The Nature of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner
Mindy Matthews was a child from Operation Babylift during the Vietnam War. Her growing up years are chronicled in this story of an American family who decided to adopt her.
This story was written tenderly and transparently. As a reader, I got the sense of what she and her family experienced. The author did a skillful job of conveying the emotions experienced by Mindy’s mother, father, sisters and extended family. Because Mindy’s uncle had died in Vietnam, there was some understandable tension between her grandmother and the family who adopted Mindy. Even this tension was lovingly and honestly addressed in the story.
I really enjoyed this book, but found the change in point of view and the vacillating time of each chapter a bit confusing at times. I was also flabbergasted when the book ended, leaving the story hanging. I really wanted to know what happened next. Perhaps another book will complete the story.
Susie FInkbeiner is a gifted author and this book is well worth the read, especially because it highlights an experience that not too many readers may have had. I am grateful to the publisher for a copy of this book in return for this, my honest review.

The Nature of Small Birds is the story of Minh, a Vietmese-born child who was adopted by an American family shortly after the end of the Vietnam War.

The story is told from the perspective of three different members of the family and in three different timelines.

As an adult, Mihn (called Mindy by her family) gets an opportunity to find her birth family. This decision creates a bit of tension in her family and some anxiety in Mindy.

I was so looking forward to this book. This is the third book I've read from Susie Finkbeiner and I usually enjoy them. Her characters seem like real people and the stories seem like they could be about the person next door which makes them relatable. But I couldn't get into this one.

Maybe it was the storytelling method employed in The Nature of Small Birds,.but I couldn't connect with the characters. They felt flat and one-dimensional. Even Mihn's story which had so much potential, didn't reach me. There seemed to be a lot of backstory which I was looking forward to hearing some of, but we never learned why she acted the way she did, not really.

I felt as if too much time was spent building up to a climax that never happened. Do I still love Susie Finkbeiner's writing? Yes. But The Nature of Small Birds didn't cut it for me. I received an advanced reader's copy from the publishers through Revell Reads and NetGalley; a positive review was not required.

Bruce and his wife, Linda, have three daughters-Sonny, Mindy and Holly. Readers meet Bruce in 2013 and much of the family's story is told through different timelines. They are not a perfect family, but they are very special people. In this beautifully told story, we learn just how special they are. They have values, maintain a strong commitment and devotion to each other and they are not afraid to love. The narrative follows the family as the children are raised and eventually leave home. Deftly presented is the tension Bruce's mother creates. The dialogue is often light, witty and always straight forward. Packed with emotion, memories and wisdom this book is a pleasure to read. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Finkbeiner’s story telling shines in this tale of love, family, and discovery!

Bruce and Linda have been trying for years to have a second child with no luck. They decide that the best option would be to adopt a little baby boy who needs a family, but when the call from the adoption agency comes in, it is not what anyone expected. A little girl named Minh was a child airlifted during the fall of Saigon and the family who initially took her in has returned her to the agency. Bruce and Linda have no qualms taking this child into their family but know that other family members won’t feel the same since Bruce’s brother died during the war and his sister’s husband returned home with war torn memories.

As the years pass, the family becomes more accepting, but little do they know all the challenges that Minh, now called Mindy, has faced in her upbringing in a small Michigan town during the 1980s and 1990s. She recently discovered that an organization is working to restore the children lifted out of Saigon with their families. With her family’s support, Mindy decides to reach out and discover more about her past to learn who she really is.

Wow! Can Susie Finkbeiner write a story that makes you feel like you are part of the family and come away as friends. Her ability to draw readers into the characters is such a gift. Picking the book up for the first time makes it feel like you are about to read a classic story that you love, even though you’ve never read it!

The story is told from three perspectives at three different times. The first is from Linda’s (mom) point of view in 1975 when they initially adopt Mindy and the challenges that they face during that time. Fast forward to 1988 with Sonny’s (older sister) POV when she and Mindy and in high school and roommates. Lastly is Bruce’s (dad) POV in 2013 when Mindy has discovered the possibility of reconnecting with her family. It was fun to see the minor characters develop in one story and then mature in another.

