A Sparrow Falls

by Vicki Olsen

Doors were never locked, in Tolerance, Arkansas in the 1950’s. Everyone went to church on Sunday and the corner grocer extended credit, never asking for a credit card. Things were good —the age of innocence in America that laid the foundation for the sexual and Cultural Revolution that was to explode onto the scene in the sixties. But for Sarah Jones, a glimpse into the shadows snatched away her childhood innocence. Her way of dealing with the despicable acts committed against her threatened to destroy who she truly was. Can she find the inner strength to overcome her past? Can she see that letting go of the desire to punish oneself is often the hardest act of forgiveness?
Content Advisory: This book is intended for mature audiences and contains child sexual abuse and disturbing imagery.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Ebooks

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 18, 2018

About the author

An Air Force brat who grew up in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Illinois, Idaho and Germany, Vicki Olsen’s works explore themes of fate, faith and man’s inhumanity to man. Her stories about common people are rooted in a tradition of southern storytelling. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Economics from the University of Arkansas, she worked as an insurance adjuster, a corporate paralegal and owned an antiques and gifts shop in Dallas. Leaving her ex-husband and grown children in Texas, she now lives in Arkansas with ten goldfish and an array of African violets.
Her debut novel, A Sparrow Falls, is available on Amazon.
Look for her new book Le Devoir de Memoire - The Duty of Memory available on Amazon.
Find her online at https://www.bookbub.com/authors/vicki..., https://www.facebook.com/VickiOlsenAu..., https://twitter.com/vickiolsen48 and https://www.vickiolsen.com/

Reviews

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sparrow Falls is set in quiet Tolerance, Arkansas in the 1950s. It’s a different time where you can run a line of credit at the local market, and church is part of everyone’s Sunday ritual.

It’s an innocent time, too, the 50s; quite different from the 1960s that would come later. Tragically, Sarah Jones loses her innocence, and this book is her story. Can she overcome the abuse she experienced to put her spirit back together?

The author warned me this book would have difficult content, and indeed it does. She also told me she did her best to be sensitive with it, and I think she was.

I loved the writing here. It was simple and spare while easily conveying emotion. The sense of melancholy is pronounced without being overdone. I loved the 60s musical references, too.

Sarah has a story to tell. Her story. Her coming-of-age and story of healing and hope and triumph. She got under my skin and into my heart, and I’ve been thinking about her long after the last page.

Trigger warning: this story contains child abuse.

I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com

[Elyse Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

No child should have to grow-up not feeling safe in their own home.

By the time Sarah Jones was 8 years old - a half brother, Floyd, had put his hands on her inappropriately. Her favorite brother, Kenny, was dead. Sara had two other brothers. Sara was the youngest and only girl among the siblings.
Her momma -Dee - completely shut down after Kenny died. Dee turned a blind eye to the evil happening in her home.
By age 13 - Sarah’s father was sexually abusing her.
“She tried to block out the hate and the horror of the dreadful, familiar ritual… The sound of Otis on the front porch – not even trying to hide the whiskey bottle, the bang of the screen door, flights going out and heavy footsteps; then, the dread - waiting to see. On a good night, he would go to his room. On a bad night, he would peel her blanket back and rough hands would fondle her. She learned to go away in her head until it was over, but each time it happened she lost a little more of herself and felt more alone”.

Sexually abused and neglected in her family, Sarah was the type of person to worry too much about what other people thought. She wanted to please others - be liked - she was a pretty girl, the kind that attracted boys. She was at risk for either ending up with a bad reputation or a broken heart or both.
Confusion set in: about religion, about sex, about personal worthiness.
Grief and trauma were such a major role in Sara’s family history..... she couldn’t possibly have understood her own feelings of emptiness, shame, guilt ,sadness, fear and anger.

The world was changing.... moving from the 50’s into the 60’s..... The United States began bombing north Vietnam.... John F. Kennedy was assassinated.....but these events were not foremost on Sarah’s mind. She worried about being humiliated and embarrassed in High School. She didn’t want to be wearing homemade tacky clothes. She wanted to fit in and have nice shiny straight hair that held a perfect flip. “You can’t be popular if you don’t have nice hair”.....

As we watch Sarah age..dealing with difficult emotions stumbling through life at school and with friends, - she slowly confronts the painful curves life threw her way.
Feelings of power began to awaken....a feeling of power where she once felt powerless. Innocence was stolen from Sarah, but with courage and tenacity — she was determined to not be a victim.

