Felicity~ A Sparrow's Tale

Felicity #1

by Loralee Evans

Tales of adventure and danger have thrilled Felicity since Augustus, her ivory-billed woodpecker friend, taught her to read as a little nestling. She adores the tales of heroes and heroines who forge ahead in spite of all odds, and who always seem to succeed no matter what. More than anything, Felicity wants to be brave and selfless like them.
But adventures are in short supply, especially for someone who’s just an ordinary sparrow.
Until the day an unexpected visitor shows up at her tree with an unusual request…

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens

185 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 23, 2014

About the author

Some of Loralee Evans’ earliest memories are of sitting with her mom or dad while they read her stories like The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, or Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. These memories, along with many great teachers who got her excited about reading, are what helped her develop a love of books, and of writing. She has lived in Missouri, Texas, and Utah, and even spent a year and a half in Japan.

Reviews

[Stjepan Cobets · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly I really liked this story about the sparrow Felicity, because I was back in my childhood. I've always loved to read fairy tales and fables, and this story contains both components. It is a story about the sparrow Felicity who can read and loves stories about the heroes and their adventures. Although she does not know, she will become the main character in his story of courage when he meets fairy Colin. The story is entertaining and engaging. I high-maintenance, that will appeal to kids but adults could understand the point of the story. You just need to have a heart in the right place and it will give you the strength to do the right thing. Although small sparrow Felicity, his heart is great and knows what needs to be done regardless of the danger he was in. The writer Loralee Evans wrote a beautiful and instructive story. I was pleased to read her literary work.
"Copy provided courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review."

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this small story about a brave small bird. Felicity the sparrow lives in a tree in America, and the wise ivory-billed woodpecker taught her to read before he went missing. Now young Felicity has to put that skill to good use - but only after saving a fairy from a hawk when his wings are torn off by the predatory bird.

Felicity has a tremendous adventure in the Wildwood, using her wits, her agility and her courage to save herself and others. The fairy queen's freedom depends on her, but a rescue always means danger.

The author made this free as a Kindle download. I would recommend the book for young people of four to eight years old who either read or love being read to, and who enjoy nature and fantasy. There's plenty to learn and some nice colour drawings to illustrate the adventure.

[Ronesa Aveela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful, suspense-filled story about Felicity the sparrow that will captivate children (and adults). Felicity overcomes her fears as she sets out on an adventure the likes of which she has previously only read about in her books. Yes, Felicity can read, and that's one thing that makes her special, and helps her in her quest to save the fairy queen from Grak, the sorcerer Knight Hawk.

The book has great descriptions of creatures as told from the perspective of the sparrow. She has to puzzle out what they are, until it finally dawns on her from things she has read or been told about. In addition, the author writes vivid descriptions of the settings.

"The cliff itself, a face of grey somber stone rose stark and bare like a talon clawing at the sky."

and

"The light came from across the room where a ragged crack veined down the rocky wall from ceiling to floor. Where the wall met the floor, the break widened, making a small broken pocket of darkness in the base of the cracked wall. Up and down the ragged line of broken stone, something that looked moldy and dark grew out of the fissure, feeding off of the wetness that oozed out and bled darkly down the wall. And out of this damp gunk, a half dozen fat mushroom heads swelled, their plump bodies issuing a faint bluish glow."

More importantly, it gives children a sense that they can overcome their fears and discover those fears may not be as scary as they once thought once they discover what those fears truly are. And it shows children that they are all special in their own unique ways.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Maggie Larche · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet, beautifully paced story. Felicity is a timid sparrow who doesn't think she's cut out for adventures. Events quickly transpire that show her that she can be do brave things after all, even when she's frightened. It's a perfect story for young elementary school readers - not too scary with plenty of action. The book has a satisfying ending, while still hinting at a few lingering mysteries. Highly recommended!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal review.

