Favorite Quotes:

Paul the Third, was chubby and balding, like an off-kilter teapot always in danger of tipping over. Paul the Third wore a mustache that Charliss described as “four parts pubic hair and three parts bacon grease” and he perspired constantly.

Hanna had felt like a rubber band stretched to the point of breaking, pulled so tight that its color had all but disappeared. Hanna had spent so very long worried about what others thought, about the consequences for the slightest misbehavior, that she hadn’t stopped to think about what she wanted, what was right for her.

Someone once told me that fear only subsides when joy is so powerful that you refuse to be afraid.

The Creator forbids women from wearing red… Brother Paul says it’s the color harlots wear in the big city… And it’s not that I was born desperately wanting to wear a red dress. But it’s strange— when something’s taken away from you, you just want it so badly.

He gritted his teeth. Hanna counted two at the top and a throng of incisors at the bottom, by turns black and yellow, like a decomposing ear of corn.

My Review:

I was enthralled, flabbergasted, and awestruck by the superlative quality and artifice in Christopher Meades’s writing. His word-craft and storyline were diabolically ingenious and to my complete wonderment, held me captive despite my typical avoidance of this type of subject matter. I was riveted to my Kindle while also deeply conflicted and frustrated by the compelling characters and the harsh predicaments they had either been forced into, placed themselves in, or were maintaining by their complicity. Chaffing at the hypocrisy, cruelty, and abuse of power by the arrogant men under the guise of religion as well as the pettiness and stupidity of the women who allowed not only themselves to be used and abused, but to extend that learned helplessness to their children; I couldn’t decide whom I despised more. However, I intensely reviled Hanna’s repulsive father, who was a despicable, loathsome, and abusive alcoholic as well as an irresponsible polygamist.

Although a bit forlorn and heavily conflicted, I was utterly consumed by Mr. Meades’s masterful phrasing, vivid descriptions, thoughtful emotive details, and razor-sharp insights. There was a smooth fluidity to his narrative that kept a movie reel steadily rolling through my cranium. In retrospect, what is even more astonishing was his ability to so deftly and accurately depict the inner musings, hopes, turmoil, and confusion of a loyal and sheltered eighteen-year-old girl as she gradually gained awareness of her own naiveté and the purposeful manipulations that had been used to maintain her ignorance and life of poverty.

Mr. Meades’s well-crafted storyline was simply gripping and kept me invested, engaged, and twisted in knots while fervently hoping for the main character of Hanna, and her mother, to find their spines as well as their footing and flee the tyranny of that harsh and backward community. I experienced a steadily mounting sense of foreboding knowing the pressure was building toward the climax and found myself taut with tension and a death grip on my Kindle, and decidedly unwilling to put it down to do the regularly scheduled adulting for the day. It was worth the book hangover and displeased grumbling of family members. Mr. Meades has a new fangirl – I greedily want all his words.

Holy cow! I read this book in one sitting! Definitely a must order for my library and a must read for all my friends!!

I found this coming of age tale, Hanna Who Fell From The Sky. enchanting. I found it easy to slip into the mind of Hanna, a very complex and layered character. It's a riveting look at the cult of polygamy and a respectful view of a way of life very foreign to me. I thought the premise was interesting and the book didnt disappoint. I think this novel would actually make a great book discussion selection, as there are so many questions and situations I would have like to have discussed.
I would definitely read more form Christopher Meades - I am especially impressed with his ability to channel a fully dimensional 18 year old girl. Well done.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. The story-line wasn't for me. I didn't like the characters or the way the story was going. It was kind of depressing and a bit unbelievable.

Thanks to NetGalley, Park Row Books and Christopher Meades for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is the story of a polygamous community called Clearhaven. Hanna is getting ready to celebrate her 18th birthday. That occasion also means that she will be married off to someone chose for her by her father. Hanna has never been away from Clearhaven nor really ever questioned her path. She grew up in a family with an abusive father, her mother and her sister-mothers as well as 14 siblings. Hanna has always been the responsible, oldest child even though she doesn't resemble any of her siblings. She is especially close to her sister who was born with a spine deformity. Days before her wedding, Hanna meets Daniel, the heir apparent to a wealthy family in Clearhaven. Daniel opens her eyes to another world but will she have the courage to forge a different path?

