The Nature of Small Birds, (Paperback)

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.

Its the nature of small birds to sing their hearts out. And its the nature of God to hear them. A heartwarming story of a girl who was adopted from Vietnam during Babylift in 1975 and the effect it had on her adoptive family. It is told from three voices : Dad Bruce in 2013, Mom Linda in 1975 and Sister Sonny in 1988. I was amazed by the ability of the author to capture three different characters and time periods. Having been a teen in the late 60s, this story was very nostalgic. My husband and I lived on Guam for four years, leaving in 1975 just before the evacuation of Vietnam. So memories abound. This is a story of unexpected love and solidity of family. The author has a knack for bringing in the flavor of the eras. She does a great job of getting in the heads of the characters and portraying their foibles and concerns. I most identify with the father, Bruce, maybe because I am around his age. Bruce: I am a fortunate man who has witnessed Gods new mercies coming whether I deserve them or not... Mixed in with the good and bad is a whole lot of stuff that was just normal everyday living...Rain or sun, storms or calm; nature is good, full of glimmers of Gods glory. He is shown as having wisdom and having grown in his faith. He is the backbone of the family. The author delights us with word pictures: The air is crisp, but not biting. The sun is bright but not blinding. And the busiest crowds in the woods are of the feathered variety. This is a stunning book to be savored and learned from, likening small birds to our children. *A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*