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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
The All-American by Susie Finkbeiner is the perfect book to get lost in with your whole heart. Told from the perspectives of two sisters in 1952 Michigan, it is evocative, gripping and unique. Amongst others, themes include family, friendship, bullying and being true to oneself.
Bertha Harding is sixteen and while her peers are giddy about boys and the idea of marriage, she is most at home with a leather glove, baseball and bat. Her dream is to play with the Sweet Peas, a professional baseball league and her idol is a female player. Her sister Flossie is eleven and vastly different, preferring enlightening conversations with her author father, reading and writing. Her funny antics made me smile. Brother Chippy makes appearances, too.
The family is ostracized when their father is publicly accused of being a Communist. Out of necessity, they move in with Uncle Matthew, a shy but wise man. Though their world changes, both sisters pursue their passions.
I absolutely adore this refreshing book and hung onto every word. The characters' personalities are captured realistically and my favourites include the Harding family, Uncle Matthew and librarian Mrs. Maxwell. As is in real life, the Harding family faces darkness and challenges but the parents do a wonderful job equipping their children. The newspaper articles are clever. Home Economics stories bring back nostalgia as it was my favourite class in school. There's so much to love about this novel written beautifully with spirit and soul.
My sincere thank you to Revell and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this outstanding book which I absorbed like a sponge!
Bertha Harding is sixteen and while her peers are giddy about boys and the idea of marriage, she is most at home with a leather glove, baseball and bat. Her dream is to play with the Sweet Peas, a professional baseball league and her idol is a female player. Her sister Flossie is eleven and vastly different, preferring enlightening conversations with her author father, reading and writing. Her funny antics made me smile. Brother Chippy makes appearances, too.
The family is ostracized when their father is publicly accused of being a Communist. Out of necessity, they move in with Uncle Matthew, a shy but wise man. Though their world changes, both sisters pursue their passions.
I absolutely adore this refreshing book and hung onto every word. The characters' personalities are captured realistically and my favourites include the Harding family, Uncle Matthew and librarian Mrs. Maxwell. As is in real life, the Harding family faces darkness and challenges but the parents do a wonderful job equipping their children. The newspaper articles are clever. Home Economics stories bring back nostalgia as it was my favourite class in school. There's so much to love about this novel written beautifully with spirit and soul.
My sincere thank you to Revell and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this outstanding book which I absorbed like a sponge!
I cannot imagine a more appropriate read for summertime than “The All-American,” Susie Finkbeiner’s newest novel. Baseball, apple pies (even if they’re badly made!), Steinbeck novels, The Red Scare (because what’s a story without a little historical drama?), and chasing hard after your dreams (even the scary, unconventional ones) all make this book a real home run. I truly loved it and highly recommend it!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. “The All-American” releases on July 11th!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. “The All-American” releases on July 11th!
So very, very good!
I came into this book with no expectation other than reading a good story.
What I found was family dynamics that rang true, characters that jumped off the pages, and the heartbreak of a horrible time in our nation's history.
(Unfortunately, it seems we haven't learned much.)
My only quibble was the abrupt ending. I wasn't ready to say goodbye yet!
My thanks to the publisher for an advance copy. My review is unbiased and true.
I came into this book with no expectation other than reading a good story.
What I found was family dynamics that rang true, characters that jumped off the pages, and the heartbreak of a horrible time in our nation's history.
(Unfortunately, it seems we haven't learned much.)
My only quibble was the abrupt ending. I wasn't ready to say goodbye yet!
My thanks to the publisher for an advance copy. My review is unbiased and true.
5/5 stars.
Wow! This book is so good!
I'd never read this author before, but _The All-American_ definitely won't be my last. A wonderful introduction to her and her writing style!
Finkbeiner did a wonderful job at juxtaposing the two sisters' stories, and equally bringing both to life. I could relate so much to Flossie and her love of books (but perhaps not her love of performing, haha!), and Bertha's love of baseball (though as a viewer myself). And the history element was (sad and) fascinating. I love that more and more fiction books about the post-WWII/Cold War eras are being written/published; of course, I studied them in school, but fiction has a way of illustrating the time period in a much more interesting way than textbooks, haha!
An excellent read, and a great reminder to me, too, that younger MCs can make for equally compelling reads as adult MCs.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Wow! This book is so good!
I'd never read this author before, but _The All-American_ definitely won't be my last. A wonderful introduction to her and her writing style!
Finkbeiner did a wonderful job at juxtaposing the two sisters' stories, and equally bringing both to life. I could relate so much to Flossie and her love of books (but perhaps not her love of performing, haha!), and Bertha's love of baseball (though as a viewer myself). And the history element was (sad and) fascinating. I love that more and more fiction books about the post-WWII/Cold War eras are being written/published; of course, I studied them in school, but fiction has a way of illustrating the time period in a much more interesting way than
An excellent read, and a great reminder to me, too, that younger MCs can make for equally compelling reads as adult MCs.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
hopeful
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a book club read, so not my normal genre. I didn’t know what to expect. I was pulled into Bertha and Flossie’s (sisters) stories from the start. It was an easy read and had just enough information about the past to keep interesting and not boring. Would recommend this book.
I am on a Susie Finkbeiner kick. I am trying to read all her books and every time I turn around (it seems). I learn about another one she has written. I absolutely love the cover of The All-American, her newest release. We have come, yet again, to a story that will be hard for me to explain all that I felt as I read this story.
For some reason, I was expecting The All-American to be a dual timeline. I am not sure where I got that from, but it is not. It is set in 1952, and the perspective alternates between sisters Bertha and Flossie. Bertha dreams of playing with the women's baseball team, the Sweet Peas. I have to admit I am not a baseball fan (sorry!). However, you do not need to be to enjoy this story.
I loved getting to know Bertha, Flossie, and their family and friends. I loved them both, even though they are so different. I loved the friendship between them as well. While Bertha is mostly focused on baseball, Flossie is a precocious bookworm. I adored her, the humor she added to the story, and her sense of justice.
There was a plot twist that I did not see coming. I thought it would go one way, but instead, it went out in left field. It wrecked me. With that, I did see the ending coming and found it completely appropriate and heart-warming.
The worst part of the entire story was the ending. Why? Because it ENDED. I was not ready! I wanted more. I finished it last night, and I still want more. And, just so we are clear, the ending is not bad. There is so much more I want to say, but I will refrain. Just grab a copy and read the book.
Thank you to Revell for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
For some reason, I was expecting The All-American to be a dual timeline. I am not sure where I got that from, but it is not. It is set in 1952, and the perspective alternates between sisters Bertha and Flossie. Bertha dreams of playing with the women's baseball team, the Sweet Peas. I have to admit I am not a baseball fan (sorry!). However, you do not need to be to enjoy this story.
I loved getting to know Bertha, Flossie, and their family and friends. I loved them both, even though they are so different. I loved the friendship between them as well. While Bertha is mostly focused on baseball, Flossie is a precocious bookworm. I adored her, the humor she added to the story, and her sense of justice.
There was a plot twist that I did not see coming. I thought it would go one way, but instead, it went out in left field. It wrecked me. With that, I did see the ending coming and found it completely appropriate and heart-warming.
The worst part of the entire story was the ending. Why? Because it ENDED. I was not ready! I wanted more. I finished it last night, and I still want more. And, just so we are clear, the ending is not bad. There is so much more I want to say, but I will refrain. Just grab a copy and read the book.
Thank you to Revell for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I enjoyed the story, but was there supposed to be some kind of plot? Because I didn't see it.
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No