In the isolated rural community of Unity, the people of The Movement live a simple life guided by a set of religious principles and laws that are unique to them. Polygamy is the norm, strict obedience is expected and it is customary for young girls to be assigned to much older husbands. Celeste was born and raised in Unity, yet she struggles to fit in. Perhaps it's because of Taviana, the girl who has come to live with them and entertains Celeste with forbidden stories, or Jon, the young man she has clandestine meetings with, or maybe it's the influence of Craig, the outsider she meets on the beach. Whatever it is, she struggles to accept her ordained life. At fifteen she is repulsed at the thought of being assigned to an older man and becoming a sister wife, and she knows for certain she is not cut out to raise children. She wants something more for herself, yet feels powerless to change her destiny because rebelling would bring shame upon her family. Celeste watches as Taviana leaves Unity, followed by Jon, and finally Craig, the boy who has taught her to think "outside the box." Although she is assigned to a caring man, his sixth wife, she is desperately unhappy. How will Celeste find her way out of Unity? Torn from the headlines and inspired by current events, Sister Wife is a compelling portrait of a community where the laws of the outside world are ignored and where individuality is punished.
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Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Celeste lives in Unity, a community centered around the strict religious ways of the Movement, and one of their chief tenets is polygamy. Celeste’s impending fifteenth birthday means she will soon be assigned a husband, though secretly she harbors doubts. Her “impure thoughts”—simple and recognizable teen lust—are further stoked by her true-believer sister, Nanette, and Taviana, a former teen prostitute taken in by the Movement. The story shuttles between the first-person accounts of the three protagonists, and although their voices are sometimes too similar, their accounts of subservient life are fascinating. When Taviana is kicked out of Unity, the difficulties of adjusting to civilian life are clearly illustrated. Although Hrdlitschka is careful not to condemn, her details are damning—Celeste’s mother, one of her father’s five wives, is dying because her womb can’t handle her seventh straight baby, yet community doctrine prevents a doctor’s interference. Such specifics make this an infuriating book about faith—which is entirely appropriate. Grades 9-12. --Daniel Kraus
Review
"Very well-written and filled with realistic and honest characters, Sister Wife is not to be missed... definitely in my top 5 books read this year." (Amanda Snow A Patchwork of Books Blog 20081121)
"[Shelley Hrdlitschka] has done a fabulous job of creating this other world for us...Compelling storytelling about characters you really come to care about." (CBC Radio One - All Points West 20081201)
"Hrdlitschka handles the sensitive areas of sex and abuse skillfully, keeping the emphasis on a young woman's attempts at understanding herself and coping with difficulties rather than the actual acts. Highly recommended." (CM Magazine 20081125)
"This compelling story combines authentic characters to pique the interest of a wide array of teens and get them talking about faith and free will." (VOYA 20081101)
"I really enjoyed this book and the more I though about it, the more I liked it...This is one that will appeal to teens and adults alike." (Abby Johnson Barrington Area Library, IL 20081101)
"Although Hrdlitschka is careful not to condemn, her details are damning...Such specifics make this an infuriating book about faith - which is entirely appropriate." (Booklist 20081201)
"I appreciate the author's portrayal of this alternative religious life. She carefully considers the positive as well as the negative aspects of such a rigid community structure, and...avoids sentimental endings." (KLIATT 20090106)
"Hrdlitschka weaves this tale with her usual skill - with warmth and humour, and allows humanity to bloom in the most unexpected corners of the world she has built. It's an amazing read from an author who continues to surprise and entertain with every book she writes." (K.C. Dyer 20081129)
"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." (Natasha Maw, Maw Books Blog 20090101)
"An excellent book, a fascinating book...packed with ethical implications." (Becky Laney, Becky's Book Reviews blog 20081201)
"Readers drawn by a topic that's been newsworthy of late may come away with a broader understanding of the human possibilities within such communities." (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 20090101)
"[Hrdlitschka] challenges readers to examine their own ideas and beliefs about relationships, family and religion...Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy reading this novel!" (Resource Links 20090110)
"Having three different points of view was an excellent idea... Sister Wife is an interesting look at a polygamous community and how it affects the children within those religious sects." (TeensReadToo.com 20090101)
"A fascinating portrayal of life in a polygamist community. I couldn't put it down." (Fresno County Public Library 20090101)
"An out of the ordinary interpretation of cult life in a polygamist community. Recommended." (Tucson Unified School District 20090401)
"Hrdlitschka delivers a compelling teen novel, ripped from the headlines, yet thoughtful and peopled with strong characters." (Tri State Young Adult Book Review Committee 20090201)
"The characters, from the multilayered Celeste to the elders of the cult and the confused boys whom Celeste encounters, are all believable individuals engaged in their own struggles This novel gives depth and nuance to an experience that is portrayed without subtlety in the popular press." (School Library Journal 20090501)
"Beautifully written. The characters of Celest, Taviana and Nanette are sensitively handled...A compelling read." (The Bookmark (BCTLA) 20090317)
"This book will lead to much discussion about the power of faith and how less conventional faiths are viewed in the larger community. Recommended." (Library Media Connection 20090401)
*no details* (Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group )
*no details* (Canadian Children's Book News )
"[Shelley Hrdlitschka] has done a fabulous job of creating this other world for us...Compelling storytelling about characters you really come to care about." (CBC Radio One - All Points West 20081201)
"Hrdlitschka handles the sensitive areas of sex and abuse skillfully, keeping the emphasis on a young woman's attempts at understanding herself and coping with difficulties rather than the actual acts. Highly recommended." (CM Magazine 20081125)
"This compelling story combines authentic characters to pique the interest of a wide array of teens and get them talking about faith and free will." (VOYA 20081101)
"I really enjoyed this book and the more I though about it, the more I liked it...This is one that will appeal to teens and adults alike." (Abby Johnson Barrington Area Library, IL 20081101)