I'm rounding up to 4 stars - I really liked so much of this book but probably could have done without the magical component. The story was strong enough on its own merit, exploring growing up in such a lifestyle.

Hitting on subjects that can be difficult to read, Hanna Who Fell From the Sky is an evocative novel with many layers, but it ultimately fell flat for me. This novel will make readers confront their own beliefs and why they believe them, but you will also find the main character's choices frustrating. I did enjoy the touches of magical realism and the fact that the author does not shy away from an uncomfortable yet prevalent subject.

What a fantastic read!! The book drew me in from the beginning and kept me turning the pages. I absolutely LOVED Hanna as a character. Strong, independent, courageous and smart. I connected with her from the beginning and rooted for her through to the end. The life laid out for Hanna and other women of Clearhaven broke my heart and I admired Hanna for realizing there must be something more beyond their world.


The book was beautifully written, and addressed so many important issues all while adding an element of fantasy into the novel. If you enjoy a book that makes you think long after you finish it, this is a great book for you!

Wow what a book
Couldn’t put down
Highly recommend

Interesting premise but not particularly well executed. One character is clearly selected to say wise things, but not realistic teen boy things, and that really jumped out at me. The protagonist is about to be pushed into a polygamous marriage at age 18 but seems to "be surprised" that she will be expected to have babies. When all the women in her entire community, a secluded community, are married and having babies. I can suspend disbelief that she doesn't know the outside world (despite the weekly market that seems to come from the outside) but I had a hard time thinking she would have any reason not to know her own religion inside and out. So it felt uneven and inconsistent, and the magical element didn't really play out in a clear way.

The author does not wait to jump into the story, as the first scene is about how Hanna is only a few days away from her birthday - and her impending marriage. Right away, it is made known to the reader that Hanna does not want to go through with this marriage, but is doing so in order to uphold tradition and also protect her mother and siblings. The introduction of Daniel's character happened pretty much the way I thought it would happen, and he became the catalyst for her dreams of escaping and wanting more for herself. I really enjoyed reading about her dilemma, as the author did a great job explaining all of the angles and options Hanna was considering. I also really liked Hanna's character: she had opinions, intelligence, and was brave to a fault. I had been intrigued by the "fantastical" element in the premise, and when the author brought it up, it took me aback. It was very much something out of a fantasy/sci-fi story, and I thought it interesting that the author added this into the story. I wanted to see how the author would develop this detail. However, he really didn't do so and that was quite disappointing to me. I really don't like it when an author introduces something as a twist but it ultimately serves no purpose (which is what happened here). Either the author should have just eliminated that whole fantasy aspect, or developed it more so that it had an actual purpose in the plot. Overall, the story was a good one, but not anything different than other books on this topic. It was well-written and the main character was someone a reader could easily empathize with, but the addition of the fantasy element was really unnecessary and a bit of a let-down. For those reasons, I'm giving this novel a 3/5 stars.

I gave this book 4 stars because it is a well written book. At times I thought it lagged, but it continued to hold my interest enough that I wanted to see how it ended. Good insight into a cult setting, which intrigued me, as well as the characters were well developed.

I wanted to love this book so much! the description was amazing but I failed to connect with the story.
The writing was great it was just the magic aspect that I failed to connect with.

This book did not appeal to me. The title, and described premise of the book made it appear to be more magical than the actual plot of the book. I wanted more backstory, more about the why of her, and where she came from. The writing plodded and I felt no connection to the main character.

Intense storytelling, a unique plot and characters that feel so incredibly real! I can't imagine experiencing life in a polygamist cult, and I rooted for Hannah from the moment I realized her dilemma. This is a wonderful coming of age tale and I'm so glad a had the opportunity to read it. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a complimentary advance copy. All opinions stated here are my own.

This book really had a lot going for it. It was great for a peek inside the life of a girl growing up in a polygamous family and expected to be married in a few days. I found the paranormal angle actually took away from the story. Because the story takes place in a completely isolated area, there's a timelessness to the book that made it more enjoyable. As you read, you keep thinking, does she or doesn't she? It kept me going until the end.

