I couldn't put this book down. It is a fictional account of a young girl coming of age in a polygamous community. peppered with moments of a mystical origins story of Hanna by her mother. Hanna, beautifully exotic in her small community, is set to be married to her father's former best friend and business partner in what appears to be a financial arrangement. She worries about the aspects of her upcoming marriage (particularly physical, as she becomes aware of his unorthodox arrangement with his wives), but mainly worries about leaving her siblings alone with her abusive father. The writer does only a decent job of tying up the fantastical ends of the story, but never mind that, the day to day encounters are interesting enough to keep you reading.

I was confused by this book for a while. What genre is it really? Hanna lives in a small closed community ran by a religious sect that married girls at age 18 to much, much older men in the community who already had multiple wives. Young men were sent away from the community when they came of age to allow less competition for the older mean. Hanna had taken on responsibility of her disabled sister and was worried about her wellbeing after she married and moved away from their home. Hanna’s alcoholic father was abusive to his offspring and wives. Hanna’s mother told her a story of how she fell from the sky and was special. As the story unweaves, it becomes clear that Hanna does not fit into that community. I was intrigued by the story and enjoyed it. I do think that if the story had remained one about a polygamous community and not veered into the paranormal territory it would have been less confusing.

When you expect a book to have purpose, like tell a morale, be inspiring, etc., it's a bit odd when it doesn't seem to play out that way. I think Christopher Meades (based on the afterword he wrote) intended for this to be an inspirational story. For me it was a story of being caged and powerless; and while that could be inspiring depending on the end I do not feel like there is any inspiration to be drawn from here.

Plot
Hanna Who Fell From the Sky had an interesting enough plot. A girl who has been raised on a 'colony' of religious fanatics who have essentially taken the Bible and re-written it. Their version encourages polygamy for older men (3+ wives required) and extensive procreation (no birth control here). Our lead gal is about to be married off and is just starting to question the small, restricted world around her.

Moral Points
I was expecting a book filled with a lot more moral points than this one has. There are morales to be learned based on how the women and children are treated, maybe something in the story of Hanna being forced into marriage with an elderly man she does not like (his 3rd wife), or in the treatment of the 'crippled' little sister Hanna has. But overall for the average person I don't think there is anything special or new here.

One Point of Interest
I did find one thing very interesting however. Having not thought much about polygamous societies before it had not occurred to me that you'd have an influx of men, and not enough women to go around. So in this colony they banish the boys at nineteen except for one who is the family heir and remains in the colony. Those who are sent away forbidden to return.

Fascination
I have a strange (maybe concerning, lol) fascination with cults, religion and faith. I was raised Christian but as a teen turned my back on it when a minister told me my gay friend was evil (don't even start me..). I eventually found my spirit in Wicca (a branch of Paganism). I could write a book about why I ended up with the beliefs I did; but one aspect was that Wicca is not an organized, attend somewhere every week religion. Therefore I'm intrigued by those who need a place or are restricted to places of worship.
When I talk about religious requirements to attend a worship location I'm always reminded of a quote from The Big Bang Theory in which Amy says, "I don't object to the concept of a deity, but I'm just baffled by the notion of one that takes attendance."

Worth the Read?
I'm unsure of whether or not I would recommend this book. While Meades writing is acceptable (but not special) and the characters have sufficient development for the most part; I found myself thinking as I read that I could easily put the book down and not continue. Having read the end I feel even more 'meh' about it than before as it didn't really go anywhere interesting to me. So unless you are dying to read about a society with polygamy I think this is an easy pass.

A shout out to the Author
I can't help but have been moved by the afterword in which the author tells us a little of his struggle during writing Hanna Who Fell From the Sky. I actually think those few pages were more interesting than the whole book. Maybe Meades will write a fictional version of his concussion story that occurred while he wrote this book? That I would read.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

This book tore me in two directions. First: it's engaging and easy to read, and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the descriptions of small commune life, and the well captured sense of tension and despair that Hannah feels. This part of me would recommend it as a good book.
The other part of me is... Undecided. Because a lot of this book feels like rubbernecking to me. Its set in a commune that follows a very strict religious lifestyle, a lifestyle that is patriarchal to the extreme, with men taking multiple wives and women relegated to practically cattle.
And it feels like, the author finds this idea perverse and yet can't stop thinking about it - like peeping at a sex show. And whilst I am vehemently against patriarchal communes in this style, and would happily argue with anyone that I believe the Amish (for example) are deluded, I respect their right to exist. And it feels to me like the author finds the idea kinda kinky, like those terrible books that write about true stories of sexual abuse and are just lapped up by a certain audience, who tell themselves they are reading with sympathy, and oh poor dear isn't it just *terrible*, but secretly are rubbernecking the heck out it and kinda getting off on consuming someone else's sorrow.
And that's what this came across like to me. I felt a bit perverse. And so whilst the meat of the book is good - the writing clear, the ideas concise and well executed, I still don't really think I will recommend it.
Unless you enjoy the aforementioned stories, of course, in which case this is right up your street!