[T.J. Wray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an epic adventure story, as you fly along with Felicity the sparrow. On a perilous journey as she tries to save a kidnapped fairy from a mean old night hawk. I enjoyed reading this story and would recommend it, probably for younger readers. There is no cussing or violence, no horror or sappy love stories. (Which suits me just fine by the way). It's just a good adventure story...the end...TJ

[Tara Woods Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity: A Sparrow's Tale is a charming story about an ordinary little sparrow who ends up doing quite extraordinary things when an encounter with a fairy prince sends her on a rescue mission. Felicity is a bookish creature who enjoys reading about daring adventures but never dreamed she would end up on one. I think this aspect of her personality fits in perfectly with the intended audience of the book - kids who are just beginning to enjoy chapter books but are still young enough to be enchanted by a fairy adventure.

I particularly like the fact that the author, although certainly weaving in some magical elements, chose to keep the story as natural as possible. The book had a Beatrix Potter feel to it that could make it a classic beginner chapter book for young readers. The action was brisk, the characters stayed true to type throughout with no skips or lapses in development and the story arc had excellent pacing. I loved the fact that there was not too much time spent on backstory, something I feel many authors do with an eye towards franchising as opposed to telling a goos story. As an avid member of a Goodreads book review group I was pleased to receive a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I read this book in one sitting and had to laugh at myself because I was so eager to see how Felicity could possibly get out of the scrape she was in!

In the end I believe Felicity: A Sparrow's Tale will go a long way towards making young readers feel that they have what it takes to be brave, conscientious and keep one's word. Parents will love the charming simplicity of the tale and the skillful, imaginative way the author crafts the narrative. The length of the chapters also make this an excellent chapter-a-night book for parents and kids. Highly recommend :)

[A.J. Culey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity ~ A Sparrow's Tale by Loralee Evans is an adorable adventure tale about a sparrow who loves reading about adventures, but never expects to experience one of her own. I found the book to be captivating, even for me, as an adult reader. With just enough danger to keep the story exciting and some fun riddles to decipher, Felicity has much to offer both its intended age group, as well as the adults who might read it out aloud as a bedtime story or as a classroom activity. As a bonus, it shares several messages without becoming preachy: even the smallest and shyest among us has worth and can achieve great things, perserverance in the face of adversity and keeping one’s promises are the true marks of character, and careful thought and analysis of problems can produce unexpected solutions. I also thought the illustrations were charming and adorable. My ony criticism would be that I think the length of the novel (16 chapters) warrants a greater quantity of them. In fact, by the time I got to the first illustration, I’d forgotten to expect any, so was a bit surprised (though pleasantly) by its inclusion. In any case, the lack of additional illustrations did not distract from the quality of the story at all, which was truly superb, and the illustrations that were included were quite charming and added to the overall effect of the story. Ultimately, this is a book that I highly recommend, without reservation.

[Margaret Standafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity the sparrow has spent her life immersed in her books, captivated by their stories of adventure and intrigue. Having been taught to read by Augustus, the ivory-billed woodpecker who raised her after her parents were killed by a hawk, Felicity can usually be found with a book in her beak. When a fairy prince comes looking for Augustus and finds Felicity instead, Felicity embarks on an adventure to rival those of the bravest heroes in her beloved stories.

Felicity – A Sparrow’s Tale is a charming tale. In Felicity, Loralee Evans has taken a small, plain, seemingly helpless creature, and turned her into a hero. Starting out, Felicity is scared of her journey, afraid she won’t be able to accomplish what the fairies are expecting of her, but decides that she needs to do all she can to help her friend the fairy prince. As she overcomes one obstacle after another and uses her wit to solve puzzles and ultimately succeed in her quest, she gains self-confidence and courage. Children reading the story will likely relate to those occasional feelings of helplessness and will, hopefully, learn from Felicity’s example. Parents reading the story to their children will have ample opportunity to relate Felicity’s learning experiences to experiences in their children’s lives.

I highly recommend Felicity – A Sparrow’s Tale to anyone looking for a delightful, uplifting story to share with a child.

