The Nature of Small Birds

GIVEAWAY

FINKBEINER, SUSIE

THE NATURE OF SMALL BIRDS

In 1975, three thousand children were airlifted out of Saigon to be adopted into Western homes. When one of those children announced her plans to return to Vietnam to find her birth mother, her loving adopted family is suddenly thrown back to the events surrounding her unconventional arrival in their lives.

Mindy's father grapples with the tension between holding on tightly and letting his daughter spread her wings. Her 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 and her sister struggle to find the strength to accept each other as they both discover who they truly are.

Told through three distinct voices in three compelling timelines, The Nature of Small Birds is a hopeful story that explores the meaning of family far beyond genetic code.

My Review:

This book surprised me -- from the way the story is told to the content. I expected something much different so it took me awhile to adjust to Susie Finbeiner's storytelling choices. 

So, first unexpected thing -- while the author uses three distinct voices, none of them are Minh/Mindy's and since her search for her biological Vietnamese family is the impetus of the story, well, it came as a surprise to read about Mindy instead of experiencing events through her eyes.

Three timelines -- three points of view. Linda (Mindy's adoptive mom) in 1975, Sonny (Mindy's adoptive sister) in 1988, and Bruce (Mindy's adoptive dad) in 2013. The story starts in present day when Mindy expresses an interest in trying to discover her biological mother. From there we get a series of family vignettes that jump through the decades. 

Linda remembers the unexpected arrival of a desperately wanted child, the learning curve of the adjustment period and the hostility of extended family because of the child's race. High school senior Sonny is learning to navigate teen angst and young love which affects sisterly dynamics and Bruce is anchored in the present, desperate to keep his daughters safe, yet knowing he has to let them fly free.

There isn't a plot so much as a kaleidoscope of past and present that give a reader impressions about this family and the way they've banded together to create something lasting. Proof that love knows no bounds and that family isn't all about DNA and genealogical roots.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Nature of Birds, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 30  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!