Sensitive subjects .... but achingly beautiful about the resilience of the human spirit.
Vicki Olsen’s work speaks with an understanding of the unconscionable.


Thank you Marilyn for recommending this book!!

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sparrow Falls has been on my Kindle now for quite awhile. One I won from Goodreads and also recommended to me by Marilyn (thank you).

This was the story of Sarah Jane Jones, the youngest with 4 older brothers, living in Arkansas. Her father was an alcoholic, her mother married very young and seemed very docile. Sarah Jane didn't have the easiest of upbringings, neither parent had much compassion and her brothers were too busy working the farm. She grew up alone, not many friends, but she did have her brother Kenny. Once tragedy strikes the family, it becomes even more estranged between the members. But once Sarah Jane starts high school that all changes when Charlie Weeks notices her.

Life after meeting Charlie changed the outlook of life for Sarah Jane. She met a nice family who really liked her, helped her in ways she never could have imagined, and accepted her despite her home life. Sarah Jane grows up very fast, between happenings in her home, how she is looked at not so nicely by other guys, the nonstop teasing she receives at school, and in the end becoming a young mother and widow at the age of 18.

I enjoyed this book very much, it was a hard book to read with all the trauma that Sarah Jane endured - physically, mentally, and emotionally - that made her the strong person she was. But in the end, she had the support she needed to build a better life for her and her daughter.

Thank you to Goodreads for this free ARC and also to Marilyn for the recommendation.

Disclosure: incest, molestation, rape, drinking

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sparrow Falls by Vicki Olsen was a disturbing yet impressionable story set in the 1950's in the small community of Tolerance, Arkansas where everyone knew one another. It was the story of Sarah Jane Jones but before Sarah Jane there was her mother Dee Ellen Finton. Dee's father had recently died so her brother arranged a marriage for her just as she was turning seventeen years old. Dee was to marry Otis Jones who recently became a widower and needed a wife to look after his eight month old son, Floyd. Otis owned land and ran a farm. It seemed more of a marriage of convenience. With no other options available, Dee took on the responsibilities of being a wife and mother. She had three more sons and finally after a miscarriage and a stillbirth she delivered a beautiful little girl with curly red hair and blue eyes. The Jones family was complete.

Dee loved all her children but seldom displayed any emotion toward them. Hugs and kisses were rarely given. Floyd, the oldest and from Otis' first marriage, resembled his father in physique and temperament. Otis Junior, Dee's first born son, was not very creative but he had a lot of energy and would become a hard worker. Jim Ed, the next oldest, was quite handsome, smart and always had a positive attitude. Kenny, five years old when Sarah Jane was born, had his mother's red hair, freckles and blue eyes and was the most easy going of all her children and Dee's favorite by far. And then there was Sarah Jane, the only girl. Otis, her father, had little use for her and never showed affection toward Sarah Jane. Otis and her brothers often drank whiskey on Saturday nights and arrived home quite drunk. Sarah's only ally was her brother Kenny. Kenny and Sarah were extremely close. He was very protective of her and he was her only confidante.

Otis and Dee did not have a loving marriage. Dee was just expected to run the house and look after the children. Otis and his sons went to town every Saturday along with the other farmers of Tolerance to do his errands. She loved the solitude and quiet of those Saturday afternoons. Dee dreaded Saturday evenings though. Every Saturday evening Otis would go to old man Scarborough's boarding house for whiskey and come home extremely drunk. Predictably, Otis would enter his bedroom where Dee was already in bed and take what was rightfully his and Dee's duty as Otis's wife to give. Her life with Otis was not easy or extremely pleasant. Dee often dreamed of leaving Tolerance and Otis but knew it was impossible. Her only wish was that Sarah Jane would have a better life than she had.

As Sarah Jane started school she stood out. Her clothes were hand-me-downs and she had no experience playing the games the girls in her grade played. She could not accept play dates from other girls in her class because her father made her come straight home to do chores. Sarah loved to read though and often went to the library to borrow books. She made one friend at school named Mary. One day, while she was picking blackberries for her mother she found a stray dog. With much hesitation, Otis agreed to let Sarah Jane keep it. She named her dog Joy and he was a comfort and friend for many years.

