Blog Tour + Giveaway: Sparrow

Hello friends! I’m super honored to be on the blog tour for Sparrow by Mary Cecilia Jackson! Keep reading to see my thoughts on the book, and enter the giveaway one of five copies of the book!

About the Book:

In the tradition of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, a devastating but hopeful YA debut about a ballerina who finds the courage to confront the abuse that haunts her past and threatens her future.

There are two kinds of people on the planet. Hunters and prey
I thought I would be safe after my mother died. I thought I could stop searching for new places to hide. But you can’t escape what you are, what you’ve always been.
My name is Savannah Darcy Rose.
And I am still prey.

Though Savannah Rose―Sparrow to her friends and family―is a gifted ballerina, her real talent is keeping secrets. Schooled in silence by her long-dead mother, Sparrow has always believed that her lifelong creed―“I’m not the kind of girl who tells”―will make her just like everyone else: Normal. Happy. Safe. But in the aftermath of a brutal assault by her seemingly perfect boyfriend Tristan, Sparrow must finally find the courage to confront the ghosts of her past, or lose herself forever….  

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Praise for SPARROW“Mary Cecilia Jackson leaves no perspective unexplored in this beautifully woven story of love, loss, self-acceptance, and strength. Sparrow and Lucas are heroes in every sense of the word, as they navigate a new, unfamiliar dance―the pain of knowing when to stay grounded and when to fly.” ―Jennifer Brown, bestselling author of Hate List 

About the Author:

Mary Cecilia Jackson has worked as a middle school teacher, an adjunct instructor of college freshmen, a technical writer and editor, a speechwriter, a museum docent, and a development officer for central Virginia’s PBS and NPR stations. Her first novel, Sparrow, was an honor recipient of the SCBWI Sue Alexander Award and a young-adult finalist in the Writers’ League of Texas manuscript contest. She lives with her architect husband, William, in Western North Carolina and Hawaii, where they have a farm and five ridiculously adorable goats.  

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Review:

This was such an emotional read. I knew going into it that it dealt with heavy topics, so I was prepared for all the heavy topics discussed; mainly physical abuse and emotional manipulation in a romantic relationship (definitely be aware of the trigger warnings before reading if you need them).

Things I liked:

• I loved the ballet aspect woven into the story. It was such a beautiful aspect of Sparrow’s journey of healing, and I loved the escape it brought her at times. The writing/descriptions when Sparrow and Luca danced together was lyrical and divine. It was definitely one of the best things about this book. 
• I also adored all of Sparrow’s friends. They were all so fleshed out and real. They acted like real teenagers just goofing around at times, but were also super supportive and understanding of the trauma that Sparrow endures. Luca and another one of her friends especially were there for her every step of the way.
• While I’ve never been in an abusive or manipulative relationship, this book didn’t romanticize anything at all. It completely focuses on the healing that one must go through after such trauma. I highly recommend you to check out the Goodreads page for this book so that you can read reviews that can actually speak on the accuracy of the portrayal of such relationships.

My only complaint is that this book was dual perspective. I didn’t care that much for Lucas’s perspective at all. Yes he went through his own struggles, but I was much more interested in Sparrows story. The added point of view made the pacing feel off, almost like a dramatic Lifetime movie at times. 

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—Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

–  5 Winners will receive a Copy of SPARROW by Mary Cecilia Jackson | ENDS: AUGUST 17, 2020