"The All-American" is the superb tale of two girls, Bertha, age 16, and Flossie, age 12, in 1952 Michigan. Bertha is failing at all the "womanly arts" all her friends are succeeding in. She would rather be on the ball field with the boys than in Home Ec mastering pie crusts. She dreams of playing for the Sweet Peas as part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Flossie is a percocious bookworm that longs for a friend. Their world seems to come crashing down when their father, a prominent author, is accused of being a Communist by a neighbor. They are forced to flee their home while trying to prove his innocence to live with their Uncle Matthew, a reclusive bachelor in the backwoods of Michigan. However, this move becomes the chance for Bertha and Flossie to make their dreams come true.

This novel will keep riveted until the very last page. Bertha and Flossie are wonderfully complex characters as they navigate the difficulties of the teenage years. Even the background characters add beautiful depth and sophistication to the book. Finkbeiner does a marvelous job of world building between the experiences of the fear of Communism and the world of Woman's baseball. The novel is an amazing snapshot of the complicated reality of a time that is too often misportrayed as "simple."

Without a doubt, "The All-American" is one of the best releases of this year. I received an advanced reader copy as part of the Revell Reads blogger team. All opinions expressed are my own.

I've loved Susie's books since her first one, Paint Chips, came out so of course I knew I'd love it! I didn't read too much about it ahead of time, only knowing it was about The All American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) (Yes, like "A League of Their Own") and I was in! I didn't expect the tie in with Detroit's Red Scare in 1952 which was a fascinating add. I also didn't expect to love the family as much as I did, especially Flossie, the youngest in the family, who has a story of her own to tell. I read this book in less than 24 hours, and loved it so much.

*4.5 stars rounded up. This is my first taste of Susie Finkbeiner's writing and I am totally hooked. Her latest story is set in the Detroit suburbs in 1952 and features the Hardings, a warm, loving, close-knit family. William, the father, is a successful author, often compared to Steinbeck. The mother, Louisa, is an English immigrant who keeps the family and household humming along. They have three kids: the oldest, Patrick, is married to Peggy; then there's Bertha whose big dream is to play baseball; and finally there's Florence, who is 12, a big reader, and quite the outspoken chatterbox. Is that why she has few friends? She is that kid who gets picked on in school.

The story is told by Bert and Flossie, in alternating chapters. Things begin to fall apart rapidly for the family when their father is named as a Communist party member by a neighbor. When the very safety of the family is threatened, they move to live with Uncle Matt in northern Michigan.

The term 'all-American' can have many meanings. What comes to mind immediately is the jingle 'baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet' but Finkbeiner explores other meanings in her rich and evocative story. The Red Scare was a dark moment in our country's history which brought out the worst in some people. Finkbeiner's characters are so real, as are the misfortunes that come their way but their faith and love seem to help them cope.

This was a trip down memory lane for me. Having grown up in a Detroit suburb in that era myself, I felt right at home with these characters. They could have been my own neighbors but I hope we wouldn't have treated them so badly. I was a big Tigers baseball fan and all the neighborhood kids played ball together on a vacant lot--no sexual discrimination there! And most of the books Flossie reads and enjoys, such as Anne of Green Gables, Jane Eyre, Little Women, and of course, Nancy Drew, were my very own favorites. So many sweet memories!

I received an arc of this new novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks for the opportunity. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own. I'll look forward to reading more of this author's work.

Thank you Netgalley and Revell for access to this arc.

The historical detail in this book is wonderful. It also makes me want to pull out my copy of "A League of Their Own" (yes, I realize that movie was set in the 40s and this book in the early 50s). Mam's strength and no nonsense attitude defy anyone to think of her as a mere housewife. Bert keeps pushing until she's accepted by the boys as an equal on the diamond. Flossie - well she's pushy in her own way and probably gets away with a bit more than she should be allowed in 1952 but I bet she comes into her own (well, based on the epilogue I know she does) in the 60s.


I love the family's tight-knit relationship. Despite the fact that they seem to resemble "Father Knows Best," the Hardings have their quirks and issues which make them seem real, including past alcoholism. Still Mr. Harding is the type of father who listens to and mentally challenges his children, loves his wife, and responds thoughtfully to the charges against him. The sweet is mixed with bittersweet yet the overall feeling is hopeful. I wonder about a few subplots. Shy Uncle Matthew is a character I would like to have seen fleshed out a bit more while Flossie's friend Lizzie had a background that was never really explained. There is an epilogue that while it confirms my thoughts on how Flossie would develop gives no hints about Bert.


