Sister Wife by Shelley Hrdlitschka
Continuing on with more of my polygamy kick, Becky from Becky’s Book Reviews recommended to me Sister Wife by Shelley Hrdlitschka, a young adult read. So far, Becky has never led me astray and Sister Wife was no exception.
Sister Wife is told in alternating viewpoints of three girls who live in a conservative religious group so far removed from mainstream society that they’ve never even seen a TV or a cell phone. Known as The Movement, this group practices polygamy – the belief that it is only through plural marriage that one can reach heaven. Those who live this lifestyle are married young, at the age of fifteen to much older men and only to those whom the prophet matches.
Celeste is about to turn fifteen, the day that she is assigned in marriage to a much older man, a man whom the prophet designates. She always thought that marriage is what she wanted but she’s started to talk to another boy in the community (strictly forbidden). She’s discovered that she likes the way she feels around him and starts to wonder what it would be like to marry a boy her own age rather than an older man. Plus, he’s questioning his place in the community, a place that often doesn’t accept young boys.
Nanette, Celeste’s younger sister, on the other hand loves everything about The Movement and is jealous that Celeste will be married off before her. Especially, when she knows that she’s more worthy to become a wife than her sister. There’s nothing that she wants more than to be married and have her own baby and even gets excited when one of the older men with many wives already begins to take notice of her. I think she’s only like thirteen, so definitely creepy to be flirting with a forty year old.
The third girl is Taviana, Celeste’s best friend and newest family member. Taviana is the link to the outside world. “Saved” by The Movement when she found herself in unfortunate circumstances when she was living on the streets, she has adapted to their traditions and way of live. She feels safe and protected. But when Celeste’s doubts begin to become apparent, Taviana is blamed for being a bad influence.
I thought Sister Wife was really interesting and overall I liked it. I do think that it was very simple, almost as though Hrdlitschka wasn’t brave enough to take the story up another notch. I guess I would have liked to see something deeper happen. But what that is, I honestly couldn’t tell you. It needs that little extra “umph.” Sister Wife is also very much “ripped from the headlines” and even states so on the cover. But I didn’t mind, because let’s tell the truth here, isn’t polygamy fascinating? I’d pick up another book on it right now if I had one in the house (which reminds me that I have to find where this one went missing before it’s due – that would be awesome.).
Sister Wife is a great look at what keeps us loyal to our families, our faith, and our traditions and leads me to ask myself which character would I be if I was raised in such a community. Recommended, especially for teens taking on the subject for the first time.
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Category: Book Reviews, Fiction, Young Adult
Tags: E-H Author, polygamy, Q-T Title
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I’m going to have to check this one out. I just finished When Men Become Gods and my interest in FLDS/polygamy has definitely been peaked.
on January 6th, 2009 at 3:59 pmI agree with your review. I found it very fascinating. Couldn’t put it down. But at the same time, I felt it needed just a little something more to make it ‘great’ instead of just good.
on January 6th, 2009 at 4:10 pmGreat review. I wonder how you pronounce the author’s last name.
on January 6th, 2009 at 4:35 pmChristina – Have you read Escape by Carolyn Jessop or Stolen Innocence by Elissa Walls? Both are excellent insights into Warren Jeffs and the FLDS culture.
Becky – Yep. Fascinating but missing something.
Kathy – Who knows. I had to look at it carefully just to type it out.
on January 6th, 2009 at 5:06 pmyou’ll be receiving an award on my blog tomorrow.
on January 6th, 2009 at 5:56 pmIf Hrdlitschka was feeling bold, she would have called the group “FLDS” instead of “The Movement.” Polygamy and underage marriage seem like kind of risky topics for a young adult novel. Perhaps if the author set out to write an adult novel she would have felt more at ease delving into deeper topics.
on January 6th, 2009 at 9:23 pmOh, and I second the recommendation of Escape. It was excellent. I actually listened to it as an audio book. The reader was very good and the book was enjoyable in that format (which isn’t always the case with non-fiction, IMO).
on January 6th, 2009 at 9:25 pmSerena – Can’t wait!
Fern – Welcome! I’m so happy you stopped by. I look forward to getting to know you from your new blog! She could have called it FLDS but then I think that would have required more research into their beliefs, their leaders, etc. It would have to be exact whereas with this book it’s more of a general idea of how any group of people could be brainwashed when isolated and indoctrinated.
on January 6th, 2009 at 11:08 pmI’m currently reading The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff and I’m enjoying it. It’s also about polygamy (duh!) but I think that this goes a lot more in-depth and challenges it a little more than just being a story with polygamy and I think you’d enjoy it. (Unless you’ve already read it!)
on January 6th, 2009 at 11:49 pmYou are a major polygamy trip. I read Escape and thats about all I can stomach.
on January 7th, 2009 at 12:04 amI totally agree with your thoughts about the novel being simple – I would have liked it if she had done some exploration, maybe even turned it into a series!
on January 7th, 2009 at 9:12 amI’m glad you stated “I do think that it was very simple, almost as though Hrdlitschka wasn’t brave enough to take the story up another notch.” Too bad. Even so, this sounds like a great book to read.
on January 11th, 2009 at 4:31 pmi’m definitely going to take a look at this one. thanks for the review!
on February 1st, 2009 at 10:36 pmI just finished this book and I totally agree with you about the lack of depth. I liked the book, but I was hoping for just a little more. Still entertaining and interesting, though. I’m going to link to your review.
on February 18th, 2009 at 6:34 pmthis book was terrible and very slow
on October 13th, 2009 at 10:44 amI just read this book and it was NOT as good as “The Chosen One” And the ending was abrupt and not done well. But the whole polygamy is fascinating.
on October 13th, 2009 at 6:56 pmElli – Sorry to hear that.
Laura H. – No, it’s not as good as The Chosen One, which I read after this one. But yeah, polygamy is fascinating.
on October 13th, 2009 at 7:16 pm