Girl Who Fell from the Sky

By: Heidi Durrow

Narrated by: Karen Murray, Emily Bauer, Kathleen McInerney

A timely and moving bicultural coming-of-age tale, based on a true story and told by an author who has struggled with the same issues as her protagonist.

The daughter of a Danish immigrant and a black G.I., Rachel survives a family tragedy only to face new challenges. Sent to live with her strict African-American grandmother in a racially divided Northwest city, she must suppress her grief and reinvent herself in a mostly black community. A beauty with light brown skin and blue eyes, she attracts much attention in her new home. The world wants to see her as either black or white, but that's not how she sees herself.

Meanwhile, a mystery unfolds, revealing the terrible truth about Rachel's last morning on a Chicago rooftop. Interwoven with her voice are those of Jamie, a neighborhood boy who witnessed the events, and Laronne, a friend of Rachel's mother.

Inspired by a true story of a mother's twisted love, The Girl Who Fell from the Sky reveals an unfathomable past and explores issues of identity at a time when many people are asking, "Must race confine us and define us?"

©2009 Original material © 2009 Heidi W. Durrow. Recorded by arrangement with Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. (P)2009 (P) 2009 HighBridge Company.

Critic reviews

“[A] breathless telling of a tale we’ve never heard before. Haunting and lovely, pitch-perfect.” (Barbara Kingsolver)

Book Club Choice and A Nice Surprise

Would you try another book from Heidi Durrow and/or the narrators?

Yes

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

The ending seemed a bit disappointing. I would have liked to know more about what happened after they got a bit older.

What three words best describe the narrators’s voice?

decent , plain, acceptable

Was Girl Who Fell from the Sky worth the listening time?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Enjoyed the sequence of events and the mysterious factor.

Love can be dangerous

I enjoyed this YA novel about a family’s struggle to define their identity as more than race. Another important theme is how people navigate thru love, pain and tragedy. There are two explicit sex scenes so I can’t recommend it for my 7th graders.

Modern Day Beloved

What will a mother do to protect her children from what she sees as an ugly world? the role of racism in our world must be recognized especially for the pain it causes our children and communities. beautiful unexpected story that will touch you and leave you changed

Tough Topic

The plot is heavy and troubling. This book should be read by thick skinned people.

Amazing Listen!

The suspense with this book is profound. My mouth literally hung open at the end as I wasn’t expecting it. You will not be disappointed with this one. I specifically read this book because it was pulled from my county’s school libraries due to perceived “Critical Race Theory.” I can say history is history and should never be swept under the rug. It is because of the past, that changes can be made for the future. This was an excellently written book and the narration was outstanding. Thank you for it!

Meh

There is a lot going on in this book. A lot about race. A lot about family. It's fine.

Beautiful on so many levels

This is a book I’ve re read so many times that touches me anew each time.

Prompts You to Examine Cultural Stereotypes

I disagree with the other review that is posted in terms of the critique of the characters because I found their experiences and perspectives to be very thought-provoking. As I listened to the text, I didn't focus solely on the written (or spoken in this case) word. Instead, I took the opportunity to step into the shoes of various minorities and view the world through their eyes. What an enlightening encounter to peek into the lives of those who experience the world and differently than I.

With this approach, I found a realistic perspective of the ways in which my diverse group of students may experience the world and the stereotypes into which they are often placed by society. This was also an opportunity for me to examine my own unconscious perceptions of stereotypes. It is uncommon for a book to afford such an opportunity to its readers.

I would recommend this book to all educators, especially those who work with a diverse population of students. While I do agree with the other review in terms of the lack of development of the plot, I feel that this is midigated by the chance to view the world through someone else's experiences.

Too slow

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Not my style of writting. Took a long time to get interesting. This was a book club selection and most of the members said that they did not finish the book because it was boaring. Did not grab your interest in first half of book so folks just could not muster the energy to complete it.

Has Girl Who Fell from the Sky turned you off from other books in this genre?

Not entirely, just need to work at building a compelling story that readers will find new and diffrent.

What three words best describe the narrators’s voice?

Can't remember. The whole experience was not memoriable.

Could you see Girl Who Fell from the Sky being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Possibly, they can do a lot with acting and special effects these days.

Beautifully Written

Wonderful narration. This story really resonated with me since I have a 12 year old daughter.