The theme is about family and supporting each other through difficulties. I want to dive into this so much more, but its really better if you read it for yourself. Easily one of the top books of 2021!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

A compelling tale that masterfully weaves together three timelines as Mindy goes looking for more information about her biological family after being adopted in 1975 from Vietnam.

I love Ms. Finkbeiner's books, they always have a gentle way of drawing me in and not letting me go till the last page is turned. A beautiful character driven novel told in three different perspectives set in different pivotal times, which I thought was so unique especially as Mindy's story was told in the context of the stories of her father, mother and sister, Sonny.

A tender story with snapshots that shine with life, love and heartache. The author did a great job of handling the topic of adoption and some of the stigmas especially around foreign adoption.

I think my favorite character had to be Ivan "Grumpy", he stole my heart with his enduring love and devotedness to his wife, and his love for his grandchildren. I admired his love for his family, positive attitude, and his little rebellions.

Overall, a beautifully crafted story, told in a unique and engagingly character driven narrative. Tender recollections shining with love, pain, and strengthening relationships. Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a wonderful story of former hippies (Linda and Bruce) who adopt a baby from Vietnam as part of Operation Baby Lift. After protesting the war itself and then reading about the children fleeing Saigon on American planes, Linda and Bruce choose to adopt little Minh (Mindy), in spite of the narrow-minded discrimination of Bruce’s mother. Told in three time frames, beginning in 1975, moving to 1988 and then finally to 2013, the story also has multiple narrators. 1975 is the year Bruce and Linda decide to adopt Mindy and change their lives to raise a fearful little girl. 1988 presents more information about Sonny, their biological daughter preparing to leave for college, and her little sister Mindy, a teen at the time. Finally, in 2013, we hear a lot from Bruce and his perspective on what being a successful family looks like. Honestly, I could not choose my favorite POV or time period because all were done so well with such elaborate descriptions of the family and their reactions to events and choices. Mindy grew up without feeling as if she really belonged, so she decided to find her birth mother. Supported by her adoptive family, Mindy faces the past with boldness and grace, ready to embrace and forgive. The tale is one that is timeless in its approach to such themes as adoption, parenting, family relationships and acceptance. The research into the Vietnam era shone through in every page, especially the feelings of many American citizens who had suffered through the atrocities of the war. My emotions ran the whole gamut, from total despair at Mindy’s lack of confidence and fear when she arrived to her new home, to hope for a better future as she learned to “fly alone” and leave the nest, which is the nature of small birds. The characters were so realistic that they stepped out of the pages of the book into my heart, where I am still embracing them today as if they are my own family members. I have loved all of Susie Finkbeiner’s books since the first one, and this one was, in my opinion, the best yet in its portrayal of emotions and its depth of characters, with a multi-layered plot. The vulnerability of the characters and their willingness to press on was what made the book memorable and an excellent choice for an uplifting book to read. Not all parts of the book were uplifting, but the tone definitely was one of positive outcomes, so I applaud the author for her talent in being able to relate to so many different people with so many different feelings about the war in Vietnam. Not everyone lived during the war as I did (I was in college in the 70’s and saw all of the protests although I did not participate), but I can assure others that anyone who reads this book will have an experience of war and its effects on innocence that you will not soon forget. This book is remarkable for its entertainment and educational values.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

"The Nature of Small Birds" by Susie Finkbeiner, told through three distinct voices in three different timelines, is an inspiring story of the love of family that transcends genetic code, portraying the intricacies of family ties and the unbreakable power of love. Tough subjects are skillfully handled as Susie Finkbeiner peels back layers upon layers of life to reveal the truth of what is important to the human heart. Her highly authentic characters are filled with empathy, compassion, and hope, so well-drawn that real life unfolds with all its unique wonder, starry-eyed delight and bitter heartache, its grasping and letting go, with lots of give and take that make up the true essence of family life. This is a profound tale of belonging, growth, and of love that gives wings to fly, as a Michigan family deals with the terrifying torments of their mutually shared past, desperately trying to quell troubling ghosts from the Vietnam War, struggling to forgive what they can't forget until time heals all their heartbreaking wounds.

