The Sparrow Found A House (Sparrow Stories) (Volume 1) by Jason McIntire

Sparrow Stories #1

by Jason McIntire

A no-longer-published story about a homeschooling family, the first in a discontinued two-book series, "Sparrow Stories."What if your new stepdad was a Bible-toting Army Sergeant? Fifteen-year-old Jessie Rivera is living every teenager’s nightmare. Her widowed mom has married a man who wears his heavy Christian values like his sergeant’s stripes – on both sleeves. Glenn Sparrow is persistent, immovable, and not afraid to be firm. Worse than that, he’s loving, kind – even fun – and he has Chris, Moe, and Katie completely won over. But Jessie is determined that she won’t be won over, or give up her “freedom” without a fight. She knows what she wants, and it isn’t what they’ve got. Or is it?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Contemporary, Young Adult

Mass Market Paperback

First published May 7, 2013

About the author

Former fiction author, now raising a family in Southwest Missouri. I enjoy history, accessible theology, and human interest books.

Reviews

[Amanda Tero · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the first chapter, you are thrown into "The Sparrow Found a House" with the two teens of the family. As the book progressed and changed between the viewpoint of almost every member of the family, it kept my interest up and was a good, fast-paced read.

Coming from a conservative Christian standpoint, I appreciated the attitude behind this book. It seemed like the step-dad had a very gentle attitude. My only complaint is that there didn't seem to be much Scripture backing up their decisions. However, there's a definite "high-five" for approaching the issues (very applicable for modern readers!) in a meek spirit.

One word of caution: there is mention of drug use which some parents may not like younger children to be exposed to. Other than that, this is an extremely, laughable, family-friendly book.

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 4 out of 5]

About this book:

“What if your new stepdad was a Bible-toting Army Sergeant?
Fifteen-year-old Jessie Rivera is living every teenager’s nightmare. Her widowed mom has married a man who wears his heavy Christian values like his sergeant’s stripes – on both sleeves.
Glenn Sparrow is persistent, immovable, and not afraid to be firm. Worse than that, he’s loving, kind – even fun – and he has Chris, Moe, and Katie completely won over.
But Jessie is determined that she won’t be won over, or give up her “freedom” without a fight. She knows what she wants, and it isn’t what they’ve got.
Or is it?”


Series: Book #1 in the “Sparrow Stories” series.


Spiritual Content- Many, many, many Prayers; Scriptures are mentioned, read & quoted; Witnessing; Many, many, many Talks about God, Jesus, creation, gifts, modesty & being a Christian; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God, but not when referring to Jesus; Many, many, many Mentions of prayers; Many mentions of church, devotions & Bible reading; Mentions of those in the Bible; Mentions of Christmas & Jesus’ birthday; Mentions of Hymns; Mentions of Christian values & the public school systems’ view; A few mentions of Heaven & miracles; A couple mentions of a creation museum; A mini-debate between a creationist & an evolutionist; A mention of a Catholic school;
*Note: A few mentions of an article of a Christian family that was written into the definition of a cult.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘screw up’, a ‘stinking, two ‘idiot’s, two forms of ‘wimp’, three forms of ‘dumb’, and three forms of ‘stupid’; A bit of sarcasm; Many mentions of curses & bad words (not written); Jessie sneaks out to see a forbidden movie; Bullies, borrowing money & black eyes; Mentions of violent videos games, blood & killing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of selling & making illegal drugs and fireworks; A couple mentions of jail; A couple mentions of non-alcoholic drinks.


Sexual Content- Chris calls himself a ‘hunk’; A few mentions of girlfriends; Mentions of modesty & inappropriate clothes.

-Jessie Rivera, age 15
-Chris Rivers, age 16
P.O.V. switches between them and a few others
204 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Two Stars
New Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
I’m very impressed with “The Sparrow Found a House”. Lots of Spiritual Content with great lessons. Just as impressive is that the author has where you can get this e-book for free(!) on his website. ( Click Here! to learn more! ) Very homeschool-y, so I’m sure some of my fellow homeschoolers will like this one. I personally like the mini-debate of creation vs evolution. :)


Link to review:
Coming 2/19/16


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.

