The Bone Sparrow

Content Warning: This section contains depictions of human suffering and violence towards and the murder of children, as well as discussions of self-harm, the death of a parent, and death by suicide. It depicts life in detention centers, the persecution of immigrants, and the persecution of Muslims, particularly the Rohingya. Refugee experiences, and associated depictions of displacement and trauma, are described. It also engages in negative stereotypes of people with missing eyes.

Birds are migratory creatures that often don’t have a permanent home and are a symbol of freedom. Yet sparrows are delicate birds that don’t hold the same majestic quality as larger, more powerful winged creatures. The novel opens with an epigraph describing the creation of the bone sparrow:

The knife worked at the bone. Twisting, curving, smoothing. And when the bird emerged, knowing and strong, the hand placed a coin deep into its core. ‘May you for ever bring us luck and protection, and may you carry our souls to freedom’ (1).

Birds become a prominent motif as protagonist Subhi first sees the presence of birds as a bad omen and later comes to understand them as symbols of hope, resilience, and liberation. In some cultures, people believe that sparrows carry the souls of the dead to the afterlife. Different traditions hold two conflicting theories about sparrows appearing inside homes; some say it’s a sign of impending death, and some claim it signifies coming change or transition. When Subhi finds the sparrow on his cot, Queeny says, “[A] sparrow in the house, that’s a sign of death” (22). Subhi clings to the ominous prophecy, and, coupled with the undefinable gloom he feels hanging over the camp, he convinces himself that his death is imminent. In reality, death is imminent—the death of Eli. Change is also imminent, however, as Subhi will find more of a place in the world through his friendships and will become more connected to the Rohingya culture. It is also suggested that Rohingya culture, here migrating just as a sparrow would, will itself change as Subhi adapts it for the modern world and a modern incarnation of his people’s centuries-long struggle.

When Subhi meets Jimmie and sees the strange sparrow necklace, the sight frightens him as he fears she is another omen of impending doom. However, Jimmie explains the symbolism of her necklace, and as Subhi begins to read her mum’s story, he learns that the necklace symbolizes an important part of Jimmie’s ancestry and is a link to her mother’s memory. For Jimmie, however, the necklace represents her lack of belief as it appears to have failed to protect her family from harm. After hearing its full history, Jimmie comes to understand that the necklace doesn’t save people from dying but instead brings them hope in the face of unimaginable trials and difficulties. She says, “Maybe if Mum wasn’t wearing it, she would have died even sooner. Maybe it’s a different kind of luck” (95).

The sparrow necklace is also a talisman that links Jimmie’s and Subhi’s stories. Like Subhi’s, Jimmie’s family has a tragic history, and the bone sparrow has become a family heirloom to remind them of where they have come and inspire hope for a better future. Subhi has few family heirlooms, and though he doesn’t wear a necklace, he carries his family’s story inside himself. Whether it be fate or some other force, Jimmie tells Subhi that the image of the bird brought them together: “[T]he Bone Sparrow brought you to me, to save me” (274). The sparrow, though predicting Eli’s death, also precipitates Jimmie’s arrival, which eventually saves her life and gives Subhi a reason to go on living. Sparrows may appear fragile but exhibit powerful resilience to adapt and survive in challenging environments. Trapped within the confines of their existence, both Subhi and Jimmie find a way to harness the fortitude of the tiny bird, and though their bodies may not yet be free, through the power of story and imagination, they can liberate their souls.