One night, Floyd, assigned as the designated driver for Otis when he went on his drinking bouts, was invited to join Otis and drink with him. Floyd was almost seventeen at the time, a very impressionable age for a boy. The other farmers and his father talked about sex and women. When the two of them arrived home drunken Otis immediately went to Dee and without closing the door or muffling any sounds preceded to have sex with Dee. Frank needed release after listening to that and found himself in Sarah Jane's room. That night changed Sarah Jane in a way that would shape the rest of her life. Some years later, the act was repeated by her own father.

Sarah Jane, a victim of sexual abuse and exempt from being shown any physical displays of love, grew up to be sexually confused. She believed that by giving herself sexually to a partner she would be loved. However, it did not work like that. Her reputation evolved and she became a very lonely and confused girl. Then one day, as she began high school, she met Charlie. Charlie became the catalyst that would change Sarah Jane for the better. His family accepted her for her and Charlie saw Sarah in a light that no else did.

A Sparrow Falls by Vicki Olsen was a beautifully written book about a girl who had no chance to live her life as other young girls did. All she wanted was to be happy and feel normal. Fortunately, Charlie saw something in Sarah that no else was able to see. Sarah thrived with Charlie but still felt she was not worthy of his love and questioned herself constantly. In the end, she learned to stand on her own two feet and take charge of her life. Sarah experienced so much in her young, short life. Perhaps the hardest thing she had to face was the loss of her brother Kenny who died in a tragic accident. She was dealt a rough life, one of poverty and an unsupported, uneducated family who constantly turned their heads the other way when it came to Sarah. No young girl should have had to endure all the things Sarah did. She did finally by the end of her story, start to recognize her own self worth and was able to look toward the future.

This was Vicki Olsen's first novel. I was extremely lucky to have received a copy of her book from her. All the thoughts and opinions in this review are my own. I really enjoyed reading A Sparrow Falls and look forward to her second novel that will be a continuation of Sarah's life. I highly recommend this book.

[Andrew Levy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple yet haunting. Evocative, flawless prose that never tries too hard. A little hint of Greats like Steinbeck and Harper Lee, but no imitation; part of its quality is a complete absence of self consciousness in the writing. It would be easy for a 'growing up' story like this to become sentimental and mawkish, but Vicki Olsen never falls into that trap. I woke up in the night a few days back and realised, as I regained consciousness, that I'd been dreaming about Sarah - the heroine of A Sparrow Falls. Perhaps you will say, 'So what?' but ask yourself, how often does a book or a character get so under your skin that they feature in your dreams? Wonderful. Don't miss it.

[Wulfwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was what I expected but at the same time was more than what I expected. It is Sarah’s story. It is Dee’s story. Dee is Sarah Jane’s mother. Sarah is the only daughter in a hardworking farm family. Some might have called it a white trash family. I don’t consider anyone trash but I have heard the term and know it’s usage. The story of Sarah does involve abuse, child sexual abuse to be exact. I knew it was going to be difficult to read because of that and my own history. I expected to go slowly with the book. The scenes were not over the top or gratuitous, in my opinion. I did take breaks after reading them but they weren’t what they could have been. Being ready for them helped me. There is more more to this book than that portion of it.
To me the book is about family and family isn’t always wrapped in pretty paper tied with a bow. It is about society, too. The ways we help, the ways we don’t and the times we ignore. I think the best part of this book was the lesson that we can’t change where we come from, what people do to us or what people say or think about us. Those things are all choices made by others that affect us. Our power is in our choices. Our choice to be a victim or be a survivor. Our choice in accepting or refusing to believe what others think, say or their treatment of us. Our choice in how we respond to it all. It’s a story about the healing power of love and the freedom found in forgiveness.
I cried copious amounts of tears. I recommend having tissues handy. I loved crying so hard. It meant the author forced me to feel something, which only happens when you have been transported to the world between the pages. What that means for me is that I will spend time after I close the book thinking about it. Relating to it. Working on my self improvement because something in the story has me examining myself.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy memoir type books. At times I wondered if this was based on fact. Afterward, in thinking about it, I realized it was. It might not be the authors story or even someone’s that she knew. But out there in the world..it is or was someone’s life.
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. A review was not required. I voluntarily reviewed the book and all opinions are mine.

[Douglas Debelak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sparrow Falls by Vicki Olsen is a story that is both well written and well told; which left impressions, as I reflected after reading, that presented themselves as a stream of words. Please forgive the alliterations. I didn’t seek them out as a literary device: Fragile, broken, yet powerful. Filled with tragedy and triumph, longing and loss, heartbreak and hope.