This is the type of book I think of as one that practically reads itself. The pages flew by and I wanted to know "what happened next." While it's from Revell, the faith issues are very subtly handled with the Harding family being religious but not pushing it at the reader. There's even a bit about why Mr, Harding no longer attends church. It's my first time reading a Susie Finkbeiner book but I plan to look for more.

The cover caught my interest right away. Maybe it was due to the color red or the mitt and ball in her hand. Whatever, this story kept me interested until the very last page.

This family like all families have their ups and downs. But how they deal with it, is the story.

What's more American than baseball? One of the daughters, Bertha, loves baseball. It gives her opportunities that few are offered.

The youngest daughter, Flossie, is a hoot. She is a firecracker. She brings so much life to the family. Her vibrancy affects so many. I love her conversations with her family members.


There is a line in the book that I can't forget. Their Dad was quite wise. He wrote " I can’t change the pain, but I can fight to remember the good in everything." This is worth remembering.

I loved that it was based in Michigan. I didn't have any idea about that. I live in Michigan so I could relate to the story locations.

Thanks to Revell I was given the opportunity to read this and review.

Loved these two sisters and their viewpoints of their world! This is an easy book to become immersed in as readers reads about Bertha, who loves everything baseball and Flossie, who finds baseball boring but loves to read. The opposites in this family make the family stronger. The struggles this family dealt with as their father waited to be proven innocent of being a communist is heartbreaking. Readers will enjoy getting to know this All-American family. Highly recommended!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a look at how the threat of Communism affected people in the USA, Michigan in particular.

The story is told from the viewpoints of two sisters, one a high school teen and the other a 10-year-old elementary school girl. The story goes back and forth, one and then the other. It is well written and these two girls are pretty well fleshed out. The supporting characters vary in their depth. The story flows well. The editing was very well done.

The two negative points I have are 1. This is sold as a Christian book by a Christian book publisher but the only thing remotely Christian is that they pray at meals and attend church. It is a clean book but for me, it's a stretch to call it Christian. 2. I did not like the ending. There was an epilogue but it did not address both sisters. I felt there were loose threads that needed attention.

Overall, I give this a 4 out of 5-star rating, even with the negatives. I was given an ARC through the Revell Reads program. I am not required to leave a positive review, only my honest opinion. This is my own, honest review, all thoughts are my own.

The All-American is a sweet coming of age story of two sisters during the early years of the Cold War. Suspicions ran high even among neighbors, and families were left to pick up the pieces.
I enjoyed the distinct voices of these two sisters. Flossie just wants to be grown already and has fairy tale dreams of romance. Bertha, on the other hand, dreams of playing baseball.
Fans of historical fiction and A League of Their Own vibes will surely enjoy this sweet summertime read. Thank you Netgalley and Revell for the advanced review copy.

A perfect summer read! Bring on the apple pie and baseball!

Written in the 1950's era, the Detroit setting is so interesting! Bertha is a young lady that is interested in playing baseball with the local boys and watching the All American Girls professional baseball league. She strikes up a letter sharing with one of the players that because helpful in the future. It's an interesting storyline with a lot going on and some great characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a digital temporary ARC in return for my review.

What a moving novel! I love classic films and history, so this story with its vintage, heartfelt Americana setting really touched my heart. I loved the alternating perspectives of sisters Bertha and Florence (aka Flossie), and watching their family narrative - with all its love, dreams, fears, triumphs and challenges - unfold. As a bookish girl who always wanted to play baseball (and also has an affinity for the 1950s era!), this was a treat of a world to spend time in. I absolutely enjoyed it! It was so true to life, in all its multi-faceted ways.

Many thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing the ARC, so that I could share my thoughts!

The All-American by Susie Finkbeiner is the perfect book to get lost in with your whole heart. Told from the perspectives of two sisters in 1952 Michigan, it is evocative, gripping and unique. Amongst others, themes include family, friendship, bullying and being true to oneself.

Bertha Harding is sixteen and while her peers are giddy about boys and the idea of marriage, she is most at home with a leather glove, baseball and bat. Her dream is to play with the Sweet Peas, a professional baseball league and her idol is a female player. Her sister Flossie is eleven and vastly different, preferring enlightening conversations with her author father, reading and writing. Her funny antics made me smile. Brother Chippy makes appearances, too.

The family is ostracized when their father is publicly accused of being a Communist. Out of necessity, they move in with Uncle Matthew, a shy but wise man. Though their world changes, both sisters pursue their passions.