Life in Clearhaven is all Hanna has ever known, so her father’s four wives and her fourteen siblings are normal to her. In Clearhaven, all the young men leave town, and the girls, at age 18, marry men old enough to be their fathers. In one week, Hanna will be 18, and she’ll take her place as the fifth wife of a wealthy man.

Then Hanna meets Daniel, a boy her age who makes her question her life in Clearhaven and what she wants for herself, and her mother tells her a secret—one that Hanna can scarcely believe. Hanna doesn’t want the life she sees around her, but is she strong enough to leave behind the sister she adores and the only life she’s ever known?

Clearhaven and its customs creeped me out on a lot of levels. I know there are communities/cultures like this, but I don’t want to have anything to do with them. However, they are vividly portrayed in the book, and the characters leap off the page with startling intensity. Hanna is both easy to relate to—her love for her sister, her confusion over what she wants from her life—and mysterious. I rooted for Hanna for the entire novel, eager for her to escape the future laid out for her and grasp her fate in both hands.

(Galley provided by Harlequin/Park Row via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

I made it halfway through.

18-year-old Hanna lives in a polygamist community where they have no contact with anyone outside their community. She's arranged to become the 5th wife of a man much older than she.

I had issues with the rampant stereotypes. Essentially, the first half of the novel revolves around watching all the men in the community want to rape Hanna while all the women--no matter their age--hate her because she's beautiful. Meanwhile, she practices her budding rebellious nature by sneaking out with a boy her age from the community.

Not a lot of nuance in character and plot development.

Do I want to know what's magical about Hanna? If it wasn't wrapped up in stereotypes, yes. But it's not enough to keep me reading.

I'm not rating this since I refuse to read anymore.

Thanks to Park Row Books and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Review posted to Goodreads 09/24/2017]
[Review will be posted to personal website in early October]

(3.5 stars)

The premise of this book is what intrigued me, as it’s not a topic often tackled in YA. A girl fighting against everything she’s been taught in a polygamous society.

I wasn’t sure how this book would go, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was a fast read, and I was quickly pulled into the story. I was kept guessing until the end about what would happen (Will Hanna stay or go?)

What I liked most was Hanna. The story is about her and she really carries it well. I liked how fierce she is, and how she struggles to keep up her courage. She learns things that shake the entire framework of how she sees the world, and we see her work through her dissonance. She goes back and forth between staying and running, and I found it very realistic. The way Meades describes her anxiety and worries was vivid.

I also found the polygamous society fascinating (though a little cliché), as well as the look into life in Hanna’s family, with sister-mothers and all the children.

The insta-love in this book didn’t bug me as much as in other books. Hanna is incredibly sheltered, and her society purposefully sends away young men, so of course she would be drawn to the first one that is nice to her. I thought her relationship with Daniel was sweet

The magical realism in the book kind of came out of nowhere. It felt totally unnecessary for the book and the story would have been fine without it. However, I wouldn’t have minded the magical realism, except there’s a lot of things left unanswered about it all, and the story felt incomplete due to that.

3.5 Stars

This is an odd and yet very readable book. In fact, I'd have read it in a straight shot, if life hadn't interrupted. The story is that of a young woman, coming of legal age, in a rural polygynous community called Clearhaven. I found some aspects of the community, which is large enough to have a big daily market, to be rather sketchily drawn. The tremendous economic disparity within the community, and how that works as a justifiable disparity, within the structure of their faith bothered me. In this community, all the older sons are expelled, only the youngest kept and groomed to replace an aging father upon his death, while all daughters are married off to the older men in Clearhaven. In this structure, there are few men competing for all the women of this town. (No mention of inbreeding was made but needless to say, I had a lot of questions about genetics in this enclave.) Women must remain obedient and be guided by their fathers, husbands, adult sons. Frankly, I was amazed that these men were willing to wait until the young women were eighteen in order to force them into polygamy.

