The Sparrow Found a House (Book Review)

The Sparrow Found a House 
By: Jason McIntire
Rating: 2-ish stars (It was okay; I kinda liked it)

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?

The book was two-ish-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.*

View all my reviews

To Get to You (Book Review)

To Get to You
By: Joanna Bischof
Rating: 5 stars
Ages: maybe 13 and up (read aloud), and 15 and up (reading by yourself)

To get to the girl he loves, Riley Kane must head off on a road trip with the father he never knew. Then pray for a miracle.

Most teens would love to have a pro surfer for a dad. Just not Riley. Abandoned as a kid, he hates the sound of the ocean and the man who gave himself to it.

When the eighteen-year-old learns that his best friend is stranded at a New Mexico hospital as her father fights for his life, Riley hits the highway to head east. But when his Jeep breaks down before he even leaves California, he must rely on the one man he despises to get to the girl who needs him the most. And when it comes to the surfer with the Volkswagen van and dog-eared map, a thousand miles may–or may not–be enough to heal the past.

A story of new beginnings and second chances.

To Get to You is all about grace and redemption and second-chances. It's filled with fun moments that will make you grin. It was well done, highly enjoyable, and realistic. The message seeped into the crevasses of the story and was beautiful. Oh, I loved this book! It was so sweet.

The road-trip, father-son relationship, Hawaii/surfing elements all drew me to this book. Those things seemed like they'd contribute to a really engaging, lovable story. And they did. My guess was correct-a-mundo. ;)

Riley Kane's point of view in itself is engaging too. Joanne never switched to another POV - but she didn't need to. She showed you all of the characters' emotions (other than Riley's), and didn't need their POV to do so. 

And Riley was fun. I mean, he was SO completely different than any other hero that I've encountered! Yup, he wears skull shirts sometimes and is trying desperately to make his mohawk grow out faster - but what made him great is that, despite all of his seemingly flawed points, inside he's hurting and he's broken, but he's letting God change that. He's becoming a new person on the inside. He's a work-in-progress (you gotta love him). But aren't we all?

OKAY. Becca. She's really cute. She's homeschooled, and she wears long skirts, and she lives with her family - and loves it. Honestly, I really like the way that she and Riley could be considered opposites, but they fall for each other and  are so good for each other. Becca believes in Riley the entire time - no matter what he tells her about himself, she's always open and she accepts him as he truly is. Super sweet.

The romance was kinda adorable. I really love the opening scenes. COME ON! Snowy night, tree lot, Christmas music...Riley grudgingly being a gentleman and helping Becca with the tree? SO CUTE and so well-written. Descriptions were fantastic. And I loved the part where Riley accidentally says something on a message to Becca (I can't reveal what that something is because it's completely fun and I don't want to spoil it for anybody) and then realizes what he just said. <3 

Saul? Perfect addition to the road trip - thank you, Joanne, for creating a goofy Mexican character that loves his audio book. He was great.

Descriptions, writing style, characters... Joanne hit a home run. This book is amazing. I loved it. And to top it all off, my mom read it to me and my siblings in one day. All in a day. And, just to warn you, food is mentioned quite frequently. (So don't read this book while fasting. Which is...yeah...what my family and I did. THOSE DESCRIPTIONS! It's hilarious though, because I've never noticed the mention of food so much in a book. However...we survived.)

The whole message was great. What can I say? I love books that have bold messages. And this one was very well written and touching. Relationships are healed, people are changed.... And it's all set in a completely fun location, with fun happenings, great characters, and a great plot. 

Overall, this story will touch you. It's really, really good. And it comes recommended (I hope that was obvious!) ;) 

Looking forward to book #2... 

Buy To Get to You on Amazon, or on Barnes and Noble.Visit Joanne Bischof at her website, her GoodReads, her blog, or her Twitter. 

Broken Lens Productions

Braden and his younger brother, Blaine

"Ramblings of a mostly-socialized homeschooler, short vignettes concerning the weirdness of the world we live in, and more than the occasional dash of randomness." - From the 'About' section of this totally awesome (somewhat random, I guess) YouTube Channel, Broken Lens Productions

I have recently discovered this wonderful, funny YouTube channel: Broken Lens Productions. Run by Braden Russell - a Christian, homeschool graduate, writer, musician, and the guy behind all those hilarious videos on the aforementioned YouTube channel. They are clean, laugh-out-loud funny videos that are there simply to make you smile. Some of the videos are based on things like: the dangers of homeschooling, how hugs are awkward, how to find (and give) the perfect Valentines Day gift to that fiancé, wife, mother, sister, etc. in your life, and a bunch of other odds and ends that will have you cracking up laughing in no time. Seriously...just wait and see (or is that 'watch and see'?)...

Braden Russell also has a blog - The Storymonger - where he gives advice on writing based on his own experiences. He is actually in the middle of Camp NaNoWriMo... (National Novel Writing Month is known affectionately as NaNoWriMo - one month every year where people around America attempt the challenge of writing a big, fat novel in the space of thirty days. I believe they can also set goals for themselves instead of completing the whole thing (such as: 30,000 words). Yes, it has been done...by more than one person...). I applaud Braden for tackling such a feat - it's something that I hope to accomplish in the not-too-distant future. :)

Back to Broken Lens...

This channel is absolutely fantastic - I'm a fan. Here are some of my favorite videos:

The 72 Hour Novel

This is actually the first of Braden Russell's videos that I ever watched...thanks to Perry Elisabeth on the blog, Word Painters! 

Awkward Hugs

'Cause hugs can be awkward...I guess...

Socialized = Girlfriends

The Dangers of Homeschooling

I hope you have enjoyed all these videos. Here's a tidbit of exciting news for you: There is 'The Dangers of Homeschooling 2' in the works!

If you enjoyed these videos (there are lots more!), you can check out and subscribe to Broken Lens Productions, subscribe to Braden's blog, The Storymonger, like Broken Lens Productions's Facebook page, and go enjoy all of those videos!

And....guess who recently followed me on Twitter!? Braden Russell.

You can subscribe to get email updates about my blogposts here!