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Kelsey Ford: From the Stacks: J. M. Ledgard's Submergence (0 comment)
Our blog feature, "From the Stacks," features our booksellers’ favorite older books: those fortuitous used finds, underrated masterpieces, and lesser known treasures. Basically: the books that we’re the most passionate about handselling. This week, we’re featuring Kelsey F.’s pick, Submergence by J. M. Ledgard...
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  • Kelsey Ford: Five Book Friday: Year of the Rabbit (0 comment)
  • Kelsey Ford: Powell's Picks Spotlight: Grady Hendrix's 'How to Sell a Haunted House' (0 comment)

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The Girl Who Fell From the Sky

by Heidi W. Durrow
The Girl Who Fell From the Sky

  • Comment on this title
  • Synopses & Reviews
  • Award Excerpt

ISBN13: 9781616200152
ISBN10: 1616200154
Condition: Standard


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Awards

2008 Bellwether Prize Winner

Staff Top 5s 2010 2010 Powell's Staff Top 5s

Staff Pick

Heartbreaking in its honesty, this perfect jewel is based partially on the real life of the author, who grew up biracial in Portland, Oregon, in the 1980s. After an accident claims her family, Rachel is sent to live with her grandmother in a predominantly black neighborhood. Rachel's confusion and frustration is palpable as she navigates through a new culture and new social norms. With flat-out gorgeous prose and pointed social commentary, this novel is an exquisite illustration of the beauty and ugliness of the human condition. Recommended By Dianah H., Powells.com

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

Rachel, the daughter of a Danish mother and a black G.I., becomes the sole survivor of a family tragedy after a fateful morning on their Chicago rooftop.

Forced to move to a new city, with her strict African-American grandmother as her guardian, Rachel is thrust for the first time into a mostly black community, where her light brown skin, blue eyes, and beauty bring a constant stream of attention her way. It's there, as she grows up and tries to swallow her grief, that she comes to understand how the mystery and tragedy of her mother might be connected to her own uncertain identity.

This searing and heartwrenching portrait of a young biracial girl dealing with society's ideas of race and class is the winner of the Bellwether Prize for best fiction manuscript addressing issues of social justice.

Review

"Out of the clear blue, here is a breathless telling of a tale we've never heard before. Haunting and lovely, pitch-perfect, this book could not be more timely." Barbara Kingsolver

Review

"The Girl Who Fell from the Sky can actually fly....Its energy comes from its vividly realized characters, from how they perceive one another. Durrow has a terrific ear for dialogue, an ability to summon a wealth of hopes and fears in a single line." New York Times Book Review

Review

"[An] affecting, exquisite debut novel....Durrow's powerful novel is poised to find a place among classic stories of the American experience." Miami Herald

Review

"An auspicious debut...[Durrow] has crafted a modern story about identity and survival." Washington Post

Review

"Rachel's voice resonated in my reading mind in much the same way as did that of the young protagonist of The House on Mango Street. There's an achingly honest quality to it; both wise and naive, it makes you want to step between the pages to lend comfort." NPR's Morning Edition

About the Author

A graduate of Stanford University, Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, and Yale Law School, Heidi W. Durrow has received grants from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the American Scandinavian Foundation, and the Lois Roth Endowment and a Fellowship for Emerging Writers from the Jerome Foundation. Her writing has been published in Alaska Quarterly Review, the Literary Review, and others.

4.7 10

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating 4.7 (10 comments)

`
maryh , May 28, 2016 (view all comments by maryh)
Commenting on the title Girl Who Fell From the Sky A quest to read books with the title 'Girl' is ongoing and so this book fits the bill. The other books that I have already read were: Girl on a Train, Girl With a Pearl Earring, Girl in Hyacinth Blue, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Gone Girl, and The Country Girls. All very enjoyable.

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mccaly28 , July 07, 2015 (view all comments by mccaly28)
This is one of the best books I've read in a while. There were a few hangups throughout the book (the shifting of characters and to first and third person as we jump back and forth in time) but the story is heartbreaking, the characters are compelling, and it's a beautiful exploration of identity and history. The prose are wonderful and moved the story along and the whole thing is haunting in a way that sits with you. Young Rachel is certainly the most interesting part of the story with her internal struggle, and the way time passes in the book is quick and sudden, but the way the she moved away from those thoughts (or pushed them down) felt like such a natural portrayal of adolescence and growing up.

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Mary-Rain , January 07, 2013
Excellent coming of age novel that speaks to the challenges of bi-culturalism in a community that views identity as less complex. A very touching story that keeps the reader engaged throughout.

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Lisa Switalla , January 01, 2013
Amazing novel. My husband and I both loved it.

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Nate Gulley , January 03, 2012
Not just the best book I read this year, but the best book I've ever read.

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Allison Moyer , November 30, 2011 (view all comments by Allison Moyer)
The Girl Who Fell from the Sky is a tragically beautiful book. The author alternates points of view and uses flashback to tell the story of a young girl of mixed race who is struggling with questions of identity after a family tragedy. Some of the story is disturbing and the lives of the characters are filled with tragedy and abuse, but it ends on a note of hope. I learned something about life and racial identity. I had a new experience through this book. It wasn’t always a pleasant experience, but it was an enlightening one.

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`
T3aDiva , January 02, 2011 (view all comments by T3aDiva)
This book is a great introduction into biracial and multi-ethnic children and how they fit into society. The main character, Rachel, is a product of a Danish mother and an African-American father. She has spent most of her life in Europe and never really dealt with being "different." However, after her parents separate and her mother relocates to the US and then commits suicide along with infanticide (killing Rachel's siblings), Rachel must learn to deal with life in an African-American community as an outsider. Ms. Durrow paints a beautiful picture of these struggles, both external and internal, and allows us to follow Rachel during her transition from naive, innocent child to maturing, young woman. We see the mistakes made by her and others around her and we see her grow into acceptance of who and what she is. An outstanding book by this debut author.

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gwspi , January 01, 2011
Engaging story of life after a tragedy.

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Kathryn Meyers , January 01, 2011
Excellent book!

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W S Krauss , November 30, 2010 (view all comments by W S Krauss)
This is the story of Rachel, who survived a family tragedy, and went to live in Portland, Oregon with her African-American grandmother. The truth of the event that changed her life slowly unfolds, as each character reveals their own story. Many issues are tackled in this book, race, family, protecting one's children and death. Although I was a little disappointed in the abrupt ending, the story has stuck with me and I won't soon forget it. There are some very moving and disturbing images created within these pages.

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Product Details

ISBN:
9781616200152
Binding:
Trade Paperback
Publication date:
01/24/2011
Publisher:
ALGONQUIN BOOKS OF CHAPEL HILL
Pages:
272
Height:
8.25 in
Width:
5.50 in
Thickness:
1.00
Number of Units:
1
Copyright Year:
2010
Author:
Heidi W. Durrow
Subject:
Literature-A to Z
Subject:
General Fiction

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