Amazon Prime Free Trial
FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button and confirm your Prime free trial.
Amazon Prime members enjoy:- Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
- Unlimited FREE Prime delivery
- Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
- A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
- Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
Important: Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.
-5% $13.29$13.29
Ships from: Amazon.com Sold by: Amazon.com
$11.96$11.96
FREE delivery January 14 - 21
Ships from: GreatBookDealz Sold by: GreatBookDealz
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
The Diamond in the Window (Hall Family Chronicles) Paperback – February 28, 2020
Purchase options and add-ons
- Reading age8 - 11 years
- Print length264 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade levelPreschool - 2
- Dimensions5.5 x 0.9 x 8.2 inches
- PublisherPurple House Press
- Publication dateFebruary 28, 2020
- ISBN-101930900937
- ISBN-13978-1930900936
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now
Frequently bought together
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Editorial Reviews
Review
"It is to this book that I credit my own belief in the capacity of fiction to enlarge, enlighten, enliven. It remains one of the most important books in my reading life--it showed me what books could do. It made me want to become a writer, too." -- --Gregory Maguire, "bestselling author of WICKED"
"Magic in Concord, Massachusetts. Plus Emerson and Thoreau. This book (and its sequels) struck a deep chord in me early on." -- -- "Anne Nesbet, author"
"Reminiscent in structure of Alice In Wonderland, it gives full vent to fantasy in following the escapades of Eddy and Eleanor in a world of dreams and nightmares. The attempt to weave New England history into the main fabric--to incorporate Thoreau's and Emerson's ideas, is fascinating." -- -- "Kirkus"
From the Back Cover
There had been jewels once in the house, the gift of an Indian prince to two children, Ned and Nora. The prince had devised ingenious games so that the hidden jewels could be found. And then, suddenly, mysteriously the children and Prince Krishna disappeared...
Years later, Eleanor and Eddy, niece and nephew of the lost children, set out to look for the jewels in order to save their house from being repossessed by the bank. They follow the clues of Prince Krishna's strange treasure hunt, a game harmless and exciting at first, but becoming increasingly filled with peril.
The town of Concord, with its strong literary and philosophical heritage, is the background for Langton's fantasy. Erik Blegvad's illustrations completely capture its atmosphere.
Product details
- Publisher : Purple House Press (February 28, 2020)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 264 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1930900937
- ISBN-13 : 978-1930900936
- Reading age : 8 - 11 years
- Grade level : Preschool - 2
- Item Weight : 9.6 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.2 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #400,116 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,392 in Children's Siblings Books (Books)
- #3,027 in Children's Mystery, Detective, & Spy
- #9,588 in Children's Action & Adventure Books (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
I've written an awful lot of books. There are eleven for middle-aged children, mostly fantasies. The ones that have hung around the longest are "The Diamond in the Window" and "The Fledgling." The seventh in the series called "The Hall Family Chronicles" came out last spring, "The Mysterious Circus," and I've just finished writing an eighth, "The Dragon Tree."
All eighteen mysteries for adults have the same protagonists, Homer and Mary Kelly. Mary is the sensible one, but I confess I like Homer's rhapsodic flights of fancy. Most of their adventures happen in Massachusetts, but I've also sent them to farflung places I wanted to visit myself, like Florence, Oxford and Venice. Most of the novels are illustrated with my own drawings, but "The Escher Twist" has ten prints by the mysterious Dutch artist M. C. Escher, and the two historical mysteries are illustrated with nineteenth-century photographs.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book entertaining and educational, weaving family love into a treasure hunt mystery. They describe the storytelling as wonderful, with lovable characters and fantastic magical worlds. The book has positive messages regarding human interaction and character development.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the book. They find it entertaining and educational, weaving family love into a treasure hunt mystery. The book is described as a beloved childhood book.
"This was one of my favorite book series growing up, and it's so nice to see this beautiful reprint bring it back to the public's eye...." Read more
"...Highly recommeneded for any young person- entertaining and educational at once- and truly Unforgettable!" Read more
"...A fun book of two children’s adventures that also taught me something new. Excellent!!! I wish I could find the rest." Read more
"One of my favorite books from childhood. I was eager to re-read it, and then to gift to my granddaughter. She loves it, too." Read more
Customers enjoy the storytelling. They find the story engaging with lovable characters and fantastic magical worlds. The book is described as an unforgettable tale of mystery and adventure, with good ideas for magical thinking. Readers describe it as a well-told tale for children and adults, based in American history.
