The Nature Of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner is an absolutely beautiful Christian novel that is written around the true event of Operation Babylift – giving children from Vietnam a new life in America after the war.
The action is set in 1975, 1988 and 2013. The novel focuses on a family. This microcosm would be repeated in homes all over America. The reader sees life through various eyes in one family. It is all very beautifully written. Your heart will break for the orphans and children of war.
The war in Vietnam took many American lives. Those who did return were scarred physically or mentally. The Vietnamese children were scarred too. They saw terrible things no child should ever see and were very traumatized.
The novel is a book of love. We see a family with a huge capacity to love – from four year old Sonny up through the generations. There was one exception – a grandmother who lost her son in the Vietnam war. She laid the sins of the soldiers on the shoulders of a young child and needed time to adapt her views.
God is a God of love. He cares for each and every one of His children. “God is so kind… and He’s always up to something.” Sometimes we cannot see Him working, life seems bleak but God never leaves us. His eye is on the sparrow and His eye is on us.
There are those who equate riches with wealth and social standing. And there are those who know that love is the standard. “Even in the dark, love is always there.” Whatever we go through, we need to know there are those who love us.
“God’s new mercies coming every morning whether I deserve it or not.” I loved this idea. God loves us and blesses us because of the gift of grace.
With three distinct time periods – dropping in on a family with young children in 1975, teens in 1988 and all grown up in 2013 – we witness how love has to adapt and change with the seasons. As our children grow, we must give them wings to fly. “It’s time to loosen my grip. I’ve held her tight for so long, it hurts to let her go.” One of the hardest things we do as parents, is to let our children go and be free to fly.
The Nature Of Small Birds is such a beautiful novel. It will warm your heart. It will break your heart. And it will swell your heart with love. It is a work of great love and of great beauty.
I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

This is a hard one for me to comment on mainly because not a lot happens in this story of a family told over four decades. We have three separate POVs, all first person, told over three distinct years: 1975, 1988 and 2013. Bruce and Linda, Dad and Mom, and first born, Sonny, short for Sondra.

It's a story of family, of adoption, of the fallout of Vietnam, of growing old and coming of age. It's about a mom's love for her girls, a dad's love for his girls, a husband and wife growing old together and falling more in love with each other, of grappling with parents and an adopted child's impressions as a kid, a teen and as as an adult.

It's quite ordinary. Every day stuff as we go to the mall, go on first dates, family vacations, fishing trips, visiting grammy and grumpy and caring for sick parents.

And it's surprisingly captivating. Most of the time. It's more literary than I expect from Christian fiction which was a nice change. An author is allowed to write about the ordinary in literary fiction. It's almost essential. Finkbeiner keeps swapping POVs and years with ease and after a few chapters it's easy to get in the groove, even though we're unsure of what the next year and/or POV will feature next.

But it's Minh's story, the adopted Vietnamese girl from Operation Babylift, that I find most compelling. So much so I wish I had her POV. She arrives in a new country to new parents as a four year old and there's always a sense of displacement whenever Minh or Mindy, as she becomes known, enters the story irrespective of whether she's 4, 17 or 42. It adds a sense of discomfort to a very happy family story. Mindy is greatly loved and accepted and she knows this but it's that sense of loss of not knowing her birth parents, of birth siblings, of birthplace. Finkbeiner does a great job managing this dichotomy.

I liked how the three POVs were very distinctive and their three characters were extremely likeable. I particularly appreciated how Bruce and Linda had found such contentment in the choices they've made and the life they've engineered together. And their love for each other is very believable and admirable. They've learnt how to love by championing the other and making the other each other's focus and priority. I especially liked Bruce, a wonderfully gentle, kind man who adored his wife and daughters and grappled with the notion of letting his daughters fly the coup.

There really is a lot to like in this story and I recommend it heartily.

I received an early ebook copy as part of Revell Reads Blogger program via NetGalley with no expectation of a positive review.

This is a very interesting book. It really doesn’t have a lot of tension or drive but I think because of Susie’s excellent writing style and her unique voice I was pulled into this story and wanted to keep reading.

I loved Sonny’s POV because it was in 1988. So many memories came rushing back to for me as I grew up in the 80s and all the things that were normal for us that my kids now would laugh at.

Even 2013 (Bruce’s POV) was interesting because that is fresh in my memory. The year Frozen came out and the bitterly cold winter we had in Michigan (which is where this book takes place).

The whole Babylift program is very intriguing and hard to believe this actually happened.