[Sarah Grace Grzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. Overall, it was quite well done. The wordings, grammar, and punctuation were all pretty spot on. Story-wise, it seemed a bit lacking. The storyline with Jessie and her relationship with her new step-dad wasn't anywhere near as prominent as I thought it would be, considering as that is the impression it gives in the book description. But that being said, that storyline was still very well done. I do find it interesting that a guy would chose to make his main character a girl.

The character development was pretty good. The best characters in my opinion, were Sergeant Sparrow, and Ben.

I liked the parts about Creation\Evolution, particularly the part with Chris and Ben in the museum. The Sparrow's sudden decision *SPOILER ALERT* to homeschool seemed a bit sudden and out-of-the-blue, and the children's reaction seemed a bit off. In my mind, a 15 or 16 year old person who has gone to public school all their life wouldn't give into being homeschooled without a fight. In my experience anyway.
I really was not a fan of the storyline with Mr. Dimes. It seemed very unrealistic to me. Especially the whole *SPOILER ALERT* (forgive me, I don't know how to use spoiler tags) cherry bombs-on-the-Sparrows-back porch thing.
One last critique, it seemed to wrap up very quickly, Like within two chapters. It felt very sudden to me.

Overall, I think this book was definitely worth a read. I appreciated how clean it was, no romance or adult content, no swearing, no drugs\drinking. (there was a little bit with drugs actually, but the author BARELY mentioned it) In spite of my critiques, it was still a fun book. It would be a great family read aloud. The Christian messages and lessons were portrayed very well, and it was very theologically sound.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I can't say enough about the wonderful family transformation that is so amazingly portrayed in this book. Just...wow. There's people getting saved and lives being changed. Ahh, it was so refreshing! <3 The writing was amazing and oh, so funny, I can't begin to count the times I laughed while reading this. ;) The characters were flawed and believable (the best kind of characters) and I could relate to them in various ways.

Of the characters, the Sergeant was probably my favorite. His amazing love for his wife and these kids that are his only by marriage was just so wonderful. :)
I could relate to Chris and Jessie really well – them being the two teens in this book. Their struggles with a new stepfather and all the changes he brought to their family was shone in a real down-to-earth way.
Moe and Katie were really cute and I enjoyed reading from their viewpoints. :)
And, of course, the book just wouldn't have been the same without Ben and Mrs.
Mrs. Scroggins! :D


I really enjoyed the Biblical stance that was taken in various areas -- including evolution, video games, and homeschooling.

There's absolutely no romance in this book. (I usually like a little romance in a book, but I didn't miss it here. It just wasn't needed. :))
I don't remember there being a lot of specific Bible verses, but there's plenty of mentions of reading the Bible and prayers.

The references to the Creation museum and Pilgrim's Progress made the book all the more real. :)

And the ending... Where do I begin? So, so, so wonderful. Aww, it was just so sweet! <3

I would recommend this book to anyone! :D




~ Quotes. ~

“Last one to get there’s an aging Army Sergeant backpacking a really heavy nine-year-old.”

The Sergeant had shown them this technique, he remembered now, with a utility pole (which was probably paying more attention than they were, Chris reproached himself).

It sounded so flat and dumb, yet somehow it spoke the deepest cry from her heart – indeed, from the heart of any honest human, calling out from the trap of sin.

Upon re-entry, it managed to spray all the passengers efficiently with Dr. Pepper.

Camp Paranoid Quarantine (as the guest house had been temporarily named)

“Chris, that hole is there specifically so you’ll find Him. It’s there to show you that something is missing from your life without God – something much bigger than the hole itself, the lack of fulfillment, the inadequacy. .... the frustrations in your life are just an obvious temporary symptom of a deep eternal problem.”


**I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.**

[Bethany Willcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing story! From the first chapter I knew that this book would end up being one of my favorites, and sure enough it did just that! The characters are all so real and all so different too, and go through different experiences. And it’s very seldom that I agree with nearly everything in a book as long as this one was. The rules about things like phones and Wi-Fi that the Sergeant and his wife made for their family are very similar to the rules my own parents have made. I really liked the characters, their problems, their solutions to the problems, the decisions that the Sparrow family made throughout the book (i.e. moving to the country, home-schooling, dressing more modestly, etc.), and the whole plot-line in general! My only complaint was that the story ended far too soon; I would have liked it to go on for another twenty chapters at least!!