I am in awe at how this author creates heart-felt stories with believable, likeable (and not so likeable) characters. This author delicately unfolds a beautifully touching story of a time when things did not make sense as the Vietnam War was raging and many orphaned children were left behind.

Bruce and Linda get a call, one they thought would tell them their little son was on his way, but this call was an unexpected one. Could they welcome an older child into their home? The answer was yes. But nothing prepared them for the love they would have for this little girl. She turns their lives and hearts inside out, with unanticipated joy and strong surprising resentment from family and friends who see her as a threat, not a precious gift.

The author did an incredible job of showing the difficulties this family faced in caring for this little one. For example, there was the language barrier, how to connect with a 4-year-old who found herself in a foreign land and did not speak the language. As they learned to relate to Mindy and her to them, love grew in their hearts and Mindy became part of their family.

The author takes her time in having the reader experience Mindy’s home life from three people’s points of view and through different timelines. One is how Bruce, the father felt about things, Linda his wife felt about nurturing their children Sonny and Mindy. Then the other POV is through 6-year-old Sonny when she gets older and talks about her relationship with Mindy and how they become true sisters and friends. Writing about the Vietnam era is overwhelming, but this author does it well through her characters as she reveals deep wounds, fears, and troubles during that era.

I wondered about the cover of this book, but after reading the story I realize all the bird references made in this novel and how the girls and their family really are fascinated by birds. Don’t judge a book by its cover. This is a thought-provoking book that tackles tough issues with love and respect. I like how this author helps readers understand Operation Babylift through one family's journey of love, forgiveness and hope as they do their best to love the precious gift they had been given along with the daughter they gave birth to. This makes for a memorable read and one that would work for your next book club pick. If you have not read a book by this author, treat yourself to this one.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

Susie's books draw you in and hold you captive long beyond the end of the story! I've read every one of Susie's books and, I remember every single one! The stories, the character's, all the feels 💗
In the nature of small birds, we visit and learn more about an era that's not often written about. The mid 1970s. In 1975, 3000 children were airlifted out of Saigonn in what became known as the baby lift and, were adopted into Western homes. Mindy (Mihn) was one of those children. A story of Family, what makes a family, of growth. A story of differences… coming to terms with theim, understanding them, celebrating them. Told in 3 points of view from Mindy's mom- Linda, Dad- Bruce, and sister- Sonny, and over a span of years from the mid seventies to 2013. A story told with such authenticism that you can easily imagine you're reading a memoir and not a fictional story. When you commit to reading a Susie Finkbeiner story you are committing to falling in love with and caring for another family. You just can't help it! One of my favorite quotes from the book... ~it's the kind of day when I'm aware of how, as Elizabeth Barrett Browning said, "earth's crammed with heaven." The very thought just makes me smile! This book makes me smile ☺

I thought I would love this book being a parent of adopted children but I really hated that it went back-and-forth between four or five characters so it made it very hard to follow who was telling each chapter. The story was interesting but it didn’t really grip my attention the way other adoption books have in the past. I’m only giving this one three stars.

The Nature of Small Birds is beautifully written with strong themes of family and the bonds that tie us together. This one was just the right tone for me, told through three voices, three generations, each a strong character on their own.

I read this in one day and loved getting to gently know these characters. I learned a little bit more about history in this one, and I love that. Finkbeiner brings these years back to life.

I call that a winner!

I read a copy from my local library. My opinion is my own.

So well written and the characters were so believable. I was really blown away by how well the author describes every day events to make it feel like you were there watching the events take place but without adding too much detail to weigh it down. The story itself wasn't overly exciting but I recommend it.

I enjoyed this book. Susie Finkbeiner has a wonderful way of bringing people to life, and sharing different perspectives without the characters becoming muddy; each has their own voice. I appreciate this, as I have read other books where the characters all seem the same, and I couldn't distinguish who was who.

