids. Several times, it reminded me of The Mysterious Benedict Society -- another book about (and appealing to) smart kids. Recommended.

[Cindy Amrhein · Rating 5 out of 5]

You may not have heard of The Diamond in the Window by Jane Langton. I recently bought a used paperback on Amazon , but the first edition to the left (1962) is the one that caught my attention when I pulled it from the shelf at the library when I was about 12. It had a profound influence on my imagination as a child.

Eddy and Eleanor lived in a cool old house in Concord, MA. Their family was a bit odd. One day they notice the diamond shaped attic window and realized they’d never been up there so off they go. Weirder than their family is the scattered toys around the room and empty beds as if two children had been there. Their aunt tells them her brother and sister, Ned and Nora, had vanished from the room and no trace was ever found. Eddy and Eleanor move into the attic to try and solve the mystery and start to have shared dreams in which they see Ned and Nora. Did I say there was magic and treasure?

I loved this book and never realized, aside from being an awesome story, it was about Transcendentalism. Who knew? I think it subconsciously opened my mind to other possibilities for the unexplained as ever since then I’ve loved mysteries, ghosts and the like. I never knew there are more in the series so I will have to try and get copies of those.

It made my list of top five all time favorite books. http://historysleuth.org/2013/03/chil...

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young adult novel, probably the first I read that hit me as a novel, one I read to my own kids when they were young. But be sure you get the version with Langton’s own drawings in them—before the Homer Kelly series.

[Maggi Rohde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book numerous times. I love the combination of family story, fantasy and philosophy, not to mention the literary & historical references. Reading it aloud to my children was great fun. My 9-year-old son's reaction: "Can we read the next one?"

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed revisiting this book as an adult, and found it very engaging and fun! However, I did only rate is as 4 stars due to the sexism and stereotyping throughout the book (ie. bad man from bank is fat, evil villain has a hooked nose, whenever Eleanor runs into a problem Eddy has to save the day, etc).

[EMMA · Rating 4 out of 5]

i worried it wouldn’t hold up to my memories of it as a kid, but this is such a lovely little book! i definitely didn’t understand all the transcendentalism but rereading it it’s a really nice overview of emerson and thoreau (with a little louisa may alcott thrown in!)

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because a good friend told me it was his favorite book while growing up. I’m sad I didn’t read it as a child. It’s magical! Reminded me of A Wrinkle in Time.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.

The Diamond in the Window is the first book in Jane Langton’s Hall Family Chronicles. Main characters Edward and Eleanor become intrigued when they learn that two children named Ned and Nora disappeared from their home’s attic bedroom years ago, and they decide to sleep there themselves and investigate. In a series of dreams, they follow Ned and Nora on a treasure hunt, occasionally spotting them, but finding it impossible to catch up. As the dreams become more intense, they realize that if they are not careful, they might meet the same end as the disappeared children, but that they also might be the only people who can save them.

The Fledgling, which is the fourth book of this series, and the first one I read, impressed me so greatly that I really expected this first book to be amazing. I was surprised, therefore, when I had trouble sticking with it. Though the mystery of the missing kids is intriguing, the way the story is told didn’t really build off of that interest. The characters seemed aware of the increasing high stakes as the story went on, but I never felt a sense of urgency, or of fear. The dreams are vivid and well-described, but somehow the structure of the story was too linear and predictable to keep me invested in the fate of the missing kids.

Another thing that surprised me in this book is the lack of explanations for themes that recur in later books. Reading the later books first led me to assume that the family’s transcendentalist ideals, and Prince Krishna’s magical abilities, would both be introduced and explained in this book. Interestingly, these two themes are treated matter-of-factly, with no more or less explanation than in any of the other books. This was perhaps another reason I had trouble connecting. I didn’t fully understand the rules of the author’s universe.

The Diamond in the Window is similar in many ways to Edward Eager’s Knight’s Castle, in which a group of children have magical adventures in the world of their toys while they sleep at night. This series as a whole also shares common themes with the Willow Falls series by Wendy Mass.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book as a child in the 80s. I read it several times, checking it out from my elementary school library. It was captivating then. Even as a child I understood how rich it was in detail and subject, but until this read (more than 25 years later) I didn't realize the depth and breadth of its content. I actively sought the book out on Amazon after searching for a few years. I even waited to open the package, not wanting to be disappointed if it wasn't as good as I remembered.