"...There is magic and fantasy elements in the book (and the others in the series), but at the same time it's firmly rooted in old New England..." Read more
"...for any young person- entertaining and educational at once- and truly Unforgettable!" Read more
"...literate fantasy with a heavy dose of history, real danger and Transcendentalism, but it presents all of its information in a friendly, accessible..." Read more
"...messages regarding human interaction and character, presented in fantastic magical worlds, I rate this book five stars, with the sincere belief most..." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's pacing and positive messages about human interactions and characters. They appreciate the fantastic, magical worlds and loving ways presented in the story. The story has an intriguing mystery and lovable characters.
"...A wonderful story, intriguing mystery, lovable characters, perfect!..." Read more
"...With positive messages regarding human interaction and character, presented in fantastic magical worlds, I rate this book five stars, with the..." Read more
"...It has VERY good ideas for magical thoughts & loving ways." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2020This was one of my favorite book series growing up, and it's so nice to see this beautiful reprint bring it back to the public's eye. There is magic and fantasy elements in the book (and the others in the series), but at the same time it's firmly rooted in old New England traditions and the philosophies of the Transcendentalists, especially Henry David Thoreau. Some people might find it old-fashioned, and it can feel dated in places, but I think that's part of the appeal. I re-read this with the same pleasure as I do when I re-read Anne of Green Gables or, especially, Little Women. It's a gentle, charming book, and I really hope the rest of the books in the series are reissued in the same style.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2005I read literally hundreds of books in my youth, most of them long ago forgotten, but never forgot this one! I found this book in my elementary school library around 1979/ 1980, and read it several times in the next couple of years. I looked for it later- in every bookstore/ used bookstore I went into for years- (I could remember the title, but not the authors name) and couldn't find it anywhere. Then, along came the internet, and Voila! I found it, ordered it and re-read it. As an adult, I'm surprised and pleased to find that this absolute GEM of a book has lost none of it's charm and mystery. A wonderful story, intriguing mystery, lovable characters, perfect! Highly recommeneded for any young person- entertaining and educational at once- and truly Unforgettable!
- Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2021I read Diamond in the Window back in elementary school, I read the whole series and loved it. I had never heard of Henry David Thoreau, and Transcendentalism. A fun book of two children’s adventures that also taught me something new. Excellent!!! I wish I could find the rest.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2015I've been trying to remember this book for years. I first read it at the school library in junior high. The Adventure in the Mirror stuck with me for so long; I wanted to re-read it as an adult and share it with my children. It's a beautiful, literate fantasy with a heavy dose of history, real danger and Transcendentalism, but it presents all of its information in a friendly, accessible way. Looking over the reviews, I'm amazed at how many other people were touched by this book in their childhood, and made the effort to seek it out later in life. I think that's the strongest testament to the power of the truths embedded in this story.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2018One of my favorite books from childhood. I was eager to re-read it, and then to gift to my granddaughter. She loves it, too.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2014This first book in the Hall Chronicles was written in the 60's, when I read it as a child. I have never forgotten it, as it made a huge impression on me, as did the following book, The Swing in the Summerhouse. With positive messages regarding human interaction and character, presented in fantastic magical worlds, I rate this book five stars, with the sincere belief most anyone would enjoy reading it, or sharing it with children.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2021two children chase a pair of twins who vanished years ago through a series dreams to a surprising and satisfying conclusion.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2016I first read this book in jr. high and loved it. Over twenty years later, I had forgotten the author and title and despaired of ever finding it again. Thanks to the book-loving communities if Abe Books and Good Reads, I finally tracked down the title and immediately bought a copy so I could re-read it. I still love this book! I haven't read anything else by this author but I do plan on reading the rest of this series.
Top reviews from other countries
- jane tarrantReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 30, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars good book
This was my sons favorite book when he was a child, and I have never been able to afford to buy a copy for him as they have since become collectors items. This reprint ticks all the boxes!! (He is now 58 years of age, and still reading like mad!!)
- gemmalovellReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 7, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Purchase.
Very pleased to find a copy of this book for a good price, item was as described by seller having a slight tear on front cover, pleased with my purchase.
- Kirsten Donaldson WhealReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 21, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars A magical discovery!
A charming and magical story reminiscent of The Box of Delights or A Wrinkle in Time - I don't know why it isn't as well-known as the latter! I look forward to reading it with my children.
- EARReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 5, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant childrrn's book redolent with Concord's famous Alcotts, Thoreau, Emerson etc.
Beautifully written, intelligent novel.
- Kat83Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 26, 2000
5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous children's book - pleasure for adults too.
OH, I do agree, please, please reprint swing in the summer house. I thought I was the only one! You know if you enjoyed these I bet you would like a Tale of Time City by Dianna Wynn Jones. She has that magical but believe-able quality too.