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Did you know that after the Vietnam War some 3000 children from Vietnam were adopted by American families? The Nature of Small Birds tells the story of how life might have gone for one such family. It’s not always an easy read, but it gives a glimpse of history worth knowing about.
The basic details for The Nature of Small Birds
The Nature of Small Birds has been written by Susie Finkbeiner and published by Revell books. At 368 pages, it’s a middling book to read. Faith is evident in the lives of the characters… seeing that in the Christian school the girls attend, and in the parents devotion to God. They are nice Christian family trying live out their faith. I am reviewing this book for Nuts about Books.
From the 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.
What do you get?
Three voices tell the story of The Nature of Small Birds. We hear from Bruce, Sonny and Linda, three voices of family. Telling the story of how family changed over the years. Irene (mom) tells the story from 1975, Bruce (dad) from 2013, and Sonny (daughter) from 1988. Good characterization, though Bruce was for me, less defined than the two women.
You’ll find the text to be an easy-to-read font and a nice size. I had hubby check to see if he could read it without his reading glasses and he could! 🙂 Occasionally some grey-scale images of leaves break up the text.
This book was inspired by Operation Babylift. I pulled a video from YouTube for your convenience if you want to know a bit more about it. It was news to me! 🙂
What did I think?
Well, I tried, I really did. But I could NOT get into The Nature of Small Birds. The change of perspective all the time, short chapters, the jumping around in time periods. Since it’s not a long book thought I’d be able to zip through it on my lunch breaks at work, but found myself bogged down by the changing voices and varying timelines. Was there value in how far I got through it? For sure, I really wish the style had been different as I thought the story important.
Now I did do some jumping around and it’s a heart-warming story. I loved the care and concern that this family showed for each other. Only one member of the family was difficult, but it was part of who she is. I know that other reviewers weren’t bothered by the timeline jumping around. So I suggest you read a few more reviews so that you can be better informed.
I loved that I learned more about Operation BabyLift and that I gained some insight into why some adoptees struggle even if in a good home.
I knew that there was some children rescued during that time period but had no idea it was that many or in such an organized manner. Something new to know. I don’t love book styles that jump both time periods and perspectives. I can do one or the other but do not like it when the two are combined. This sounds like an interesting story that would be better written in a different way.
YES, that was my thought as well. I would have enjoyed the story more in a different format.