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's very rare that I read a book and agree with everything the author writes. This is one of the best, family reads that I have read in a long time. The lessons that the Sparrow family learn are worth remembering and it encouraged me to live my walk with God in way that will bring others to him.

I liked how the book portrays all the family's thoughts and frustration over the change that Mr. Sparrow brought into the house. Also, I liked the conservative standpoint of this family and their struggle to do what is right. I loved 'the Sergeant' and his understanding and care to his new family.

This book will not only make you smile, but will make you think deeply about your own decisions in life. I recommend this book highly and look forward to reading the next book!

[Victoria Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

More in-depth review to come. . .

[Alicia Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars
Great Family Read-Aloud
Suitable for all ages

Where can I begin? Before I was two chapters into this book, I knew I would be giving it five stars. I LOVED it. I couldn't put it down - and it wasn't because it was packed with action or romance. It was a simple story of family transformation. And it held me captive.

I am not even sure how to put my finger on what it was I loved so much. Perhaps it was the simplicity. Perhaps it was the family transformation or wholesome, Christian values. Perhaps it was the humor, which sometimes had me laughing out loud. Perhaps it was the fact that the gospel was clearly laid out. Whatever it was, the book was incredible.

This deserves its own spot: I loved the sergeant. Enough said.

Outside of a few grammatical errors and the fact that the synopsis leads you to believe the story is about Jessica (it is about the whole family, which I actually liked and prefer), I wouldn't change a thing. The author's personal convictions shone through in a way that was uplifting and encouraging. This was a wholesome, excellent read that I will definitely recommend. I would give it to any one of my siblings and I hope my own children can read it someday.

Recommended to homeschoolers, families, and teens with a desire to pursue worthwhile reading.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the sparrow found a house very much. the story was fun and interesting, and the author easily put in many Christian truths without sounding preachy, just a family learning and living. I will be reading book 2!

[Micaiah Keough · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Sparrow Found a House
By: Jason McIntire
Rating: 2-ish stars (It was okay)

The book was two-star for me mostly because it was not really exciting. It was just okay for me. There wasn't much action or adventure, which I find I like in books. Also, it felt like it tended more towards legalistic Christianity at times. That opinion of mine being said, I think the group that Mr. McIntire has written this book for will enjoy it's similarities to life (conservative Christians who homeschool). It has good morals and messages which resonate with everyday life. It also had a different cast of characters - not really stereotyped, like jocks or geeks. (Hah...yeah, those stereotypes. ;))

My favorite of the characters? Probably Chris Rivera. I think it was because he was so willing to change, and he was kind. He's so completely different at the end from the person he was when the book started. I especially liked the fact that he even started working out later on in the book (I know, that sounds weird, but it showed that he truly did want to become a better person. It was the change on the inside showing on the outside!). :) I also agreed with the video game section of the book. My family has always been into video games (me the least of all the siblings), but we stray far away from violent video games. We play Mario Party and Lego games and the like. ;)

My favorite message of the book? Probably when Katie, the youngest sister, was about to go to the spelling bee, I believe, and her mom talks to her about our talents being for the glory of God. This was impressed upon me the most because I can struggle with what Katie was struggling with, even though I am quite a few years older than her nine years. Everybody can struggle with wanting to be praised for their gifts. It was a nice reminder that God gave us our gifts and talents, so His glory should be our focus.

Everything was played out pretty realistically in this book. Especially when God intervened (won't name the situation, but it had to do with homeschooling). Because HE DOES THAT. God is a good God, and He is right by our sides. He really does intervene for us!

Overall, however, this book was just okay for me personally.

*Thanks to the author for a free review copy! I was not obligated to right a positive review. The feelings above are my own.*

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age Appropriate For: 10 and up (for brief mention of drug dealing)

Best for Ages: 10 and up

Even before I picked up this book, I was impressed with the author. You can get a free copy of his book on his website, no strings attached. That right there showed me that his goal was to bring glory to God, not to make money. The book confirmed that first impression in the best possible way.

Jason is a very talented writer. Although my values are more like Mr. Sparrow (the Sergeant), I found myself understanding Jessie. She and her siblings were well developed. As she struggled to understand and accept the changes around her, I felt her pain even though I knew those changes would be for her good.

