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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
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
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Car accident
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent
First, I'm a sucker for a gorgeous cover (as you know by now) and this one takes the cake.
I've been adding a lot of books lately to my pile from Dear Author reviews, specifically ones by Jayne.
This was a combination of the All American Girls Baseball League crossed with the Red Scare of the early 1950s. I think it is really a young adult novel though I don't believe it's being marketed as such. It's also a light (very light) inspy.
I think this would be a great novel for a young person to read, or for me when I was a young person. My only real complaint was the focus on two sisters - Bertha and Florence - shortchanged Bertha, the baseball player, a bit. Florence became more of a distraction as a character and she gets a nice epilogue while we have zero idea what happens to Bertha. That grated. But big points for a unique setting and time that felt OF the time, not out of it.
I've been adding a lot of books lately to my pile from Dear Author reviews, specifically ones by Jayne.
This was a combination of the All American Girls Baseball League crossed with the Red Scare of the early 1950s. I think it is really a young adult novel though I don't believe it's being marketed as such. It's also a light (very light) inspy.
I think this would be a great novel for a young person to read, or for me when I was a young person. My only real complaint was the focus on two sisters - Bertha and Florence - shortchanged Bertha, the baseball player, a bit. Florence became more of a distraction as a character and she gets a nice epilogue while we have zero idea what happens to Bertha. That grated. But big points for a unique setting and time that felt OF the time, not out of it.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A