"Although Hrdlitschka is careful not to condemn, her details are damning...Such specifics make this an infuriating book about faith - which is entirely appropriate." (Booklist 20081201)
"I appreciate the author's portrayal of this alternative religious life. She carefully considers the positive as well as the negative aspects of such a rigid community structure, and...avoids sentimental endings." (KLIATT 20090106)
"Hrdlitschka weaves this tale with her usual skill - with warmth and humour, and allows humanity to bloom in the most unexpected corners of the world she has built. It's an amazing read from an author who continues to surprise and entertain with every book she writes." (K.C. Dyer 20081129)
"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." (Natasha Maw, Maw Books Blog 20090101)
"An excellent book, a fascinating book...packed with ethical implications." (Becky Laney, Becky's Book Reviews blog 20081201)
"Readers drawn by a topic that's been newsworthy of late may come away with a broader understanding of the human possibilities within such communities." (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 20090101)
"[Hrdlitschka] challenges readers to examine their own ideas and beliefs about relationships, family and religion...Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy reading this novel!" (Resource Links 20090110)
"Having three different points of view was an excellent idea... Sister Wife is an interesting look at a polygamous community and how it affects the children within those religious sects." (TeensReadToo.com 20090101)
"A fascinating portrayal of life in a polygamist community. I couldn't put it down." (Fresno County Public Library 20090101)
"An out of the ordinary interpretation of cult life in a polygamist community. Recommended." (Tucson Unified School District 20090401)
"Hrdlitschka delivers a compelling teen novel, ripped from the headlines, yet thoughtful and peopled with strong characters." (Tri State Young Adult Book Review Committee 20090201)
"The characters, from the multilayered Celeste to the elders of the cult and the confused boys whom Celeste encounters, are all believable individuals engaged in their own struggles This novel gives depth and nuance to an experience that is portrayed without subtlety in the popular press." (School Library Journal 20090501)
"Beautifully written. The characters of Celest, Taviana and Nanette are sensitively handled...A compelling read." (The Bookmark (BCTLA) 20090317)
"This book will lead to much discussion about the power of faith and how less conventional faiths are viewed in the larger community. Recommended." (Library Media Connection 20090401)
*no details* (Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group )
*no details* (Canadian Children's Book News )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An unbiased look inside a different culture,
By
This review is from: Sister Wife (Young Adult Novels) (Paperback)
Celeste was born and raised in Unity, a small community that follows the Movement, a religious lifestyle that practices polygamy and resides without a lot of modern conveniences. She has always had to fight to fit in, whether it be with her huge family, her friends, or even within her religion, always wondering if she were meant to be a wife and mother. At 15, she is set to be assigned to a husband very shortly, a man who will be much older than her, already married to several other women, and a father to many. Celeste is not sure she can be happy within that lifestyle, as her younger sister Nanette has felt she is destined to be a part of. Celeste wishes to rebel against the process, but does not want to bring heartache and shame to her family.
Told in alternating voices of Celeste, Nanette, and Taviana, a girl who once lived in the "real world" and stayed for a time in Unity, Sister Wife takes an in-depth look into the life of polygamists and how some women truly believe it is their destiny to be married to a man with other wives and some simply do not. This book is a completely unbiased look into this lifestyle, allowing for the heart of the characters to really flow outward and the message of individuality to come across strongly. Very well-written and filled with realistic and honest characters, Sister Wife is not to be missed, especially after the recent media coverage of the polygamist sect in Texas. This really is an unbiased view, allowing for the real plot to come through. I loved it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Could You Leave Everything Behind?,
By Tamela Mccann "taminator40" (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Sister Wife (Young Adult Novels) (Paperback)
Shelley Hrdlitschka's Sister Wife is actually one story told from three points of view, and what a riveting read it is! Fifteen year old Celeste, raised in the fundamental polygamist society of Unity, knows her time to be married to a man chosen by the group's Prophet is rapidly approaching. It's how she's been raised and all she's ever known, and her only way to achieve the highest celestial glory in heaven. So what's the problem? Her heart skips a beat whenever she sees Jon, another teen, though she knows she'll be forbidden to be with him. Added to that is her pregnant mother's scary health condition and the removal of a friend from the community by the Prophet, and Celeste finds herself questioning the teachings of her way of life.
Moving deftly between the points of view of Celeste, Taviana (a runaway adopted into Unity and subsequently forced to leave), and Nanette, Celeste's younger sister, Sister Wife showcases the angst and frustration of feeling an outcast in what should be a safe haven. Celeste is sure that she doesn't want to become a plural wife to a much older man, but her headstrong disobedience can only result in that happening all the sooner. Nanette cannot understand Celeste's reluctance to accept the lifestyle; Taviana finds herself needing to start over in a safe house after she is dismissed. All three young women face crises of faith, perseverence, and conscience as they determine what's really important in life. I was riveted from the first pages of Sister Wife, and I loved how the author moved among the personalities, weaving a tale that was heart wrenching. This book doesn't make it easy to know what is right and wrong because as the young women come to understand, those concepts can vary from person to person. If the ending did seem a bit rushed, I can forgive it because I was totally engrossed by the emotions invoked and the ideas created in this fascinating tale. Highly recommended to readers of all ages.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting and Unbiased,
By Amanda J. Henning "bond_girl_double07" (Marysville, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Sister Wife (Young Adult Novels) (Paperback)
This was a quick, interesting, and dramatic read! I really liked that the author let the reader make their own judgment (she didn't spoon-feed any one opinion). I thought the characters were all surprisingly multi-faceted, and the end was satisfying without being too easy. Great book, highly recommended!
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