This is the story of a smart and courageous girl, from her childhood to womanhood, then motherhood, and her dependence upon adults who are sick, twisted and stupid; or just worn down and doing their best, powerless to take care of their own needs, or remember any dreams they might have had as a child themselves. It is the story of life, death, and a world beyond her ability to control or to protect herself against it, but still somehow retain the resilience not to give up.

It is the story of the turning of blind eyes, because ‘what can be done?’ or that the cost of doing or saying something will be beyond what one can bear to pay, so ‘I don’t want to know’. It is the story of the tragic and devastating loss of the one with the moral strength and courage to say or do something.

It is – trigger warning and perhaps a spoiler alert – the story of a girl who is sexually abused by family members, leading to her sexual confusion and promiscuity; then her rape by a classmate, after she finds someone to love, who loves her in return, and she decides, she no longer wants to be ‘that girl’, but fears that he will discover her truths and no longer love her.

It is the story of her exposure to people who are evil, or just lazy and indifferent, and then to those with good hearts and kindness, to discover that there is a world of hope and possibility beyond the one of hopelessness and despair she’s known. Its setting is one of poverty and uneducated ignorance, during a time of great social upheaval and change, when young men were senselessly sent away to die half a world away. In the end, it is the story of the discovery of the wisdom to determine those who can be helped and are worth the effort, and those who can’t or won’t be helped, and that the effort to do so will only extract pieces of one’s own soul. And the discovery of the wisdom, through much trial, error, and many betrayals, to determine who can be trusted to help, and how to ask for or accept that help when offered.

This is the story of a girl who crawls out from the mud and shit (literally - they raise chickens) of her own family, to stand on her own as an independent woman, with her eyes on the future. It is a testament to ‘what doesn’t kill you can make you stronger’; although - note the lack of definitive or promise - it more often breaks you and may well kill you.

I highly recommend A Sparrow Falls by Vicki Olsen. I found it well worth the time to read.

[Nithya K · Rating 5 out of 5]

After some false starts and a tiring technical snag, I got my hands on Vicki Olsen's 'A Sparrow Falls'.

First, the book cover intrigued me. After reading the sample, I was quite keen to read the full story. I must say, the story took me by surprise. Vicki has this talent of giving life to words, which may otherwise just remain one-dimensional.

She has captured the pathos of Sarah with finesse. Somewhere, her thoughts resonated with mine and the characters and the narrative stayed with me. I could not somehow shake off the melancholy after completing the book. This is an extremely sensitive and deftly narrated story set in the 1960's.

According to me, this is a must read book of the Year 2018. Do pick it up and you won't be disappointed.

Follow the author here on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/VickiOlsenAu...

[Fred Fanning · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book filled with conflict and resolution. The book is a page-turner and is very entertaining. The storyline was strong and the characters were unforgettable. The author has created a story of Americana told through the life and times of a young girl in Arkansas.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: A Sparrow Falls
Author: Vicki Olsen

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 17
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 7/10
Of the 17 readers:
15 would read another book by this author.
11 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
15 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
9 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
8 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
‘Such a powerful read. I very much enjoyed this, The characters jump off the page, particularly Sarah. Sad in many ways, but still gripping.’ Female reader, aged 53.
‘The author works well with the setting, an important aspect in this novel. Also, she works hard to help the reader get to know Sarah and to understand what she went through in her childhood. The cover, I felt, didn’t match the story – it’s not a book on birds – and the pacing plodded here and there. But I very much enjoyed it.’ Male reader, aged 62
‘A thoughtfully-written book with a powerful message regarding child abuse and how it can destroy a victim.’ Female reader, aged 47
‘A story of healing, of hope, of terrible acts.’ Male reader, aged 37
‘A fantastic title and a wonderful story. Many highs and lows, twists and turns face Sarah – and the reader. The historical setting is well described, and the author offers the reader an emotional rollercoaster. Excellent!’ Female reader, aged 66

To Sum It Up:
‘Disturbing. Powerful. In every way a gripping story. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Bryce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sparrow Falls is a story about a child’s loss of innocence in mid-twentieth century, rural America. Every coming-of-age story includes some amount of tragedy—part of the process of maturating includes discovering that the world is not as safe or simple as we had hoped—but Sarah Jones’ tragedies tend towards the extreme. Her inter-family abuses are vile and the spectre of mortality intrudes upon her life at a young age. Despite the magnitude of the ill luck registered against her, however, Sarah never perceives her life as particularly abnormal, and it is here tendency to accept and struggle away from her haunting experiences that made her an endearing and worthwhile character. The author's delivery of Sarah's story is relatively crisp and to the point and features mildly romanticized dialogue that is deployed in a consistent manner.