Though I enjoyed the characters and the storyline, there were things I did not enjoy. I am not a fan of jumping back and forth through different time periods, unless it is a completely different set of characters and events. (Such as a story that talks about ancestors etc.) This jumping around was confusing at first, and even though I got the hang of it, it seemed as though just as I was really getting into one character's telling of the story, it changed to a different time and a different character.

Another thing that was disappointing to me was the lack of Minh's perspective. She doesn't narrate any of the chapters. We don't know how she felt being brought to the US. We don't know her thoughts on being placed in a new family. We don't know anything about her except what other people tell us. For her life events to be the central part of the story, she sure doesn't say much.

I was also disappointed with the lack of development of Minh's travel to meet her birth family. So much led up to that point, and literally NOTHING is told to us about it. The end of the book was a huge shock to me! I felt let down that we traveled this journey with Minh, and then we get to know nothing of how it all played out.

I would definitely read another book by this author, and if this was to become a series, I would read the next one. I am invested now, lol.

I have mixed feelings about this novel. On the positive side, Finkbeiner is a great writer. She knows how to frame a scene, create good dialogue, and really draw the reader into the feelings the characters are experiencing. I really appreciate the exploration of Operation Babylift. While I remember the Vietnam War, I had forgotten about the children brought to America at the end of it.

Unfortunately, the structure of this novel was not to my liking. The narrative alternates through three time periods, each written in a different first person. The year 1975 is seen through the eyes of Linda, the wife and mother of the family adopting the Vietnamese child, Minh. The 1988 period is seen through the eyes of Sonny, daughter of Linda and Bruce and older sister (by adoption) to Minh. The 2013 year is seen through the eyes of Bruce, husband and father in the adopting family.

I felt that way of conveying the story was disorienting. I was confused at first as characters are addressed by different names in the three points of view and finally decided to make a family tree. That helped me when Linda spoke of Ivan while Sonny said Grumpy and Bruce addressed him as dad. Also, the narrative rotated, 1975, 1988, then 2013 and then back around again. There are forty-nine of these period vignettes. Just when I was really getting into one part of the story it would go to an entirely different time period and character focus.

Because of the structure of the novel, I felt the character development was lacking. A full length novel allows a character to be developed well. Here, each character had about a third of the novel so did not have the space to be developed well. And my greatest disappointment was so much missing from Minh's story after adoption. For example, the novel opens in 2013, from Bruce's point of view, and Minh is coming back home in the process of a divorce. We really don't get any more information about it, about her husband, etc. In that respect, Minh's character is hardly developed at all. We do get some ideas about Linda and Bruce and Sonny but we really have very little about Minh's character, the one at the center of it all.

This novel is an exploration of a family adopting a child from a different country. It's told in bits and pieces. We find out about 1975, the year Minh came, 1988, Sonny's high school graduation year, and 2013, the present time. Much else is missing.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Operation Babylift was the name given to the removal of over 3000 children from Vietnam. Many came to the United States and were adopted by American families. I enjoy stories stemming from actual historical events and appreciate Susie Finkbeiner's bringing this circumstance to light in her novel The Nature of Small birds.

This Christian family story embraces the themes of family love, conflict, loss, forgiveness, international adoption, and the debate surrounding the Vietnam war.

It is a time-slip novel, told by three different voices in three different periods, and thus is difficult to follow sometimes.

I would have liked much more exploration of Mindy's character, inner turmoil, and feelings of personal loss -as to me, she was the central character. Still, it seemed like these things were only alluded to as she was a very private person. Also, I had hoped that Mindy's search for her birth family would have played more of a role in the story. The resolution of Mindy's search for her family of origin came to such an abrupt end that it left me quite shocked as I turned the last page to discover the story was over!

Those who enjoy time slip novels that explore a historical event in a contemporary context would appreciate this story. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC for this honest review.

An interesting story that is told by the members of the family. The story is told in the present as well as in the past.

I was intrigued by the title and the cover. That is why I picked up the book in the first place. But the story drew me in! As a mother, I could relate to the mother in the story. I can remember watching my children grow up and leave the "nest". They were ready for the world but was I ready to let them go?