Certainly it's not for every child, but for an awkward, nerdy kid who loved nothing more than a new book, it was magic. As a teacher now, I'm in awe of Langton's talent and her ability to bring the transcendentalists to life in such a whimsical, ethereal way. As a kid, I had no idea that this was the first in a series, nor that its publication date was in the early 60s. It's charm hasn't dimmed for me, I hope the rest of the chronicles do TDITW justice.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful story of how two children in trouble find a riddle and attempt to solve it, no matter what the cost. Throw in a somewhat addled but lovable uncle who quotes the Transcendentalists by the yard, a hard-working and sad aunt, some vanished relatives and you have an engaging yarn indeed.

I think I would have liked this much better had I read it as a kid. I enjoyed the historical setting and the wealth of quotes. There are lots of truly funny lines here. The characters are all quite likable, except for the villains of the piece. The dream sequences are otherworldly and perfectly "dreamy" and are perhaps stronger than the straightforward parts of the narrative.

[Coffeeboss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of this book, but it was recommended by a friend that fondly remembers it as one of her all-time faves as a kid. It is sort of a alternate-reality fantasy that mixes Transcendentalism (really!) with a good old-fashioned mystery about children that vanished within brother-and-sister Eddy and Eleanor's old house in Concord, Mass. Because of the locale, there is plenty of name dropping (and even quoting!) of Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, and Ralph Waldo Emerson, so there is a nice literary lesson disguised in adventure. The dream/alternate reality sequences are some of the most imaginative that I've read in a long time, and I'm sure kids now will still find this absorbing.

[Chrisinny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic, family secrets and puzzles in verse are combined to create engaging adventures for a brother and sister team that want to save their family’s house from being repossessed by the bank. This is not like other magical adventure books- there is something so immediate here that the reader is drawn completely into the story. There are interesting references to historical figures of the Transcendalist movement that give it texture and depth. I love this remarkable book- and am sad that it has not really attained the classic status I think it should have.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is my all time favorite. It is the first book in the series of Hall Family Chronicles. The sequels in this series are great, but nothing compares to this stand out children's book. When I was growing up, this book helped me through a lot of decisions. I've probably read this book more than 20 times - I never, ever tired of it. I love all of Jane Langton's books, but Diamond in the Window should be a classic whether you are young or old.

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books as a child, one that I reread and reread and now had the pleasure of reading to my children. Good characters, interesting background (town of Concord) and a wonderful treasure hunt plot with lots at stake. Just found out there's more in the series and planning to start book two soon.

[Amanda Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book as a kid and LOVED it. My first foray into fantasy/mystery/paranormal. Still remember it so well, especially the wedding gown spun out of snowflakes.

[Micah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in 1962, this book had so many references to Anchor Stones! The reason I picked it up! A great read. Recommended for children. I could see it as a movie. A cooler than Lego movie.

[Mskarla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a child and have always remembered it because I loved it so much!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars -- I enjoyed this 1963 Edgar Award Honor book. It does not talk down to its audience. It asks them to think and perhaps to learn more about Concord, Massachusetts (the story's location) and its famous residents: Emerson, Thoreau, and Alcott. The story revolves around two children, Edward (Eddy) and Eleanor, who live in an old Victorian house on Walden Street. While the rest of the houses on that street are versions of the Colonial rectangular box, their home is unique in that it has towers and turrets and balconies and hidden rooms. (Fun fact: This home is based on a real one on Walden Street in Concord, MA that still stands today.) The community thinks it's an eyesore, though. And while it is gracefully fading through lack of care, the house is almost a personal affront to the bank president, who is also a community leader. He gives the family two weeks before he takes the house because of unpaid back taxes. He intends to tear it down. Edward and Eleanor are privy to his conversation with Aunt Lily and know that they need to help in some way. The two children live with her and their Uncle Freddy because their parents died when Edward was a toddler. Uncle Freddy, though, has become mentally unstable, so it's up to Aunt Lily (& the children) to raise the taxed amount of $712, which is an astronomical sum in the late 1800s/early 1900s. The children soon learn a few family secrets: 1) there is a hidden room above the attic, 2) three people disappeared from that room - Aunt Lily and Uncle Fred's brother and sister, Ned and Nora (yes, the children are named for them) and Prince Krishna from India who wanted to marry Aunt Lily, and 3) Uncle Freddy became mentally unstable due to their disappearances. Edward and Eleanor also soon realize that they might be able to pay the back taxes and save their family members. How? The answer lies in riddles and quotes and fantasy and reality that you should read to find out!