If you haven’t read a book by Susie yet I highly recommend you read her work, it is excellent.


A copy of this book was given to me through the publisher. All opinions are my own.

First of all, I want to just say I absolutely adore Author Susie Finkbeiner's stories! Every single book of hers that I have read - I enjoyed immensely. So naturally, when I heard she had a new one coming out, I knew I wanted to read it!

I enjoyed this istory of the Operation Baby Lift out of Vietnam and how it is shared from the perspective of three different characters within the same family unit, giving the reader an even broader scope of the story and a deeper appreciation for it.

I appreciated how the Author took care to explore and present the inevitable impact that the Vietnam War had on those whose lives it touched either direct or indirect way.

I loved the quote “Life requires so much courage out of us, doesn’t it?”
and feel it sums this book up so well as we go on this courageous and heartfelt journey with these characters.

This book was just beautiful and I highly recommend it to fans both young and not so young of clean and Faith-Based fiction.

***Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book. All views and opinions expressed in this review are my own.***

I don't think I've read another book quite like this one. It was beautiful and unique. The story is told from three different timelines by three different characters. The two daughters were both my age, so I loved all of the 80's references.

Susie Finkbeiner tells a lovely story about family and faith and acceptance. It is more character driven than plot driven, but U still found myself turning the pages to find out what was going to happen. I appreciate that the ending wasn't wrapped up neatly with a bow, although I wouldn't mind sequel. This will be one of my favorites of the year for sure.

I would highly recommend this novel to lovers of character driven, faith based fiction.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher for the purpose of review.

The synopsis for The Nature of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner caught my attention and I knew right away that I had to read it. Operation Babylift was a humanitarian effort at the end of the Vietnam War to evacuate thousands of children from South Vietnam and led to their adoption by families around the world. Mindy is one of those children, blessed to grow up with a loving and supportive adoptive family, and searching for the sense of identity that comes with learning about her birth family. I snatched up this book and settled in to read all about the complexities of Mindy’s growth, to feel that love and longing and the satisfaction of finally meeting her birth mother, of her return to the country of her birth.

The Nature of Small Birds is not at all what I had preconceived. Instead of the expected viewpoint, Finkbeiner chose to tell a different kind of story through the eyes of Mindy’s father, mother, and older sister. For a few minutes, I was genuinely disappointed, but Finkbeiner did a beautiful thing with the method she chose. Little Minh would not have been able to convey her parents’ conflicted feelings about choosing to say yes to this little wonder who desperately needed to be nurtured, while recognizing that their siblings had very different experiences in Vietnam. Little Minh would not have been able to express the simple thrill of having a grandparent recognize that their sweet girl might appreciate a baby doll with dark hair and eyes, when the only ones to be found are blond with blue eyes. And sweet little Minh could not have known all the ways she changed her big sister’s life. It would be interesting to see Mindy’s point of view, but Finkbeiner delivered an unexpected kind of turmoil, grace, and beauty in the method she chose. She also accomplished the task of sending her reader to learn more about Operation Babylift and efforts to care for the children of war-torn South Vietnam in the mid-70’s. I highly recommend a good cup of tea and The Nature of Small Birds.

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

While the summary leads you to believe that this is a story of the Operation Baby Lift out of Vietnam – it is so much more. Told mainly in three different years and narrated by three voices in the same family, it compounded the story to a level where you as a reader obtained a 360 view.

The voices are of the mother, father, and oldest sister in a family of three girls. The middle daughter was adopted tangentially from Vietnam. The considerable impact and ripple effect the Vietnam War had on not only the people of the country and the US soldiers but extended families is presented with heart.

I loved the tie into birds, their nests and families as either mentions in poetry or as comparisons with to the three daughters. It helped make what could have been a very difficult subject a lot easier to comprehend.

A minor yet impactful character Mrs. Olds says, “Life requires so much courage out of us, doesn’t it?” All the characters in this book were facing so many things that took a lot of courage just to put one foot in front of the other and go about their normal lives. The Grandmother who lost a son, the Uncle who lost a part of himself, a mother who chose a different path and a daughter who had a path chosen for her.

This book is calmly paced and left me with a feeling of contentment not only for the characters lives portrayed inside the book but also for what they could become.

