The Nature of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner Review

 Happy Monday Friends :)

I pray you all had a great weekend, and I want to thank you all for joining me for another book review here on The Preppy Book Princess.

A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of reading my first Susie Finkbeiner novel, All Manner of Things (review here), and really enjoyed it.

I'd always wanted to give another one of her books a try, so I was excited to get to be a part of the Revell Reads Blogger Tour for her newest release.

I'm excited to tell you all about this one so keep reading to see what I ended up thinking about it.

The Nature of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner:

Source: Complimentary Copy Provided by the Publisher as Part of the Revell Reads Blogger Program

Publisher: Revell

Publication Date: July 6th, 2021

Genre: Christian Fiction/Dual Timeline

Synopsis:

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 adoptive family is suddenly thrown back to the events surrounding her unconventional arrival into 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 roller coaster 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. 

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

The Nature of Small Birds is a heartwarming story that reminds us all that family means much more than blood relations, and at the same time, is a poignant thought provoking look into adoption, grief and how God always has a master plan in mind for each and every one of His children. Susie Finkbeiner has an unparalleled talent for giving her readers stories that will stick with them long after they finish reading them, and in my personal opinion, this story will touch every reader's heart who chooses to pick it up.

One of the most original concept ideas for a story I've ever read, this one definitely stands out as both unique and authentic. The main basis of the story is the adoption of Mindy by an American family told through three differing viewpoints over three distinct time periods. However, the author manages to weave together this beautiful tale of Mindy's life, without any of the voices being Mindy herself, and she pulls it off successfully in each and every way. Instead the reader hears from Mindy's adoptive father Bruce in the year 2013, Mindy's adoptive mother Linda in the year they adopted her of 1975, and finally, Mindy's adoptive sister, Sonny, in the year 1988 when both girls are teenagers.

I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting when I picked this one up, but it was everything I could have possibly imagined. Great storytelling, a well plotted dual timeline, characters that come to life on the page, and detailed information about a part of history I wasn't all the familiar with.

My only complaint was I felt it ended abruptly, and I would have liked to have seen a little bit more included before the conclusion, but a great story nonetheless, and one I will most definitely be recommending.

I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Final Rating: 4/5.

Thanks so much to Revell Publishing for providing a complimentary copy of this book for me to read and review.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher (Revell) as part of the Revell Reads Blogger Program. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I hope you guys all enjoy the rest of your day! I'm thankful we're finally getting a break from this dreadful heat, and I'm looking forward to enjoying a lovely rainy dreary day which are always my favorite kind. 

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you all next time hear on The Preppy Book Princess :)