I kept looking for the place in the book where the real characters were referenced. When I got to the end and realized this was true fiction I was in awe! The research that Kim Edwards did was so 'right-on' for the time period, and the story compelling and I couldn't put it down, I had to find out what happened next!while I have a child with Down syndrome, I have since given the book to a friend who does not have a child with Down syndrome and she was as taken by the book as I was.I highly recommend the Memory Keeper's Daughter to anybody who likes to read stories of family, family secrets, and people who will take risks, as well as people who let thier fears direct them! There is every personality in this book!