The Girl Who Fell from the Sky

by Heidi W. Durrow

Paperback, 2011

Status

Available

Call number

PS3604.U757 G57

Description

Fiction. African American Fiction. Literature. HTML: "The Girl Who Fell from the Sky can actually fly." �The New York Times Book Review 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 heart-wrenching 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..… (more)

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Collection

Your library

Rating

½ (513 ratings; 3.8)

Publication

Algonquin Books (2011), Edition: Reprint, Paperback, 272 pages

Pages

272

Genres

General Fiction

Physical description

272 p.; 8.19 inches

Awards

Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing (Nominee — 2011)

VCU Cabell First Novelist Award (Winner — Finalist — 2011)

PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction (Winner — 2008)

Media reviews

Booklist

As the child of an African American father and a Danish mother, Durrow brings piercing authenticity to this provocative tale, winner of the Bellwether Prize for Fiction.

— 6 more

Publishers Weekly

Taut prose, a controversial conclusion and the thoughtful reflection on racism and racial identity resonate without treading into political or even overtly specific agenda waters, as the story succeeds as both a modern coming-of-age and relevant social commentary.

Kirkus Reviews

Nothing especially groundbreaking here, but the author examines familiar issues of racial identity and racism with a subtle and unflinching eye.

Library Journal

But there's much more, and if the novel has a weakness, it's that it oozes conflict. Rachel, who is biracial, is abandoned by her father; a boy who witnesses the rooftop incident has his own difficulties, including a neglectful mother who's also a prostitute. But one can't help but be drawn in by

these characters and by the novel's exploration of race and identity. VERDICT With similar themes to Zadie Smith's White Teeth and a tone of desolation and dislocation like Graham Swift's Waterland and Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea, this is also recommended for readers intrigued by the psychology behind shocking headlines.

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The Denver Post

In the telling of this coming- of-age novel, Durrow manages that remarkable achievement of telling a subtle, complex story that speaks in equal volumes to children and adults.

The New York Times

But although there’s a plot twist at the end, the novel isn’t driven by suspense. Instead, 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.

The Washington Post

Durrow's novel is an auspicious debut, winner of the Bellwether Prize for socially conscious fiction. She has crafted a modern story about identity and survival, although some of the elements come together a little too neatly.

LCC