I’ve been homeschooling my five children since 2006. By 2024, four of them had completed their homeschool education, and I found myself surrounded by a massive, well-loved collection of books. As I looked around at the shelves and boxes, one thought kept rising to the surface: These books are too wonderful to hide away. They should be used.
Around that time, I began hearing about small, private lending libraries—run by fellow bibliophiles—who were sharing their personal collections with local homeschoolers. The idea struck a chord with me. Books come alive only when they’re handled, loved, and read. Their magic lies dormant until a child opens a cover and gets lost in a story. This collection is meant to serve—and that means it must be shared.
The name Fallen Sparrow and our logo—a sparrow with two pennies— is inspired by Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:29, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father,” and Luke 12:6, “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten by God.” These verses remind us that nothing is too small or too broken to escape God’s notice. Did you know that miners used to carry small birds into coal mines as early warning systems? When the bird stopped singing or died, it was a signal of danger before the men could sense it. I often feel like the miner’s bird, sensitive to the cultural dangers pressing in on families. That sensitivity sparked the desire to create a place of refuge and warning—a library that helps parents choose life-giving books instead of destructive ones, and a community that gives families a chance to breathe fresh air again.
Then came a sign: McKay’s Bookstore announced their 50th Anniversary Passport Challenge in July 2024. It felt like the perfect moment to fill the gaps in my collection with purpose. My husband and I took a road trip across Tennessee, visiting all five McKay’s locations and earning $800 in store credit each by completing the challenge. We spent two days retracing our route, thoughtfully using that credit to curate books that would enrich and round out our lending library.
Since then, I’ve been building a stronger, more intentional collection—centered around living books and timeless stories—to serve other families.
By May 2025, my house was overrun with boxes. So I moved the collection to a storage unit, bought shelves, and began the task of organizing and cataloging every title. Once that’s complete, we’ll begin welcoming members by appointment.
As we look ahead to a permanent location in Round Rock, I envision something truly special: A Hobbit-door entrance. Cozy nooks. Shelves bursting with classic and living books. Literary art, a coffee bar, and spaces for homeschool classes, book clubs, mom’s nights out—even role-playing game meetups.
There will be a books-for-sale room and our shelves would be stunning photo backdrops for senior portraits. I even imagine a literary-themed Airbnb getaway suite—because every element of this space should whisper: Welcome, book lovers. You belong here.