[Neil Carstairs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book aimed at the younger generation of readers or adults who enjoy reading together with children. We follow Felicity the Sparrow as she embarks upon an adventure that tests her ability to face and overcome her fears as well as using her skill in reading and solving puzzles. Felicity has to journey into the wildwood to rescue the Fairy Queen and with each stage of the adventure finds bigger threats and more complicated puzzles standing in her way.

A good children's story should always contain some sort of lesson for the reader and in this case it is that we should try to face our fears and not live in their shadow. Felicity does this with bravery and resourcefulness that her younger audience will love.

Although as an adult I would probably rate Felicity – A Sparrow's Tale as four star taking into account the target audience I can easily rate it five star.

[Imani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity, a young sparrow, has a special talent that only she and one other bird she knows possess. It is this talent that causes the fairies of Wildwood to choose her for a special adventure. Her courage and determination will have you rooting for her.

This children's book is a wonderful tale with a nice moral! It can be enjoyed by all ages. It is imaginative and filled with beautiful imagery. It has some exciting, suspenseful moments. You will find yourself holding your breath to see if Felicity succeeds.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this charming story in two nights, and now my 11 year old is reading it. I loved that Felicity the sparrow loves to read about others' adventures, never dreaming that she'll have one of her own. There is plenty of adventure as Felicity sets out to rescue the queen of the fairies from the nighthawk. My favorite part about this story was all the little details that the author shows us through the sparrow's point of view.

[Sisilia Meli · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author served in Japan for an LDS mission with my mom and gave a short message for her in the back of the book. She sent it to us a little over a month after my mom died and I just finished it. Beautiful, beautiful story. Thank you for honoring her through a great children's story about bravery and courage.

[Russell Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Charming Tale of Adventure and Discovery

Who would ever think a sparrow could read or dare to dream of going on adventures? This charming tale complete with fairies will alter the way you look at the natural world. You will never look at a common house sparrow the same way again.

[Ian Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a captivating adventure story guaranteed to excite a younger reader. From page one, you step into the mysterious world of fairies, spells, puzzles to solve, and an evil sorcerer Grak, a night hawk with special powers. Fairy Queen, Lilia has been abducted by Grak who has cast spells to repel any attempt to rescue. The one possible hope of rescue lies with Augustus, a woodpecker with special abilities, but he has disappeared. Maybe not all hope is lost, Felicity a humble sparrow has been Augustus’s star pupil, she meets the criteria of being able to read and talk.
The brave Felicity volunteers to attempt a rescue even though she faces overwhelming odds negotiating Grak’s spells and horrific creatures that patrol and protect his domain.
‘Felicity-A Sparrow’s Tale’ will have the reader on the edge of their seat as they live Felicity’s adventure. I found myself immersed in the plot, reminiscing and enjoying a return to my childhood and the stories I used to enjoy.

[Eric Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like a hero with an education, and Felicity is chosen among a forest full of birds by the fairies specifically for her ability to read. Unlike many children's stories with anthropomorphized animals, Felicity retains more bird-ness with bird sensibilities and bird reactions. This aspect of the book is well written, not only played for comedy but integral to her problem solving. That's the form most of the challenges take, problem solving and riddles, even the action scenes being informed by her ability to outthink and outmaneuver. On-page violence is kept to a minimum, though the threat of gruesome death is ever present for a little sparrow straying from home.
I was put in mind of the Beatrix Potter books, but less didactic, with a more modern fantasy narrative. I think it will resonate for a slightly older listener, 8 or 9, maybe older if they're reading it on their own. It's a good, low-level introduction to monomyth-type stories. You'll have your kid reading Tolkien in no time.

[Alastair Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felicity – A Sparrow’s Tale is an enchanting book about a sparrow named Felicity who dares to leave her home in order to help a fairy whose family is in a very precarious situation. Felicity lives a solitary life –she doesn’t have any family and has only one friend whom she seldom sees. Felicity usually spends her time reading, but when she meets Colin, a fairy, she decides that she wants to be bold and adventurous like the characters in her books. She sets out to help Colin and his family.

Felicity – A Sparrow’s Tale reflects good values and principles and would be a worthwhile book for parents to read with their children. Felicity’s episodic adventures create opportunities for discussion between child and parent. It is a chapter book suitable for 7-9 year old children.

