CBC Radio One - All Points West
"[Shelley Hrdlitschka] has done a fabulous job of creating this other world for us...Compelling storytelling about characters you really come to care about."
CM Magazine
"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."
VOYA
"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."
Booklist
"Although Hrdlitschka is careful not to condemn, her details are damning...Such specifics make this an infuriating book about faith - which is entirely appropriate."
KLIATT
"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."
K.C. Dyer
"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."
Natasha Maw, Maw Books Blog
"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."
Becky Laney, Becky's Book Reviews blog
"An excellent book, a fascinating book...packed with ethical implications."
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"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."
Resource Links
"[Hrdlitschka] challenges readers to examine their own ideas and beliefs about relationships, family and religion...Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy reading this novel!"
TeensReadToo.com
"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."
Fresno County Public Library
"A fascinating portrayal of life in a polygamist community. I couldn't put it down."
Tucson Unified School District
"An out of the ordinary interpretation of cult life in a polygamist community. Recommended."
Tri State Young Adult Book Review Committee
"Hrdlitschka delivers a compelling teen novel, ripped from the headlines, yet thoughtful and peopled with strong characters."
School Library Journal
"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."
The Bookmark (BCTLA)
"Beautifully written. The characters of Celest, Taviana and Nanette are sensitively handled...A compelling read."
Library Media Connection
"This book will lead to much discussion about the power of faith and how less conventional faiths are viewed in the larger community. Recommended."
Amanda Snow, A Patchwork of Books Blog
"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."
Abby Johnson, Barrington Area Library, IL
"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."