I absolutely adore this refreshing book and hung onto every word. The characters' personalities are captured realistically and my favourites include the Harding family, Uncle Matthew and librarian Mrs. Maxwell. As is in real life, the Harding family faces darkness and challenges but the parents do a wonderful job equipping their children. The newspaper articles are clever. Home Economics stories bring back nostalgia as it was my favourite class in school. There's so much to love about this novel written beautifully with spirit and soul.

My sincere thank you to Revell and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this outstanding book which I absorbed like a sponge!

*Book Blurb: It is 1952, and nearly all the girls 16-year-old Bertha Harding knows dream of getting married, keeping house, and raising children in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. Bertha dreams of baseball. She reads every story in the sports section, she plays ball with the neighborhood boys--she even writes letters to the pitcher for the Workington Sweet Peas, part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

When Bertha's father is accused of being part of the Communist Party by the House Un-American Activities Committee, life comes crashing down on them. Disgraced and shunned, the Hardings move to a small town to start over where the only one who knows them is shy Uncle Matthew. But dreams are hard to kill, and when Bertha gets a chance to try out for the Workington Sweet Peas, she packs her bags for an adventure she'll never forget.*

The author did a great job of immersing you into the 1950s in this novel. I will say this is more a family story than a baseball story. Though I did enjoy the baseball part when it got to it. It goes back and forth between the viewpoints of Bertha and her younger sister. This story really hit home about a time in history that not many talk about, the House Un-American Activities Committee, and how many people's lives were affected by it. All the charcters came alive and seemed real and not cookie cutter. Bertha's younger sister though, was 11, but acted like she was 6. I honestly thought she was until the book mentioned her age. She acted very immature and got away with things that an 11 year shouldn't get away with. Though she loved books and reading so I can forgive her. 4 stars.

This is a wonderful novel about two sisters growing up in 1950s America. It wasn’t an easy time for girls who didn’t see that their role in life was to marry, have a children and provide a good home for their family. Daughters of William S. Harding, a renowned, liberal minded author, they are bright and well informed about the world beyond their home. Sixteen year old Bertha is a top student but also loves nothing better than to play baseball with the boys and dreams of playing in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Her younger sister, Flossie is a reader and writer of stories, who haunts her local library and adores visiting her father in his study for long discussions on all sorts of interesting topics.

When the girls’ father, William Harding is accused by an informer of being a Communist and ordered to appear before to the House Un-American Committee to testify, the family’s life suddenly becomes difficult and they are forced flee Detroit to live with William’s shy, awkward brother Matthew in a small town in Northern Michigan. The sisters lives will be changed in ways they couldn’t have imagined possible.

Narrated by Bertha and Flossie, this was a delightfully engaging read. Both voices are real and totally engaging as they tell us about their family life and their hopes and dreams. Flossie, on the cusp of adolescence is truly delightful – a feisty but funny free spirit. Overall this is a well written blend of social and historical commentary with a tender tale of heartbreak and hope and one of my top reads this year.

This book is told from the alternating viewpoint of older sister, Bertha,and younger sister, Flossie. It is set in the early 1950s, and at times the dialog sounds like Leave it to Beaver or The Andy Griffith Show. It felt like the author was trying a bit too hard for authenticity and landed in caricature. The story swings between baseball and McCarthyism.

The characters are likeable, and the story does a good job of showing the effects of false accusation the consequences of trying to cancel those you disagree with.

The book takes a bit of a turn at the end, and I would have liked more followup in the epilogue.

While this is billed as Christian fiction, there is very little about God here other than a scene at church.

Family friendly.

I cannot imagine a more appropriate read for summertime than “The All-American,” Susie Finkbeiner’s newest novel. Baseball, apple pies (even if they’re badly made!), Steinbeck novels, The Red Scare (because what’s a story without a little historical drama?), and chasing hard after your dreams (even the scary, unconventional ones) all make this book a real home run. I truly loved it and highly recommend it!

The All- American by Susie Finkbeiner captured all the feels of a 1950’s family with two little women who are working toward their dreams and their family life. As a reader, I enjoyed how realistic the young girls are. Finkbeiner did a wonderful job at creating the fear from the threat of Communism and how it affected both girls. The plot brought back memories of being the tomboy who wanted to play hockey since I was eleven years old. Of course, I live in a place where hockey is not played, so no luck. Whereas Bertha works really hard to see her dreams of playing for the Sweet Peas become a reality. On the other hand, I empathized with Flossie who has her nose in a book all the time. I was that little girl too. Touch of a teenage romance. Not swoony or takes over the whole story. Finkbeiner did a wonderful job at showing the budding feelings but keeping it low key. Overall, The All-American is a wonderful coming of age novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. A good novel to recommend for young ladies in today’s culture.

