The Nature of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner

 Back Cover

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

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.

Review

I almost want to write two separate reviews for this book, but I think I'll separate it into what I loved about this book and what I struggled with.

First, there was a lot to love. I didn't know about the airlift out of Saigon during the Vietnamese war. I feel like this is something I should have learnt in social studies and that should not be lost to history. I'm really grateful that I was able to read this novel and discover the existence of this amazing piece of rather recent history. How did I not know that 3000 children were scooped out of Vietnam and dispersed amongst American families? That is serious stuff. 

Second, I really loved the grandpa in this story, or in the case of Mindy's situation, her adopted father. The novel is written from many point of views, but his is definitely my favourite. He is so soft spoken and his position in the family is one that brings him close to everyone. He sounds like someone I'd like to have coffee with.

As for the part that I struggled with, I found myself hoping for an adventure that never happened. The setting of this novel opened up a massive door for Mindy to go to Vietnam and to find her birth family and explore her place of origin.... but that never happened. I was left feeling like I wanted more. That being said, this novel gave great satisfaction from a relationship approach. You got to walk hand-in-hand through this families past and present and really dig into the details that are Mindy's family. I love action and therefore craved a bit more, but I think many, many readers would be more than satisfied by the relationships explored in this novel.

Overall I'd give this book a thumbs up. It was well written, the characters were done perfectly and with lots of variety, and most importantly it brought back to light a piece of history that should be remembered.

Thank-you to Graf Martin Communications and to Baker Publishing House for a complimentary copy of this book to review.