[Erin Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little book so much!! Yes to heroines who save and are not saved by the prince. Yes to heroines who don't conveniently end up with extraordinary powers or sudden beauty at the end of the book as "compensation" for being plain. Yes to quiet heroes who find the strength to do the right thing because they are compassionate and not because they are fearless. Yes to a story that will delight adults as well as young children. Finally - yes to an utterly charming book that relies on something that is becoming rare these days, even in childrens' books - the art of simple, exquisite storytelling. A+ and then some!

[Dorothy Mbori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully written book. I loved the story and the adventure that Felicity went through. I read this book with my little niece, and she loved it. When we were done, she asked me to find another one of Felicity's adventures to read to her. Great story!

[James Hockley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful little book. Inspired by titles such as the ‘Tales of Peter Rabbit’, you probably already have an inkling as to what this is about, and you’d be right. It is the tale of a sparrow who has an adventure. But what an adventure! Within context (i.e. through the eyes of a sparrow), this is a veritable roller-coaster ride. Felicity is one brave little bird.

This is a story about Felicity, who is a sparrow. An entirely unremarkable sparrow except that she can read (yep, read). And how does she use this (let’s be honest, remarkable) skill? Well, she likes to sit at home and read her collection of books. Obviously. But a book about a sparrow reading books would probably not hold its own (happy to be proven wrong!), so what we need is a terribly dangerous adventure that requires a literate bird as the key adventurer. Cue the introduction of the miniature flying “two-legs” – fairies to me and you.

Now, you may wonder whether such an adventure feels a bit contrived, but it’s really not. Not at all. Obviously we have to accept the fairies, but our lead character is a literate sparrow, so we know this is a fantastical tale. And the circumstances for the adventure are well laid out, with a nice “bad-guy” to go up against, and problems that are very real in a world of fairies and sparrows.

In fact, this is probably one of the nicest things about this book. Everything feels in context for a sparrow. We see the entire adventure through the eyes of Felicity, and although the adventure is not complex to me and you, from the perspective of a sparrow who’s never really left her home (a tree obviously), this is a huge deal. And we get that sense as a reader. The danger is very real because Felicity is very clearly a sparrow with a sparrow’s concerns. But ultimately she is also a warm-hearted sparrow, and wants nothing more than to help her fairy friends. And this drives her to remarkable actions.

This book is really well written too. The prose is nice and simple and flows seamlessly. And finer aspects, such as the dialogue, are excellent too. Felicity even speaks like I imagine a sparrow to speak. There are a few pictures throughout the book, some of them purely illustrative and some of them pertinent to the story. This was actually a nice touch, particularly the ones relevant to the story, and they were not frequent enough to distract.

All in all this is an excellent little book that I highly recommend. A great feel-good story for readers of all ages.

[David Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Nice Little Modern Fairy Tale.

Loralee's Evan's Felicity: A Sparrows Tale is an enjoyable modern fairy tale for elementary school age children. This is a quest and chase story except instead of humans out to rescue someone and run away from the bad guy, we have sparrows (Felicity,) fairies (Lilia, Colin, and Taron) and hawks (Grak)as the leading characters. It was a very fast paced narrative and a real page turner. Children, especially those in fourth and fifth grade should be thoroughly entertained.

[P.M.F. Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming tale of a sparrow, Felicity, who finds herself called on to brave adventures far beyond what she ever expected. Felicity is kind, which leads her to help a stranger in trouble, Colin. She is also special, in that she can read. Which leads to her big adventure, helping Colin's people. Trouble leads onto trouble, in a satisfying way.

The dangers she faces are at first recognizable, a hawk, human technology, going to a strange place, then magic creeps in and the stakes grow greater. She must face an evil hawk, and learn things about herself she never suspected. But though she is very afraid, yet people depend on her, and time is short, so she finds it within herself to go forward, to confront the greatest evil in her world. And reading helps her solve her problems. Doesn't it for all of us?

This is a very satisfying tale, and well-told, with interesting twists and developments.