I received a complimentary copy of The All-American by Susie Finkbeiner from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

The author hits it out of the ballpark with this story. It’s a fantastic tale I adored. The author masterfully tells the story from two perspectives one through Bertha, a 16-year-old who dreams of playing baseball for the Sweet Peas, a woman’s team that is part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

Additionally, from Flossie's perspective, who is five years younger than Bertha. Flossie is her sister's opposite. She loves to read and finds baseball boring. She enjoys studying, has a sharp mind, and finds it difficult to stop asking questions. She simply needs to understand how things work. She loves to cook, and she's anxious to settle down and have a family.

I enjoyed reading about these two young ladies and their experiences of how growing up in the suburbs of Detroit in the 1950s was a crazy time. Especially when Bertha and Flossie’s father is accused of being a Communist. I enjoyed watching these sisters chase their dreams and search for a place to belong.

If you haven't read anything by this author before I highly recommend this one. It takes you on an unexpected journey that pulls at your heart strings and leaves you thinking. Finkbeiner’s stories stay with you long after you close the book. This would be excellent for your upcoming book club selection.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher. 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 https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

I wholeheartedly loved this book. The All American is about the challenges of living in America in the 1950s. The story follows two sisters growing up with big dreams for their future.

Berta wants more to life than growing up being a suburban housewife. She aspires to become a Sweet Pea, a local professional girls' baseball team. Her sister Flossie is the exact opposite of her. She loves to get lost in a book than to interact with other people. She is feisty and a quick thinker. When their father, a famous author, got accused of being a communist, they had to pack up their bags and leave for their Uncle’s house to find some normalcy. The family had to reexamine what was more important and if their dreams for the future could still happen.

The book was well-written, and the baseball aspect was fun! As a big baseball fan, I loved that Finkbeiner used the sport as a symbol to describe life. Unlike baseball, life is unpredictable and presents many challenges and sorrows. The story provided a good correlation between the two. Finkbeiner also made it easy to fall in love with Berta and Flossie. Both sisters were lovable and feisty in their ways. My only complaint is that Berta did not get her own epilogue/conclusion . That made me think that Flossie was the true protagonist in the story, even though Berta’s story shined through the pages more. This book left a big impression on me, and I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGallery and Revell for giving me a copy of the book.

A character driven coming of age story of two sisters growing up in 1950's America chasing their dreams.

A beautifully written book that pulled me into the lives of sisters Bertha and Flossie Harding. Bertha has a gift for playing ball, while Flossie is a bookworm with an impulsive nature, and a strong sense of justice. I loved how immersive the book was, bringing the fifties to life for me through their unique and individualized viewpoints. There were many times when Flossie made me laugh out out with her matter of fact take on life and her friendship with Lizzie was one of my favorite parts of her story.

This author knows how to tell a thought provoking and engaging story with characters that feel as real as your best friend, and she continues her winning streak with this latest novel. This was the first book that I've read about the HUAC investigations, and I found it very intriguing and scary how neighbors turned on each other like that.

Overall, a wonderfully written and engaging novel sure to linger long in your memories. I thoroughly enjoyed this coming of age tale of love, growing up, baseball, books, faith and all the things in between!


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

I always enjoy a good Susie Fienkbeiner story and this one was no exception.
She never missed a beat between Flossie and Bertha.
I found these two sisters delightful and yes I giggled at some of their antics.
I loved the way they could look at each other and start giggling even when they're not supposed to.
I did learn some about baseball and found it interesting. I thought Bertha did well. It wasn't her fault but I'm so glad that she was determined to get what she wanted.
It always takes hard work and and a lot of practice.
Here's tow.of my favorite quotes from the book and to me they are lessons that are hard lessons. Lessons that we need to experience for ourselves in or to "get" better.
Get better and try again. Don’t give up.’” To me, if a person gives up that means that Satan has won.
“‘This isn’t the end of your career. Just a bend in the road.’”
I loved this sweet quote because I feel like it is such wonderful encouragement. To keep going. Don't give no matter what!
I admired the way folks helped each other out back then. A lot of kind and compassionate people were portrayed in this book offering this family hope and love.
I wish that people would still show that more often these days. There are still some out there but more often than not which is sad.
Shy Uncle Matthew my favorite character.
I ended up finishing this book in one evening it was so very good!
5 stars for a well written book. I can see why the author called The All American. The title fits perfectly!
I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.