[Mauricio Munhoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The American Soul is pictured in this book. I felt myself traveling through the southern United States, driven by the music of the 1960s, in an environment where the Vietnam War marked that generation, and divided the world into two. But that farm girl had her own dreams ... and fears.
Somehow I saw a parallel with Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment." Sometimes parallel, sometimes the opposite because it is the victim of a crime the main character. Vicki's book sent me an emotional charge similar to that of the Russian. She has her own style and I believe she will stand out in the American literary scene.

[Sonya Moyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for a copy of this digital book in exchange for an honest review.

**Warning: themes of abuse

The setting is the 1950s, in a quiet town in Arkansas. Sarah Jones lives with her mother and stepfather.

Sarah is an innocent girl. She has older siblings in the house (all boys) and her story is quite heartbreaking.

This is a coming of age story, of lost innocence and despair. Sarah does her best to forget about the abuse and to be a survivor.

Even though there were tough scenes, the author did an amazing job of telling the story!

Loved it.

[Charlcie Ackarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read A Sparrows Fall and it resonated deep in my soul. Sarah’s story really stayed with me. It has been a few weeks and a few books since I finished it and my mind still wanders to Sarah. I went through an emotional rollercoaster with Sarah but we came out the other side. I highly recommend this book and look forward to more from Ms.Olsen in the future!

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This well written book is hard to read in places as it describes the abuses experienced by a girl in 1950's rural Arkansas. The description of rural Arkansas seems to be accurate, including the attitudes of the people that Sarah, our protagonist, encounters. Sarah is an unforgettable character and I look forward to the books continuing her story.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gut wrenching story takes place in rural Arkansas during the 1950’s and 1960’s.it is about a door farming family. Sarah Jane’s story tells of horrible things done to her when she was young and sets the tone for her tragic life. Olsen’s writing talent grabs you and holds you to the end of the book and makes you want to know more of Sarah’s story.
Thank you Goodreads for this giveaway.

[Meira · Rating 5 out of 5]

With references to songs of the 1960's, this story leads you through a time of change, the Viet Nam War and a young girls childhood. The story comes to life with Sarah, a poor farm girl, who dreams of a better life.

[Alice Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The quaint, honest innocence of a small town is the perfect contrasting backdrop for Sarah's reckoning with her past. Deftly moves between light and dark, with touches of southern gothic humor. A skillful, promising debut!

[Gloria Edge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book!

I am looking forward to reading more of the Tolerance story. Sarah’s start was beautifully written. It whetted my appetite for sure.

[Maridele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me say first that I won a kindle version of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I have not been coerced to write a review of any kind and the thoughts expressed here are purely my own.

That being said, I could not put the book down once I started it. It is captivating from the start and you want so badly for the main character, Sarah, to succeed despite her circumstances. She is sexually abused by her stepbrother and eventually her father, but thankfully the author does not feel the need to overload us with graphic details about the abuse. We basically know that it happens. The story itself is so much more than that and well worth the read. It gives so much insight into a girl's flight from childhood to maturity at a young age. It isn't for the most part a happy read, but it also doesn't drag you into depression reading it.

Included in my kindle version were three chapters of what seems to be a continuation of Sarah's story. I can find no mention of it anywhere else even on Amazon. I have written to the author to see it this book is going to be finished and published. I do hope so.

[David Belisle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Gripping Texarkana Tale

Olsen takes the reader back in time to a rural America that should surely smack of peach cobbler, daily chores and a date at the drive-in. We follow the main character Sarah through more tribulation than triumph however, testing her mettle in pre-feminist 1960s fashion. The Bible passages at the head of each chapter serve as hopeful guiding lights to a better life in this wake of troubled times. A powerful story that Olsen brings home to roost with great insight and her gift for the turn of a phrase, sharing the nuances of this precious slice of Americana. Outstanding.

[Judy Ferrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up.

Growing up is often a painful experience. This young girl learns many lessons of life, not always nice ones. This novel is a very good one. It does contain some bad things but it is true to life. I enjoyed it.

