Title: Paper Sparrow
Author: Magda Palmer
ISBN: 9781663243096
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 264
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Manik Chaturmutha

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Paper Sparrow is a historical fiction novel based on actual events which occurred in Australia between 1943 and 1955. The book displays powerful ideals, emphasizing the triumph of the soul and tremendous resilience in being loyal to oneself. It is a novel that will make you think, feel, and let your heart grow.

Peggy is an adoptive child who is mistreated by her parents. She is kicked out of the house by her adoptive mother, Marj, and has no option but to work as a Nursing Aide in a nursing home. She gets drugged and raped at the age of fourteen. Without family or financial assistance, Peggy travels from Sydney to Melbourne to work during her pregnancy. On her journey to a hostel, she encounters Peter, a clergyman; Bineham, a Master of Chinese psychology; Una; and Lily. They nurture her individually and collectively, bringing joy and wonder to a tragic trip. The book’s title ‘Paper Sparrow’ advocates for symbolic rebirth and the power of self-belief.

Paper Sparrow is an emotionally charged book which keeps the readers hooked, while it also breaks readers’ hearts because of its dark themes. The book discusses several heavy and distressing topics, such as child and psychological abuse. The main character’s tragic journey unveils a massive baby-rearing industry, unfathomable miseries, and life-long effects on thousands of single female victims of post-World War II. Through this book, the author tells us the tale of many young, single women who are abused and the widows of dead heroes, all of whom birthed babies because of fear, pain, and social disgrace.

The narrative takes the readers on an enthralling trip of expectation, grief, unexpectedness, and acceptance of fate. The book talks about torment, near-slavery, humiliation, societal intolerance, and how it can affect people. The writing flows effortlessly and reads quickly, making you question how much sorrow, injustice, and apathy a main character can bear when none of what happened is their fault. The author writes the story in such a way that makes the readers feel everything the character is feeling, and the readers cannot help but think – Why is society this cruel? Why are people so cold-hearted?

The book is a historical novel falling into the genre of literary realism. The fact that the book is based on real events can be triggering for many people because of the heavy topics it talks about. It is recommended that audiences above eighteen read this book regardless of gender, race, and ethnicity. The readers will become aware of the injustices and the events that transpired in Australia during the 1940s and 50s.