Family Tree

NEW YORK TIMES bestseller that uses a contemporary family drama to probe issues of race, identity, heritage, and the life-altering choices people make when crisis exposes long-hidden secrets.

Family Tree follows Dana Clarke, who has finally found the stability she always longed for: a loving marriage to Hugh, a man from an old New England family whose ancestry can be traced back to the Mayflower, and the impending birth of their first child. What should be the happiest day of her life shatters expectations when their daughter is born beautiful, healthy—and with unmistakably African-American features that neither parent can explain. The baby’s appearance ignites suspicion, gossip, and tension throughout Hugh’s proud, tradition-minded family.

Under mounting pressure, Dana begins searching for answers in both her unknown paternal background and Hugh’s carefully recorded genealogy. Her investigation uncovers generations of hidden stories rooted in prejudice, fear, and complicated choices. As Dana, Hugh, and their relatives confront painful truths, they are forced to wrestle with questions of loyalty, trust, and what truly defines a family—bloodlines, physical appearance, or the commitments people make to one another. Set in contemporary New England and reaching back into earlier generations, Family Tree blends domestic drama, romance, and social commentary into a narrative about how one child’s birth can transform an entire family’s understanding of itself.

“Warm, rich, textured, and impossible to put down… a family drama that raises challenging questions about identity and belonging.” — Nora Roberts

“Thought-provoking and memorable… Delinsky adds sharp, relevant reflections on race and family to her insight into complex relationships.” — Booklist

“Engrossing reading… this novel will stir debate and invite self-examination.” — People