This is the first book I’ve read by Susie Finkbeiner, and I feel like I’ve gained a family. The book wasn’t at all what I expected…it was so, SO much better. I loved learning about a piece of history I knew nothing about, so the research involved is very appreciated. Of the three voices that tell the story (in 1977, 1988, and 2013) I connected immediately with Bruce. I loved that a story could be told that demonstrates how deeply a father can love his children (that it’s not exclusively a mother’s domain) and this is by far my most highlighted book of 2021. There is so much quiet wisdom to be shared, so many things to learn about life, and so much connection to be made with God throughout the book. Don’t miss it! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a review.

It's the nature of small birds to sing their little hearts out. And it's the nature of God to hear them.

Susie Finkbeiner has the ability to take a moment in history like the Vietnam baby drop and weave a heart-felt story that pulls on your emotions.

With care and grace Ms. Finkbeiner unfolds the story surrounding Mindy. I found myself completely absorbed with her story and how each of the family members dealt with Bruce and Linda's decision to adopt her.

Using different POV's as well as time Ms. Finkbeiner invites the reader to experience Mindy's adoption and upbringing. I felt like I was watching a film.

I had a feeling as I started this book I would be crying in parts and I was correct. As an adoptee I understood Mindy's emotions. While my grandparents didn't treat me like Hilda treated Mindy I had a cousin tell me I wasn't truly part of the family because I didn't share the bloodline. Even with that my younger brother and I couldn't be prouder to be adopted.

Susie Finkbeiner has quickly become a favorite author and I look forward to her next release.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a unique and very captivating story. I have never read anything like this before and I am so glad I had the chance to read this.
I will definitely be recommending this book to anyone for a long time to come.

I’m so glad I got the chance to read this book! Finkbeiner brings the time just after the Vietnam war to life, something I’ve never seen in a book before. Most of the historical fiction I’ve read was set in World War II or earlier, so having something more recent—but something that completely altered many people’s lives—available to read about in the setting of a story was worth a lot to me. My grandfather almost went to Vietnam, if I remember correctly—but due to a medical issue, he was disqualified. So in some ways, this story hit close to home to me.

I loved the themes of family, faith, hope, and perseverance in this story. It wasn’t a romance, per se (although there is an older couple throughout the story)—it’s more of a family’s story, as they learned and grew closer together. I loved each one of the characters, although I identified with Sonny the best, probably. I loved her spunk!

This is a well-written book. I’m thankful I had the chance to read it. Now that I’ve read it once, I’d like to go through it again—I am quite curious about how the split-time aspect was put together! A recommended read.

I was given a review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

The Nature of Small Birds is another wonderful story from one of my favorite authors. It tells the poignant story of a family that adopts a child through the Vietnam airlift project. The author brings the story to life through three different perspectives during three separate timelines through several decades. I so enjoy Susie Finkbeiner's ability to create situations and characters that are so real and relatable. I would love to be friends with this family. The author has given the readers access to the characters' innermost thoughts and actions and in doing so, endeared the characters to them. This is a story of the power of love and acceptance and the process of learning to let go. "Turns out that small birds are going to fly whether we like it or not. It's no different for our kids." Readers who enjoy heartwarming stories of families as they navigate the changes in their lives will definitely want to read The Nature of Small Birds. I read a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and Revell Publishing and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Revell Books for an advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I loved this! It's now one of my "favorites" and I'm telling everyone to read it. The premise may not convey the specialness of this novel because in addition to the story, it's the expert writing and tender emotions that makes this so memorable. The convincing story of a family who adopts a young Vietnamese orphan from war-torn Saigon is told by three likeable characters in alternating timelines: Bruce (2013-2014), Sonny (1988) and Linda (1975). Sometimes we get different perspectives of the same events, or selected segments of events that in the end provide a heartwarming, sometimes humorous, often sweet picture of a loving, authentic family that could easily be one you know. The symbolism of small birds skillfully appears throughout the novel, in addition to references of faith and hope.

I wasn't prepared for the novel to end as I was so absorbed in the story and wanted to continue living with this family. What a compelling and powerful read in this gentle, quiet book. I urge you to read this one!

Family is a beautiful and wonderful thing. Full of people you love and sometimes don't always like along with plenty of ups and downs. This is a story of a family who adopts a young Vietnamese girl, Mindy. We are carried through three timelines and we get to hear three voices of the family. The father (Bruce), mother (Linda), and older sister (Sonny). We watch as this family grows and changes, because what family stays the same? Going through the different time lines had me reminiscing about my own life.

Always with an author Finkbeiner story, I feel like I have been invited to the inner sanctum of the family. The characters become almost real and I become invested in their story, as they tell me of their hurts and heartbreaks and the prejudices of other family members. And the love. Especially the love for one another and the balance of letting a child go, even if an adult.

