The All-American in Christian Fiction Devourers

Nov 19, 2023 Anne (In Search of Wonder) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: christian-fiction, there-s-a-love-story-there

This was my 5-star prediction for the Historathon 4.0 November reading challenge on YT, and yes, it was a full 5 stars, no hesitation.

⚾Partway through, I wasn't sure, because I felt like it was going to be issue-laden, and I was definitely not in the mood for that sort of thing. And maybe it still was a little, but the story picked up enough and I loved the characters enough that either the issues faded to the background or they weren't really there in the story. (By issues, I mostly mean polit This was my 5-star prediction for the Historathon 4.0 November reading challenge on YT, and yes, it was a full 5 stars, no hesitation.

⚾Partway through, I wasn't sure, because I felt like it was going to be issue-laden, and I was definitely not in the mood for that sort of thing. And maybe it still was a little, but the story picked up enough and I loved the characters enough that either the issues faded to the background or they weren't really there in the story. (By issues, I mostly mean politically-heavy thematic material, in this case censorship and political parties.)

⚾If you're not into baseball (like me), don't worry, because it's not too much about baseball. There is way more to the story than that, and it doesn't go into great detail about the games the MC plays.

⚾The family in the story is a wonderful family, very realistically written with flaws and failures but also genuine warm and loving relationships, like a real family! They go through a lot together, and they are made stronger as they go.

⚾The story is about the whole family, but centers on the two daughters, Bertha and Flossie. Bertha is the baseball player, and Flossie is the bratty younger sister who totally steals the show. You grow to love every single one of them through the perspectives of these two sisters.

⚾The plot contrasts two things: Communism (un-American) and baseball (very American). But along the way, a lot is explored about loving your neighbors even when viewpoints differ, and what it really means, anyway, to be "American" and is that good or bad. That last part, thankfully, is very gently probed so it's not a painful experience! Overall, the primary theme that I saw was that we are all flawed and imperfect in some way or another, but we work together as a team. And what we are individually is part of what makes us successful as a team, so we need to love each other and work together in spite of our various flaws and idiosyncracies. But it's not preachy at all.

It made me cry and it made me laugh - that's a good book!
...more

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Jan 19, 2023 Amanda rated it it was amazing

Susie Finkbeiner has mastered the art of writing family stories that tenderly balance heartbreak and hope. The All-American will draw you into the lives of the Harding family, and you won’t be able to help rooting for them at every turn—whether it be the woes familiar to coming of age or those of historical significance. This story will remain wrapped around your heart long after the final page is read, and you’ll wish you could call up Flossie and Bertha and ask them to be your best friends for ...more

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Jul 16, 2023 Valerie HappiestWhileReading rated it really liked it

I look forward to reading Susie Finkbeiner's novels because I know they will transport me to another time in history. Her writing style, which is deceptively simple and very thought-provoking, shines in her latest book The All-American. The story originated when Ms. Finkbeiner imagined combining one of the most American activities (baseball) with something very unAmerican (Communism).

This Cold War Era coming-of-age story is set in 1952 in a Detroit suburb and features the Harding family, specifi ...more

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Oct 05, 2023 Angie H rated it liked it

3.5 🌟

Unfortunately I feel a little let down by this book. I liked it, but I didn't love it.
I will still try more from this author, though, as I really liked " All Manner of Things" ...more

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Apr 06, 2024 Kate rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2024-2025-tower-of-publication

I was pulled into the story from the very first scene. I giggled quite a lot at poor Bertha's attempt at making a pie. It was quite clear from the get-go that she just 'wasn't into it'.
The next chapter was a surprise, though. We have a sister! I very quickly grew to love little Flossie and her bookish tendencies.
I really loved seeing the Harding family's story be told through the lens of these 2 very different young ladies. The heartache and uncertainty as well as the times of unity and the star ...more

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Dec 11, 2024 Loraine rated it it was amazing

An amazing, entertaining and fun story. I enjoy reading novels with some history included. This one was very good.

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Jul 16, 2023 Melmo2610 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites-23

This one really appealed to me with the baseball element as I am a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. This book combines two of my favorites-Bertha loves baseball and Flossie loves books. These two characters made this quite an enjoyable read for me. The story moves well and intrigued me from the very beginning. My only complaint is I would have liked more in the epilogue about the different characters then just the couple of characters mentioned. Great read!

I received a copy of this bo ...more

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Jan 22, 2024 Cheri rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction

This novel is set in 1952 in Michigan. Two sisters, Bertha and Flossie, tell the story that captured my heart. Bertha is in high school and dreams of playing on the women's baseball team. Flossie is twelve and an avid reader and is often bullied at school for her small size. Flossing adores her older brother Chip and tolerates his wife Peggy. Both girls love their English bred Mom and their father, who is known for the novels he writes. When a neighbor accuses the girls father of- being a commun ...more

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Aug 27, 2023 Andi Tubbs rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2023-reads

Oh, my goodness! This is a gem of a novel! I had barely started it before my hospital kerfuffle, I'm fine, I read this book in two days and am entirely book-drunk!

Ms. Finkbeiner tells this story in alternating points of view...Flossie and Bertha. While this story is really Bertha's her little sister Flossie stole my heart. I wasn't much into playing sports I love to watch them. Flossie's love of reading hit me right in the heart. She's also a snarky spit-fire and I identified with her little pe ...more

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