I received a copy of "Felicity, A Sparrow's Tale" in exchange for an honest review.

[Dermot Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity loves to read and even though she is only a little sparrow she almost always has her head stuck in a book. When her reading is disturbed by the sudden appearance of a fairy, she has no idea that the encounter was not just going to interrupt her reading but take her on an adventure of a lifetime. She may be a bookworm but Felicity surprises us and perhaps herself by how btrave and resourceful she turns out to be. Having to tangle with a huge and scary nighthawk would terrify most but Felicity uses her brains and unique abilities and size to her advantage. What transpires is edge of your seat action and self-less heroism that would inspire the most cowardly among us. It brought a smile to my face that when all the danger and action was dealt with and Felicity saved the day, the first thing she then wanted to do? Open her book and take up reading right where she left off. Now, that's class.

[C.A. Pack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity~A Sparrow’s Tale is a positively delightful book for primary/elementary school children that follows the adventures of a young sparrow who knows how to read. The plot focuses on a fairy queen who has been kidnapped by an evil night hawk. The only creature that can save her is a bird that can fly past the hawk’s enchanted defenses, and solve riddles to gain access to the hawk’s lair. It’s well written and builds just the right amount of tension for young readers and listeners. Felicity’s character is wonderfully laid out. She’s shy, yet intrepid; scared, yet brave; and selflessly puts the needs of others ahead of her own safety—even if it means leaving the comfort zone of her book-filled home.

[Wanda Luce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional! "Felicity" took my imagination on an exciting ride. The imagery, suspense, and creativity are woven together so masterfully, that I must admit I couldn't put it down, even as an adult reader. I think the young person in most of us never really dies. I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat as the tender but brave sparrow met so many dangers with courage and determination. An entrancing tale that wove a spell around me as I read. Exellent writing that will charm any reader. I am so glad I got to read it.

[Jewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story! This is the first time in a long time that I have read a youth book that was thoroughly entertaining with scenes so intense, they literally made my heart pound (and who knew a story about a little sparrow could be intense?) Loralee Evans definitely has a way with a story and I will always be a fan of her work.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute story aimed at younger readers. I really enjoyed the journey with Felicity. She learned so many things, especially how to focus when afraid. I liked the riddles and logic used in the story. Felicity learned she was stronger, braver and better than she originally thought. The author created a character and setting that I want to revisit. I did buy the second book in the series.

[Katharine Coggeshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story! I really enjoyed the fantastical world of birds and fairies, where the heroine is a little sparrow. Ms. Evans does a great job of giving detail to the characters, making the story engaging, and weaving lessons for children readers throughout the book. As a mom, this is one I would recommend.

[D. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity: A Sparrow’s Tale has joined the ranks of my favorite fantasy books. It reminds me of my all-time favorite, The Lord of the Rings, but it is simpler, shorter and aimed at a younger audience. Best of all, the main character is a bird, and I love animal stories.
I read this novel in a couple of hours, so it is the right length for middle-grade readers. There is enough tension in this story to keep the reader completely engrossed until the end. In fact, the life-threatening suspense starts almost from Page One.
It’s hard not to identify with Felicity, a little orphaned sparrow whose parents were killed by a hawk and who was adopted by a kindly woodpecker. In the fantasy genre, characters are not bound by realism, so it is not at all incongruous that the small sparrow can read books from her limited library and eat beetles from her icebox, all within the safe confines of her nest in a tree hollow. Felicity is quite content with her insulated life, reading her selection of books multiple times, until her safe space is invaded by someone quite different: a fairy. He isn’t looking for her but the woodpecker who raised her from a nestling. Unfortunately, Felicity can not direct him to her benefactor, Augustus, as she does not know where he is.
Thus begins an adventure that takes Felicity completely out of her comfort zone (much like Bilbo Baggins of The Hobbit fame). After she rescues her new friend from a hawk and flies him to his kingdom, she is enlisted by the fairies in a perilous mission that they cannot achieve because of the sorcery of a truly evil nighthawk with supernatural powers, Grak. Besides her courage, she has a skill that is crucial for the mission to succeed: the ability to read.
This novel is an excellent choice for young readers. In a world that emphasizes selfish self-protection, Felicity flies in the face of her very real and justified fears, using her skills and resources on a rescue mission that has little chance of succeeding. Yes, she has a choice, and the author skillfully reminds us of this. She could choose to stay safely in her nest, reading her books and away from danger. But she chooses to put herself in danger for the sake of others. Felicity is David in the David and Goliath scenario, seemingly small and weak against the big, powerful and invincible hawk who has the extra advantage of being completely familiar with the frightening domain into which she must go to succeed.
I won’t give more details as I don’t want to spoil the plot. But all the right elements of a great fantasy story are here: heroes, villains, riddles, constant threats to safety, strange and scary places and creatures—as well as the nagging, gnawing instinct to abandon a heroic but likely hopeless and definitely dangerous mission in the interests of self-preservation.
An exceptionally well-written book that I would recommend to all readers from middle grades on up.

