The characters popped off the page! I saw each one exactly as described, each with their own voice and quirks and way of interacting with the world. What a wonderful cast.
For some reason, I've been reading a lot of books lately that touch on the theme of an absent father. I can't relate personally, but the way it was portrayed in Sparrow Road came across as very realistic to me. I could feel Raine's feelings, and it made sense—her longing, her hesitation, her anger, her anxiety. I'm glad she took me on the journey with her.
One special part for me was Diego coaching Raine through becoming a writer: the "what was or what could be." His advice was very solid, and I took it to heart. I think I'd have appreciated it even more had I read it when I was Raine's age and just becoming a serious writer myself.