Hanna, our protagonist, is soon turning eighteen in her dirt-poor but surprisingly literate family. (Female literacy is especially something I would question in the community since an educated woman is more likely to rebel against the constraints presented.) She receives a new suitably modest dress (one of only three she possesses) for her 18th birthday, but the dress that's ominously awaiting her is the wedding dress (naturally recycled from that of her most recent sister-mother, Jessamina) when she marries Edwin, a man three times her age, becoming his fifth wife. Needless to say, this unusual 18-year-old girl (more on that later) is not down with this plan.

Some aspects of this story so perfectly capture the silenced, obedient aspect of victims of abuse and domestic violence. Encapsulated here we see the circumstances of domestic violence that can leave those with little experience working with DV/child abuse survivors' questioning "why didn't they just leave?" thus failing to understand how constricted one's possibilities appear to be when this life of abuse is all you have ever known. As we come to learn, Hanna hasn't had much violence visited on her personally because of her special status, which is part of a long reveal, in her family. Instead, she sees her beloved sister Emily, her beloved mother Kara, punished and physically abused by her father, often taking blows in her stead, in a sort of whipping -boy relationship. Thus, Hanna is tormented by both her coming fate, as the fifth wife of an old man with a predilection we won't get into here, and by her fear that leaving would be shirking her perceived responsibility to shield her mother, sisters and brothers, from her father's drunken wrath.

Early on in the book, Hanna re-encounters Daniel, the youngest son of a community benefactor, who one can infer is slightly younger than Hanna is, but who is far more worldly, since his parents have taken him and his two older brothers, ages eighteen and nineteen, to "The City" in order to acclimatize the older two boys to their forthcoming expulsion from Clearhaven. Daniel has seen and lived in the outside world for a while and marvels a bit at its wonders, including the monogamous marriage idea. Daniel is ambivalent about his future role in Clearhaven which, when revealed, leaves you ever so briefly questioning what choice he will make about the direction of his life. It's a foregone conclusion that Daniel will be smitten (just like every other man with eyes, don't get me started...) with Hanna, and Hanna is... if not smitten, exactly, quickly warmed to the idea of Daniel as a way out of her situation. Some reviewers have called this "instalove" but that wasn't my take at all. They were two kids with a shared experience, normal attraction, and a heaping share of infatuation. Why wouldn't an 18-year-old girl be drawn to a same age boy versus a kinky 60-something-year-old man? Why wouldn't any teenage boy be drawn to Hanna, a pretty teenage girl?

So now we come to my problem with this story. As briefly mentioned above, Hanna is special. A thinly built out aspect of magical realism is woven like a golden thread into the plot. While I won't get into the specific fairy tale aspect of her nature, since I don't want to spoil it for the reader, I am troubled by some aspects of the story. In more than a few instances Hanna is placed in sexually menacing situations. Her entire path out of her being menaced, and out of her community, is conveniently managed by magical realism. Now while I love a good fairy tale, I'm not sure that I think a story with such a gritty plotline should give us our heroine escaping her problems by means of sudden magical intervention. Meades has set this story in a fairly detailed real and present-day world, has given us a heroine who is facing real and very ugly threats to her wellbeing. Magic suddenly saves her? This troubles me. Yes, it's a fantasy and make no mistake, I have no quarrel with the caliber of Meades writing which is excellent (and especially impressive given his afterword comments on the terrible TBI he suffered several years back). In this story we have a heroine who is rescued by 1) magic and 2) a boy. Given all Hanna's purported "specialness" I find this so... disappointing. I originally thought it might have been an editorial suggestion but after reading Meades comments about the origin and history of this story, which has been 12 years in the making, I feel he has written exactly what he intended to write. I can respect that choice but still question whether giving Hanna greater agency, either over her actions entirely without magic, or with her use of magic from the very beginning of the story might have given us a better story with a heroine who lives up to her remarkable origins.

A few more comments may go up on the blog about this book post-publication. In summary, Meades is a good writer. I just wish he'd given us a Hanna who lived up to the promise of her fall.

Very interesting and not what I was expecting but I quite enjoyed it! I was just surprised by the magical element but found it kept the story light and was a perfect quick read, polygamous families are always very interesting!