Even a Sparrow

by Virginia Hall-Apicella

Storms ... disease ... starvation

It's the early 19th century in a small Rhine River village. Is Johann Klem, a tailor and a dreamer, unaware of these dangers when he asks his family to travel over the vast ocean for a future in America? Despite floods and occupation by Napoleon's army, Johann's wife, Anna, is unwilling to abandon their town, the home that nourished their families for generations. Johann tries to convince her that the end of the War of 1812 and the availability of cheap land make it the best time to pursue their destiny in the land of opportunity.

After a life-altering bargain between Johann and Anna, they pack their four young children and a few possessions to embark on a relentless voyage. Over land, sea, and frozen rivers, the family meets a host of strangers on their the kind and the malicious, the holy and the profane, the sane and the eccentric. These strangers with different customs and languages make an unforgettable impact on the Klems' perilous journey.

Even A Sparrow follows the first-person narratives of Anna and Johann in this gripping historical novel, a testament to enduring courage and family love. The Klems' remarkable perseverance and joy portray the emigrants' desire for a better life in the new world. 

Virginia Hall-Apicella expertly blends historical details, hardship, and a family's deep faith in her heart-warming and riveting debut novel.

404 pages, Paperback

Published June 7, 2024

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flawlessly researched and beautifully written. Gives the reader a great appreciation for the sacrifices and hardships immigrants endure as they chase the American dream. I found myself rooting for the Klems, bracing myself for potential tragedy, and eager to celebrate a safe conclusion to their journey. This should be required reading for history students.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book allowed me a vision of what my father's people went through deciding and then immigrating from Germany. The descriptions of the town they lived in for generations, the heartbreakingly difficult decision to move to America are so clearly written I kept putting myself in the pages. The harrowing journey through Europe, no busses or trains yet, I would have turned around before leaving Paris and missed the adventure of a lifetime, and an opportunity to change future generations for the better. I love the way the Johann and Anna Klem quietly but firmly disagree but give each other space to do back-burner thinking for as long as it takes, while working and managing full lives with children and households. I will remember Even a Sparrow before complaining about travel in this millennium again. Journey by ship then was as different from a modern cruise ship as an apple falling on Issac Newton's head is to NASA/Jet Propulsion Lab, unfathomable, until you read of the Klem's journey as written by Ginny Hall- Apicella. She opened my mind and heart with this beautiful work of historical fiction. I am looking forward to reading it again as my kick off book for 2025!

[Aubrey Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Virginia Hall-Apicella has a gentle, tactful way of writing that still draws you into the thoughts and emotions of the characters. I found myself relating deeply to both Johann and Anna. Further, I enjoyed "getting to know" and care about some of the side characters, such as the sailors, fellow travelers and their daughter Katja.

I highly recommend this book for any American who wants to understand the experiences of their German ancestors. While the Klem family's experience is unique in some ways, it is very typical in others. Beyond that, it is a book many lovers of historical fiction will appreciate, especially those who are interested in the period or in immigrant experiences in general.

[Beth MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even a Sparrow is an exciting combination of family drama and historical fiction. In her novel, Virginia Hall-Apicella tells the story of the Klem family’s 1815 journey from Germany to upstate New York. Worked seamlessly into the storyline are the historical happenings of both the old and new worlds. In a genre not always known for “page turners,” Hall-Apicella’s writing keeps her readers wanting more with every chapter. Her depiction of the months long voyage on the 150 foot sailing ship Stalwart is remarkable—readers feel the sway of the ship, hear the shouts of the crew, and smell the rankness the crowded hull. This is a book you will be happy to read and to recommend to friends.

[Mari Fekete · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book although at times it seemed to move slowly and the timings were off. Meaning it seemed like more time should have passed than the book suggested. I enjoy historical fiction although there was a personal surprise for me at the end which made me wonder about the fiction part.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I miss all the folks in the book. The emotions were so true and the experiences realistic!

Great historical fiction!!