The Nature of Small Birds ~ Review

The Nature of Small Birds

By Susie Finkbeiner

Mindy Matthews wants to connect with her roots. She was a child who was taken from a war-torn country and brought into a family who loved her as their own. But she wants to know if she has family out there. The Nature of Small Birds is the story of Mindy's journey - a journey of discovery. 

The book presents Mindy's journey at various periods of time and is told from the perspective of various members of her adoptive family.  Her parents Linda and Bruce and her older Sonny all have memories of when Mihn (aka Mindy joined their family. As the story progresses the family dynamics come into play. Mindy was sent to the US as Vietnam fell to Communist forces, a young child leaving her family and her country behind on the promise of something better. 

The story alternates between 1975, 1988, and 2013, these glimpses offer insights into the Matthews family - a family joined together by love, who by their very support are offering Mindy what she needs - a chance to discover the prologue of her life.

When you hear the title The Nature of Small Birds and see the cover you just know something beautiful must be tucked away in these pages. And a beautiful story of love unfolds - but with all life not every moment is what we want it to be but it is true to reality. 

If you have never read Susie Finkbeiner's work before you are in for a treat as she has a way of bringing her characters to life. They are more than mere words upon a page they have depth and dimension. And if you've read her before you won't be disappointed in this newest work. If asked to describe this book in one word Excellent would be my word of choice.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion ~ All thoughts expressed are my own.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

About the Book:

In 1975, three thousand children were airlifted out of Saigon to be adopted into Western homes. When Mindy, one of those children, announces 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.

Though her father supports Mindy's desire to meet her family of origin, he struggles privately with an unsettling fear that he'll lose the daughter he's poured his heart into. Mindy's mother undergoes the emotional rollercoaster inherent in the adoption of a child from a war-torn country, discovering the joy hidden amid the difficulties. And Mindy's sister helps her sort through relics that whisper of the effect the trauma of war has had on their family--but also speak of the beauty of overcoming.

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