A family is a group of people who love you and supports you. The members don't have to share a bloodline. Linda and Bruce were ready to adopt. They expected a baby boy. Mindy was in need of a home and their arms and hearts were open.

The book explains the difficulties they experience adopting a child from another country. Mindy was from Vietnam. It also talks of how Mindy felt and her journey of discovery.

I enjoyed the book. I had to make sure to keep track at the beginning of the chapter of what year it was and whom was talking or you could get confused.

I received this book to give a honest review from Revell.

Author Bio

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.

This was an interesting book about a family that adopts a girl in the Babylift program for Vietnam. In this time-slip book, you will find three time periods, 1975, 1988 and 2013. It takes place in the time period I remember all too well in my life, so I can relate to the events that took place and the "way we lived" in those years.
I didn't immediately realize that the three time periods would be told by a different person, but caught on quickly as the book, written in first person, changed first persons. At first I was a bit confused by that. I was especially interested in seeing whether she is able to find her birth mother, as this is something that I have done for several people in my life.

There is family drama, and events that happened to many people of these time frames. I felt that the book would continue and we would see where certain parts of the book led. Maybe a second book in the future? I enjoyed the book very much.

I received this book through NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for a free ARC to review! All opinions are mine!

The Nature of Small Birds dives into the dynamics of a family over many generations. Told with three narrators over forty years, Finkbeiner reveals bits and pieces of the story of how the Matthews family came to adopt a “babylift” child from Vietnam and how that child would grow into an adult with lingering questions about what makes her who she is.


My Favorite Character and Why
I loved Mindy, the daughter searching for her origins most, but her parents, Bruce and Linda, were pretty enjoyable, too. Bruce was an aging hippie who saw the world through the eyes and heart of a poet. I loved the Mary Oliver verses he shared so often. I could relate so deeply to Linda’s internal conflicts as a mother.

For me, Mindy stole the show, even though (or perhaps because) she wasn’t one of the three narrators. Readers got to see Mindy filtered through the eyes of her parents and her older sister, but I still felt her pain when she began to try to find out about her Vietnamese family. Susie Finkbeiner did a beautiful job with this subtle character development.


Rating and Rationale:
I wavered back and forth on four or five stars for this book. It was beautifully, brilliantly written. I don’t know that I’ve read anything quite like it in a long time. I think it would be an ideal book club choice because there is so much to discuss. The only thing that might keep this from being five big stars for me is the fact that there was some of the conflict left unresolved. I don’t think that was an oversight, though. I think that was all part of the understated sophistication of this book.

I’m sticking with my gut and giving this book five stars. I loved that it was never, ever “preachy” and dealt realistically with crises of faith. The facts about birds and the literary allusions sprinkled throughout put it over the top for me!

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

This lovely story left me feeling nostalgic and grateful as I recalled my own loving parents and the indealic childhood that I had, just like the characters in this book. The Nature of Small Birds goes back and forth from 1975, 1988 and 2013. Bruce and Linda started their family back in the 70’s and are the parents of three daughters. Their second child, Mindy, was adopted from Vietnam from Operation Baby Lift. I recall vividly the events of this time and the news clips of the people desperately trying to escape from the communists once the United States pulled out of the war.
The chapters go back and forth in different time lines with different members of the family contributing their take on various family events. This is such a refreshing story of love and support and a bit sad as Bruce and Linda navigate their lives and watch their three daughters grow up and leave theIr nest. If you are in need of a story about life, that will make you feel content and happy, this book is right for you.

Susie Finkbeiner stories never disappoint! A story that goes back and forth from one decade to another with extended families. Pull up a chair and be ready to go on a journey. A story of hope that explores the meaning of family and the power of love.
A story about a Vietnamese girl, Mindy who is adopted by a US family during Operation Babylift in 1975. The parents go through the ups and downs and the joys of adopting a baby. I was able to relate to the main characters as I had a cousin who was adopted at the same time. The book pulled me in from page one and was sad to turn the last page.
I highly recommend The Nature of Small Birds.