I loved the plot of this story. A family transformed by the love of a stepdad and God was heartwarming. Sometimes, living in a Christian home, I need to be reminded of how different my life would be without faith. Without getting into anything objectionable, this book reminded me of the transforming power of the love of God.

A couple of times the book felt a little preachy or a situation felt set up to teach a lesson. However, most of the messages, including the salvation messages didn’t feel that way. They were just woven into the story very well.

This book would be a great family read aloud. I do suggest parents of young children read ahead to the end because as there is mention of a bad guy who is pretty mean and is doing some illegal things. It does not go into any detail, but parents need to be aware. I found it not in the least disturbing and wouldn’t mind handing the book even to a younger child.

I highly recommend this book to new Christians, families going through major changes, or those who want a wonderfully written reminder of why we chose the path of faith.

[C.R. Hedgcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, family-friendly story!

[Lydia Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for the second time through (written without looking back at my original review):

Why I Choose this Book:

When I first read this series I read #2 first and #1 several months later. I felt some confusion about different characters coming into the story backwards, so I wanted to re-read the two books in the correct order to clear that confusion up.

What I thought about this book:

The author has a distinctive voice and the characters are each well developed and unique, so that's always a big plus. Even though none of the characters are lovable all of the time, they each have redeeming qualities and I could feel myself rooting for them.

The book is definitely more character-driven then plot-driven, and since I am partial to character-driven books, that's a good thing.

I was able to picture the different scenes in the book and appreciated the amount of details given since it was clear and yet not cluttered.

Conclusion:

I'm pretty sure I came away from the book with the same thoughts as the first time I read it. ;)

Rating:

4 out of 5 stars, 7 out of 10.


*** Original Review ***

Why I Choose this Book

Jason McIntire, the author of The Sparrow Found a House, contacted me back in June of 2014 asking me if I wanted to be a part of the book launch. At that time it didn't work for me to do a book review, but I did host him on Noveltea. Then, earlier this year I read and reviewed Flight School, the second book in the Sparrow Stories series. Ever since then I've wanted to go back and read The Sparrow Found a House (referred to from now on as TSFAH).

What I Thought about this Book

I'm not sure if it's because I already "knew" these characters, but I enjoyed TSFAH a lot more than Flight School. The main character in this book is fifteen-year-old Jessie, although she shares stage time with her three siblings, Mom and new step-dad. It was easy to see that Jessie is conflicted by the changes going on in her family. She loves her mom and of course has a bond with her siblings, therefore she wants life to run smoothly for them but she can't stand her new step-dad. I could feel her struggle and although I didn't personally connect with her very much, I thought she was well-written and that a lot of people would be able to connect with her.

A little list of things I especially enjoyed in TSFAH:
1. The Creation Museum gets about a ten second appearance in the book which was cool
2. The parents are willing to apologize when they've done something wrong
3. Ben. He was a cool friend for them to have
4. Each one of the characters were their own person and had their own personalities
5. The fact that Jessie didn't change all of a sudden
6. Camping. Of course camping. How could I not like camping?

Conclusion

TSFAH reminded me quite a bit to A Song for Your Honor, which is a true, modern-day story involving a homeschooling window and her struggles with the grandparents not agreeing with the conservative way she was raising her family. (I don't agree with everything in A Song for Your Honor and there are times the story drags, but over all it is very encouraging - especially in the arena of forgiveness. I highly recommend it.) I actually really enjoyed the parallels between the two books and wondered at times if they were done on purpose or not.

I didn't find a huge a mount of stuff that I disagreed with in TSFAH and I thought almost all of the "teachable" moments were done tastefully and were not overbearing which is a hard trick to master.

This book made me want to re-read Flight School and pick up on what elements of the story I might have missed my first time reading it.

Rating

I'm giving The Sparrow Found a House Four Stars and recommend it to kids and teenagers who want an interesting, God-focused read that will encourage them in their Christian faith.

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a pleasant few days of reading. It would be a great read-a-loud with kids. There is a lot of opportunity for discussion. It was a little awkward in some spots but not enough that I couldn’t thoroughly enjoy the journey. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it--it's the way all Christian families hope to see things work out.

