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About this item
Highlights
- "Finkbeiner has deftly written this narrative of ordinary people finding their way, set against a backdrop of global upheaval and war; the characters are realistic and vibrant.
- About the Author: Susie Finkbeiner is the CBA bestselling author of All Manner of Things, which was selected as a 2020 Michigan Notable Book, and Stories That Bind Us, as well as A Cup of Dust, A Trail of Crumbs, and A Song of Home.
- 368 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Christian
Description
About the Book
When Mindy announces that she is returning to Vietnam to find her birthmother, it inspires her father, mother, and sister to recall the events of her adoption at the end of the Vietnam War during Operation Baby Lift. In this beautiful time-slip story, Mindy's family reexamines what it means to grow together beyond genetic code.Book Synopsis
"Finkbeiner has deftly written this narrative of ordinary people finding their way, set against a backdrop of global upheaval and war; the characters are realistic and vibrant. Readers looking for realist family stories with a subtle thread of faith . . .will want to read Finkbeiner's latest."--Library Journal starred review***
In 1975, three thousand children were airlifted out of Saigon to be adopted into Western homes. When Mindy, one of those children, announces her plans to return to Vietnam to find her birth mother, her loving adopted family is suddenly thrown back to the events surrounding her unconventional arrival in their lives.
Though her father supports Mindy's desire to meet her family of origin, he struggles privately with an unsettling fear that he'll lose the daughter he's poured his heart into. Mindy's mother undergoes the emotional rollercoaster inherent in the adoption of a child from a war-torn country, discovering the joy hidden amid the difficulties. And Mindy's sister helps her sort through relics that whisper of the effect the trauma of war has had on their family--but also speak of the beauty of overcoming.
Told through three strong voices in three compelling timelines, The Nature of Small Birds is a hopeful story that explores the meaning of family far beyond genetic code.
"A balanced story that's rich with nuance and gentle emotions."--Foreword Reviews
"Readers who enjoy the work of Karen Kingsbury will want to take a look."--Publishers Weekly
From the Back Cover
"Fiction at its finest."--Christina Suzann Nelson, award-winning author of More Than We Remember and The Way It Should BeIn 1975, three thousand children were airlifted out of Saigon to be adopted into Western homes. When one of those children announces her plans to return to Vietnam to find her birth mother, her loving adopted family is suddenly thrown back to the events surrounding her unconventional arrival in their lives.
Mindy's father grapples with the tension between holding on tightly and letting his daughter spread her wings. Her mother undergoes the emotional roller coaster inherent in the adoption of a child from a war-torn country, discovering the joy hidden amid the difficulties. And Mindy and her sister struggle to find the strength to accept each other as they both discover who they truly are.
Told through three distinct voices in three compelling timelines, The Nature of Small Birds is a hopeful story that explores the meaning of family far beyond genetic code.
"A beautiful story about the intricacies of family and the power of love. Most definitely a must-read novel."--Heidi Chiavaroli, Carol Award-winning author of Freedom's Ring and The Orchard House
"To open a book by Susie Finkbeiner is to accept an invitation to become part of a family you'll never forget."--Jocelyn Green, Christy Award-winning author of Shadows of the White City
"Susie Finkbeiner has such an inviting and distinctive voice as a writer that you'll gladly follow it--and follow her--to any setting."--Valerie Fraser Luesse, Christy Award-winning author of Under the Bayou Moon
About the Author
Susie Finkbeiner is the CBA bestselling author of All Manner of Things, which was selected as a 2020 Michigan Notable Book, and Stories That Bind Us, as well as A Cup of Dust, A Trail of Crumbs, and A Song of Home. She serves on the Fiction Readers Summit planning committee, volunteers her time at Ada Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and speaks at retreats and women's events across the country. Susie and her husband have three children and live in West Michigan.Dimensions (Overall): 8.43 Inches (H) x 5.43 Inches (W) x .94 Inches (D)
Weight: .71 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 368
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Christian
Publisher: Fleming H. Revell Company
Format: Paperback
Author: Susie Finkbeiner
Language: English
Street Date: July 6, 2021
TCIN: 82425704
UPC: 9780800739355
Item Number (DPCI): 247-30-4492
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 0.94 inches length x 5.43 inches width x 8.43 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.71 pounds
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4.5 out of 5 stars with 2 reviews
Stunning Contemporary Christian Fiction!
5 out of 5 stars
Connie Saunders - 4 years ago
I've read many books this year, and this is certainly one of my favorites. The Nature of Small Birds captivated me from the very beginning! It is the story of a family that adopts a little girl from Vietnam during the Operation Babylift campaign of 1975, and I feel like I am a family friend who witnessed it all. Author Susie Finkbeiner tells this adoption story through the thoughts of Bruce, Linda, and Sonny Matthews, and each perspective is told during a different time period. Minh is the little four-year-old who joins the family in 1975, and Linda's perspective relates the tremendous adjustment that awaits all of them. I loved seeing Minh (Mindy) blossom from the love and attention given to her by her parents and her sister Sonny, and then watching how that sister bond deepens in the 1988 storyline. Bruce's voice is told during the 2013-14 time frame, and he has to be one of the best fictional fathers ever! Bruce is a decent, loyal man of deep faith, but he still grieves for a brother who died while serving in Vietnam, and he is deeply hurt by his mother's initial reluctance to accept Mindy into the family. Bruce is the one who compares children to small birds, and points out that parents must allow their children to fly. He also strongly supports Mindy when she decides that she wants to try to find her birth family. I absolutely loved Bruce Matthews! The Nature of Small Birds reminds us of the hurts and losses caused by the Vietnam War, but it also affirms the blessings that came out of it. It is a story of love, family, learning to accept, and being willing to let go. I absolutely loved this book and I applaud Susie Finkbeiner's unique writing talent! I recommend The Nature of Small Birds to all who enjoy contemporary Christian fiction. I received a copy of this book from Revell but there was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.
Learning to Let Go!
4 out of 5 stars
Rebecca Maney - 4 years ago
3.5 stars "Turns out that small birds are going to fly whether we like it or not. It's no different for our kids." It's all about letting go, whether through life or death, we all experience the challenge of loving and letting go. It was no different for Bruce and Linda, whose decision to bring a small young "bird" into their home changed their life forever. Mindy had been transported to the United States as part of an historic "baby-lift" out of war torn Saigon. Her fragile psyche was evident, totally opposite from her outgoing older sister Sonny, prompting her new family to rally around her as a protective shield. But sadly, not everyone was a fan. At least not at first, maybe never. Through-out the pages of this inspiring story, the roles of mother, father, sisters, are beautifully inspected under the microscope of good intentions, and yet there's always the notion that at some point, the little bird will have to fly on her own. . . . . . "We won't be afraid. We will trust in you" . . . the prayer every parent has reason to pray. "It's the nature of small birds to sing their hearts out. And it's the nature of God to hear them." In spite of the varying voices and timelines, this was quite a pleasant book to read. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I also purchased a copy. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.