I was born in 1975, the earliest timeline, so I found it especially captivating to read about this family as they struggle with the loss of an older brother/uncle and then the adoption of a little girl from the country where his life was lost. There was a lot of feeling these characters showed, especially from Grandma. I think this story beautifully captures what a family truly is. I also really enjoyed the different viewpoints of their life and times. They made the story fuller.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

This is a beautiful, feel-good story about a family told from different points of view and different time periods. I loved the simplicity of this book and the way every character loves everyone, even the grumpy grandmother. I was constantly on edge, waiting for something really bad to happen to someone or to the family as a whole and nothing did. It is just a great story of the love that a family has for each other. Such a great read that will leave you with all the warm fuzzies!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Susie Finkbeiner truly is a master storyteller who has such a beautiful way of drawing the reader into a character's life and heart. We are transported to a different place and time, and we cannot help but to feel so very deeply for these beautifully written characters. The Nature of Small Birds is such a beautiful example of that masterful storytelling. It is emotional read that will tug at the heartstrings, taking on tough topics of like the struggles of adoption and racism. Covering many years, with three different perspectives, it is a unique read that certainly did not fail to draw me in. It may have been perhaps a bit slower paced than some books I prefer to read, but it seemed to work for the story so I cannot make any complaints. Overall, this a wonderfully written story that fans of historical fiction are sure to want to check out.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

I had never read a book by Susie Finkbeiner before but as I also have an adopted daughter, I was interested in the plot. Overall, it was an okay book, but I felt like I was reading it only to write the review, not because I was enjoying it. I just wanted it over so I could go read something else.

I liked the characters and the plot line, but I didn't like jumping between three characters and three different time lines. It was very confusing.

The Nature of Small Birds, by Susie Finkbeiner, is a book that kept my attention from start to finish. It is the story of Mindy and her family, and is told from the viewpoint of different family members, and it also skips around from 1975, 1988, and 2013. At first, that confused me a little, but as I kept reading and became more familiar with the characters, it no longer bothered me.

The book is the story of how Mindy was adopted into an American family from Vietnam, and how her presence affected her family. The three different timelines are from when right before/when she was adopted, when she is in high school, and when she is an adult. I really enjoyed reading the storyline about Mindy being welcomed into her new family and adjusting to life in America. The struggle and fierce love of her adoptive parents made them very lovable characters. I especially liked reading about the relationship between Mindy and her sister, Sonny.

Slight spoiler alert: The story builds up to the point that Mindy is about to travel to Vietnam to connect with a family member. I really wish that it would have continued to include her trip, and meeting family. I was waiting for that as I read the book, and felt a little let down. However, I did really enjoy this book, and read it fairly quickly. I appreciated that it explored the meaning of family and love, and followed the characters that they grew and found themselves. It is definitely a book that I would read again, and share with others.

The Nature of Small Birds is a beautiful split-time novel that tells the story of how the Matthews family came to be. I love the way Mindy's story is told from three different perspectives - her mom Linda in 1975, her sister Sonny in 1988, and her dad Bruce in 2013. All three years were pivotal times in Mindy's life, and each part of the story provides layers of richness and depth. We see how Mindy's life had such an impact on each member of her family, and how her arrival was the catalyst to them becoming a family marked by sacrificial love and forgiveness. The story is character-driven and reflective, moving at a slow pace that allows time for its wisdom to be absorbed. I really enjoyed this book, and I think fans of Lauren K. Denton and Valerie Fraser Luesse will as well!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!

“Turns out that the nature of small birds is to fly. It’s no different for our kids.”

Susie Finkbeiner is one of my favorite authors. I always love the insights about life that she brings out. Her novels are thought-provoking and brilliantly written. This one really resonated with me. It’s a story of life, family, love, and belonging. It’s a story of caring and compassion during everyday life. It’s a story of hope and letting go.

Told by three separate family members in three different time periods, it took me a little while to get used to the shifts in perspective and thought processes. Once I got used to it, I could follow it well, and it was intriguing to see the perceptions of these different characters as they grew and the relationships shifted and changed. With many poignant and heart-wrenching moments, it kept my emotions and feelings changing through the chapters.

“It’s the nature of small birds to sing their little hearts out. And it’s the nature of God to hear them.”

Finkbeiner is a master at creating realistic, relatable characters and placing them in compelling situations and interesting settings. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I’m looking forward to what she comes up with next.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Revell through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.