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?” Narrated by an ensemble, with Emily Bauer (Rachel), Kathleen McInerney (Nella), and Karen Murray (Jamie, LaRone, Brick, Roger).
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"A really good debut novel (semi-autobiographical) about a biracial girl (Danish & African-American) whose family life is enveloped in more than enough tragedy for a lifetime, added to which is the uncertainty & identity crisis of her ethnic heritage. 80% of this book merits 5 stars. But the ending wasn't up to the rest of the novel, and the gaps in the narrative (dad, the red-haired guy, the mom's boss) towards the end really leave you hanging. Now that Durrow has mined her adolescence to write this 1st novel, I hope she's got something in reserve to write about next."
— Sheri (4 out of 5 stars)
" I liked this book, but I did not connect with it emotionally despite it being very sensitive and beautifully-written. I really enjoyed reading about the experiences of a biracial girl being brought up in an African-American community in Portland. But there is a big mystery that surrounds the book which never got resolved to my satisfaction. In fact, there are a number of plot twists which seemed unrealistic, that took place primarily so the main character would react to them. Still, I appreciated the book's artistry. "
— Alice, 2/14/2014" The 2012 Everybody Reads book for Multnomah County Library. Very good pick for the program - I'm definitely looking forward to the discussions. "
— Sandra, 2/9/2014" Liked the way the story was delivered. (3/11) "
— Elise, 2/7/2014" Easy read. Simplistic tie-ups, and empty character developments. Disappointed in the end. "
— Yvette, 1/30/2014" definitely worth reading. sad story, but it deals with a bunch of different issues and is very thought-provoking. strong writing. "
— Chandra, 1/29/2014" I felt like this book was written for the bright high school sophomore or junior. While it was a good book, it didn't offer me any new insight into what made the characters tick or what it was like to be the title character. I came away with no real understanding. A little shallow for my taste. "
— Carol, 1/28/2014" This book was great, it gave me a lot to think about and it was written well. I think anyone that cares about looking at issues of race in America should read this. As someone who if I have children they will be biracel it gave me a lot to think about. "
— Sarah, 1/11/2014" Well written and, at times sobering and sad. A great story about seeing yourself as more than a race. "
— Corrie, 1/10/2014" This is Thursdays Book Group book for May. Done now.. "
— Helen, 1/6/2014" What I didn't like about this book: It was poorly written, confusing and muddy. I also couldn't get attached to any of the characters. "
— Hannah, 12/24/2013" A powerful book about being biracial and finding self in an unaccepting society which makes us choose. "
— Cindy, 12/12/2013Heidi Durrow is a graduate of Stanford, Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism, and Yale Law School. She is the recipient of several fellowships including one from the New York Foundation for the Arts and a Jerome Foundation Fellowship for Emerging Writers. She won top honors in the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition and the Chapter One Fiction Contest. Her writing has appeared in Alaska Quarterly Review, the Literary Review, Yale Journal of Law, Feminism, Essence, and Newsday. She is the recipient of Barbara Kingsolvers Bellwether Prize for Literature of Social Change.
Emily Bauer is an award-winning voice-over actress who has read for dozens of popular audiobooks for children and adults, including Margery Williams’s Velveteen Rabbit, Meg Cabot’s Insatiable, and Ann Aguirre’s Enclave. Her film credits include Mona Lisa Smile and Long Distance. She has done voice-overs for Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Pokemon and has voiced scores of TV and radio commercials as well as cartoons, talking toys, and video games.
Kathleen McInerney won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration in 2011 and was a finalist for the Audie in 2010 and 2015. Her narrations have also earned several AudioFile Earphones Awards. She has performed in New York and around the United States in both classical and contemporary theater. Her credits also include television commercials, daytime drama, radio plays, and a broad range of animation voice-overs.