[Mary Elizabeth Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The delightfully named Felicity is a most unusual sparrow. She can read and is very fond of books, especially tales of high adventure. Evidently she doesn't have enough books, as she's reading a Peter Rabbit story for the 17th time. In fact, her life for has become a little routine.
Then Colin shows up. He's the tiniest two-footed featherless she's ever met. Turns out Colin is a fairy from the Wildwood, a fairy with a problem.
The Wildwood is a beautifully imagined fairy kingdom which is exactly as it should be, all glimmery and transparent and light. There Felicity learns that The Queen of the Fairies has been kidnapped, and only a creature who can read will be able to penetrate the bastion of the horrible Nighthawk Grak. A magical barrier prevents the fairies from approaching his mountain top stronghold.
Felicity agrees to help despite her fears. She will face many obstacles, enchanted and otherwise which are meant to frighten her off. But Felicity is determined and brave. She is feisty, intensely loyal and committed to her mission. Loralee Evans builds page-turning tension with clever and unexpected twists in the plot. At one point, Felicity must hold one of Grak's feathers in her beak, despite the extremely yucky taste – a deft touch.
I'd love to know why Loralee Evans chose the common sparrow to be her main character. They're ubiquitous, rather ordinary little birds. A family has settled in one of our nesting boxes this spring and Mum and Dad work hard all day bringing food to the family and scolding us when we venture near their tree. But when they retire to their nesting box, I don't think they're reading. This is the first of four Felicity adventures and it's a great introduction to her world, a first rate children's book, easy to read and suitable for kids age 8 and up.

[Cathleen Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity—A Sparrow’s Tale is a fun read that hits the bulls-eye for middle and upper elementary readers. Younger kids would enjoy having it read to them, and it may also appeal to MG audiences who like talking animals and fairies.

Felicity loves reading—unlike other sparrows, her beak is often buried in a book. But her seventeenth reading of Peter Rabbit is interrupted by a fairy prince named Colin, who’s looking for Augustus, the bird who used to live in Felicity’s hollow tree.

Colin is disappointed when Augustus is nowhere to be found, so he departs for home, just as a hungry hawk passes by overhead. His wings get shredded, but Felicity dives in for an aerial rescue.
She flies him home to the Wildwood, where she discovers that her help is still desperately needed. Colin’s mother, the queen, has been abducted by a powerful wicked enchanter, Grak, and Colin’s father, King Taron, begs her help to rescue his wife. He’d lead an expedition himself, but Grak has warded his domain against all fairy incursions.

To make matters worse, Grak, being no fool, has raised protections against birds as well. One of these involves reading a password inscribed on a stone. Almost no birds know how to read, and so they’ve had to turn back.

The whole idea terrifies Felicity, but without her help, Colin might never see his mother again. So she points her beak north—toward Grak’s lair. She’s menaced by mysterious monster faces, puzzled by no trespassing signs, and hunted by a snake.

But even if she overcomes all these obstacles, she’ll have to get past a terrible hawk to rescue the queen. And hawks eat sparrows…