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The Girl Who Fell from the Sky

Heidi W. Durrow

Start date: June 1, 2010

Finish date: September 30, 2010

Discussion: Group Book Discussion

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What Members Thought

Feb 12, 2015 Janet rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book is part "coming of age" story, part commentary on racial prejudice. Rachel is the child of a Danish (white) mother, who was essentially color blind and a black American father. She is left to live with her grandmother after a divorce and family tragedy ensues. Rachel's bi-racial experience is the way that I, as a white person, would imagine it would be. That's my way of saying I don't know how someone bi-racial experiences the world, but I found this story believable on most levels.

At ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 06, 2012 Doreen added it

Set in the 1980s, this book is a bi-racial girl's coming of age. Rachel Morse is the daughter of a black American father and a Danish mother. Her mother, brother and sister die in a fall off a rooftop; Rachel, the sole survivor, is sent to live with her paternal grandmother and her Aunt Loretta in racially segregated Portland, Oregon.

Having grown up in a (supposedly) more colour-blind society of European army bases, Rachel struggles with her identity in a society where colour matters a great dea ...more

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Apr 08, 2010 Lisa Hickman rated it really liked it

Shelves: literary-fiction, library-books, bookmarks-2010

Heidi Durrow's first novel tells the story of Rachel who survived a tragic fall from a rooftop. It also relates her struggle to survive in a prejudiced world, where she is neither white or black, but dusky, kinky haired and blue-eyed; she is the daughter of a black man and Danish woman. This is a moving coming of age story, set against a backdrop of racial injustice. I'd really like to see a continuation of Rachel's story as an adult. ...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Elle rated it did not like it

Shelves: young-adult

I tried to like this book but absolutely couldn't. It felt like it could have had possibilities but fell short. The characters didn't feel developed. They felt stilted, flat and stereotypical. Rachel seemed shallow and irritating. It felt very immature and even condescending - maybe it was just the voices on audio as it was not quality reading and they definitely had a condescending simplistic tone. Any attempts to be literary felt contrived. It felt like reading a young girls diary. I just coul ...more

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Nov 15, 2010 Mary rated it really liked it

This is a sad story, but the writing is very good, and it gives us some understanding of the young character, Rachel and her struggle with living with being bi-racial. It will really touch your heart.

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Feb 20, 2011 Katrina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: african-american

This was a wonderful story. It was one of those books you just cannot put down,I just loved Heidi's writing style it was almost poetic. This was a great debut for a first time author. I hope to read more from this great new author. ...more

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