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The "Sparrow Found a House" was a well put together book of a family becoming a whole family again. Right when you think the book is about at its end, their lives are yet again taken onto a new path. And with each trial they come across, they all pull together and an unexpected miracle happens.

Though the author wrote the book well, I did not feel like I was right there in the book experiencing and seeing what they felt or saw. It just did not feel very vivid or expressive. And sometimes I had a hard time deciding who's perspective I was reading from since it was not directly stated and it suddenly switched from person to person with no warning. And Their real time lectures for the youngest kids in the book became boring at best.

Also my favorite stories are adventure, mystery, and exciting plot twist and turns. But unfortunately this book was not that style. This book reminds me of a soap opera show.

But I did find it quite interesting, living in Missouri myself, to find out that the places the characters lived and went to visit in the book are real places in Missouri. Plus one of the characters names were Deanna as well.

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was recently approached by the author with the request that I read and review his book.

Grammatically this book did very well, and the story flow was cohesive. However, I believe the author exaggerated certain aspects and characters more than was necessary, and it made the book feel very prejudiced and judgmental. I am both a graduated home school student, and a sincere Christian (two things I share in common with the author); and yet, I was annoyed by the legalistic aspects of this story.

It is my understanding that the author comes from a very specific perspective and this came through in his story. While I know that there is a niche market of readers who would enjoy this book, it is pretty small and I myself am not a member of that market. I do not believe that the author is attempting to be anything other than how he presents his beliefs in this book. Really, you will either agree with him and like it, or you won't. It is what it is.

A clean read, but not very enjoyable

[Jerinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! I downloaded and read it all within a couple days because I was hooked. The characters were interesting from the beginning, the scenarios were true to life, and the climactic points were awesome. I fell in love with these characters while reading, and that is a mark of a truly great book. Plus, it was steeped in God and learning to have a relationship with Him, which is just what I like in my Christian fiction novels. And I loved that it featured homeschooling since not many books (or anything else, for that matter) show homeschoolers in such a positive light. It was also well written (both grammatically and punctually correct) and very interesting and engaging. Thank you, Jason McIntire, for writing such an excellent novel and I look forward to reading more that you write in the future.

[Kelsey Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book would be fun and encouraging to almost every homeschooling family. It's extremely relevant. As I read it, I was struck with how things continued to get better ... there were challengers to overcome, and lessons to learn, but the way every member of the family eventually committed themselves to God's way makes for an outlook of hope. It mirrors our real-world situation.
It was funny, realistic, and quick-moving. The Sparrow-Rivera family deals with things that we deal with everyday. The kids have fun little adventures that would really get younger children involved in the reading, such as a treasure hunt (I love treasure hunts!). There are four kids in the family, a teenage boy and girl, and nine-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, so kids of any age will find someone to identify with.
Highly recommended! If this book has piqued your interest, go ahead and read it!

[Janell R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow the Rivera-Sparrows as they search the Scriptures, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in every area of their lives. But watch out, there may be some unexpected changes ahead for them!

This was a great, enjoyable read, particularly for someone like me, who was raised with very similar values to the ones expressed in this book. The story is initially one of skepticism and rebellion, but ultimately redemption and the changes that take place when we seek to glorify the Lord, and become individuals that will portray a Christlike spirit to the world.

Geared specifically toward families with more conservative values you will find absolutely nothing offensive in this book. It was written in a light-hearted yet compelling manner that had me laughing… and saying, “What’s next!”

[Adrienne Falkena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and so appreciate the morals presented. With things like violent video games, modesty, money, and friendships addressed, it was spot-on with Biblical truths in a great story format that never feels like preaching. I'm so impressed by this publisher and their motivations to provide great reading materials to the public, I really encourage you to check them out and spread the word!

[Annie Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A camping trip, a dangerous grandma who hates homeschooling, intruders, a farm, and more combine with a family’s new values to make a realistic novel that is fun and thought-provoking for the whole family and an inspiration for parents

See my complete review at: http://anniekateshomeschoolreviews.co...

[Alicia Ruggieri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I really enjoyed it and recommend it to families and teens looking for a clean, sometimes-humorous story of a family's transformation through the power of the Gospel. You can find my full review here:

http://www.abrighterdestiny.blogspot....