First published 1999
In 1719, a small band of Scottish settlers arrives in the New Hampshire wilderness. They stake their claim near a young oak tree and build their first meetinghouse beside it. The community of Derry takes root around this spot. For nearly ten generations, the oak tree stands at the heart of town life, witnessing births and deaths, celebrations and sorrows. It becomes a symbol of the community's determination and heritage. But change comes to Derry over three centuries. The fields disappear under shopping centers. Forests give way to housing developments. Multi-lane highways cut through land once walked by deer and children. The fine old homes fall to make room for progress. Through it all, the oak remains, holding the memory of what Derry once was and the promise of what it might become again.
Genres: literary-fiction, family-life, american-fiction, historical-fiction
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: generational-saga, symbol
Setting: Derry, New Hampshire
Period: 1719, 21st-century
128 pages · Paperback · Arcadia Publishing