[Becky DeLong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this story, very believable, great story.

[Kathy]

Thanks for making me a lucky winner of this book through the First Reads program and I look forward to reading and reviewing.

[EarnedIt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story of child abuse and it's repercussions

A very heartfelt story. The author has done an amazing job in penning down so many issues mainly related to women.

The after-effects of child abuse and negligence and how it takes away a child's innocence, courage, youth and confidence. This book is a journey of a child who was abused not once but multiple times, mentally and physically. If a child cannot feel safe at home with their family then where can they ever feel safe?

Bullying is another subject touched by the author in this book. Another issue that can take away somebody's confidence forever. Bullies sometimes have jealousy and inferiority complex that leads them to try to bring down somebody else in life. It is important to have self-realisation and muster up your strengths instead of molding yourself according to what other people wants to see in you. A lot of people end up bullying others when they were once bullied themselves but instead of remembering the painful experience and learning from it, they try to put somebody else through the same pain to ease their own. Standing up for yourself in front of your bully would help you get through it but injecting the same pain to some innocent person wouldn't help anybody get revenge or satisfaction.

We cannot forget the pain of the war heroes and their families. Living with the realisation that at any moment a family might lose their son, brother, husband or father needs a lot of courage. Keeping the hope alive on both sides of this dark tunnel is difficult. But sometimes you have to show a brave face for the sake of others.

When I read these books that show women as weak and a burden, it makes me really sad because after coming along so far in life there are still parts of the world where we still see male dominance and women subjected to discrimination. I wish for a time when no women will be dependent on a man and men would be able to finally respect women for standing up for themselves around the world.

It was painful to read this story especially every time Sarah was getting physically abused but I am so glad that she finally decided to do the right thing for herself and her daughter to get out of a super conservative and orthodox society and make a life for herself, be independent.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Jane Jones is a survivor

However, she doesn't start out that way. Born in blink-and-you'll-miss-it Tolerance, Arkansas to mama Dee, who was married off at 17 to daddy Otis, redheaded Sarah is the tail end and only daughter in the family. She survives childhood sexual abuse and the tragic death of her closest in age brother Kenny, early labels as "weirdo", "slut", and "tramp", to find love in high school with Charlie, three years her senior. But this is in the days of the Vietnam War, and Charlie, who more than likely knows he is going to be drafted, enlists in the Marines. That could have spelled the end for Sarah, but it didn't, because she's pregnant. A hasty wedding, and Charlie is shipped off to boot camp. This story takes a turn all too familiar to some in the Vietnam generation, but without revealing spoilers, I will only say that Sarah emerges triumphant in the end. I found the book almost Faulkneresque in many spots.

Vicki Olsen describes Southern small towns so perfectly and is right on the nose about the time period, the inner life of a bookish young girl, and so many other things. However, there was one thing about the book that just irritated the holy heck out of me, and that was the incredible number of spelling, grammatical, and sentence structure mistakes. The writing itself was so good that it almost, almost made me ignore them, but in the end I just couldn't. Please, Vicki, for the love of God, get an editor!!!! You are ruining your chances by not doing that.

[J Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sparrow Falls from Vicki Olsen is a moving, sometimes disturbing, beautifully written book.

While the story is very much about personal interaction and happens to take place at a time that seems like "the good old days" to some, I took away a broader message that crosses from the personal to the public as a collection of groups. Namely, there is no place or time that is perfect or ideal. Whether you're living in a racist society and entire groups are suffering even though your group, if you're a member of the power group, is doing well, or if you're a member of the privileged group but some members (usually women and children) are not allowed to have a good life. In other words, there is no "good old days" to go back to and we must always be diligent in our present to try to make life as good as possible for as many as possible.

[Peggy Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her first book Ms. Olsen presents us with a gripping story that delves into the lasting effects of an unspeakable sin committed against a young girl in rural Arkansas during the 1960's. Olsen's talent for vivid and descriptive imagery appeals to all five senses, thus bringing her characters and settings to life and fully engaging the reader. This book is not only a "Good Read," but leaves behind much to ponder long after the last page is turned. Please don't leave us hanging long Ms. Olsen. More, more!!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharp and poignant. The writing is simply perfect. So much emotion, but never overdone. I laughed, I cried, I loved every bit of it.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads. This is a hard book to read because of the child sexual abuse, but it was a great read. I would recommend it.