This author is wonderful. She brings whatever topic she decides to write on to life. This book was no exception. While this isn't a book i would normally pick up (not usually super interested in baseball) she writes more about the emotions and feelings behind her characters and that means it doesn't matter so much the topic because we get all the feels that I thoroughly enjoy in a book.

Susie Finkbeiner absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one!
I loved the characters, especially Bertha and Flossie.
I found this a unique peek into family life in the 50s.
Yes, it is a baseball story, but it actually doesn't play as big a part in the story as I thought it might. Just enough to make it fun!
This book paints us a picture of how uncomplicated life and families were back in those days. Until they weren't. I never quite realized how that awful threat of Red played into normal family life. Unfounded accusations that ruined reputations of others. Now, just as back in the day, our words need to be used carefully, and we need to be aware of how damaging they can be to others.
Beautiful setting, Michigan, town life, and then also way out in the middle of nowhere somewhere.
This book really is amazing all around, and I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Susie Finkbeiner knocks it out of the park again! (Ha, was the pun intentional? That's for me to know.) Going in I knew the question wasn't going to be "Am I going to cry?" but rather, "How many times will I cry?" She always gets me where it hurts and this was no exception. I loved hanging out with Bertha and Flossie, highly recommend!

I didn't grow up a fan of baseball, but my mom did—because her grandpa loved baseball.

So when I read The All-American, I felt like I was taking a peek into the world of a great grandpa I never met. He was fiercely patriotic, opinionated about politics, and a huge fan of baseball. A bit like the secondary hero of the book: Bertha and Flossie's dad, writer William S. Harding.

The All American is a heart-rending novel with the parallel stories of two sisters who saw life so differently it took me several chapters to realize they were even related.

The history of the women's leagues is fascinating. The family dynamics are complicated. And the grief, when it came, was shattering.

Trigger Warnings: alcoholism, death.

1952. Bertha Harding is a 16-year old girl living in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan with her parents and her sister Florence (Flossie). Her married brother visits often. Bertha’s dreams do not align with most other girls her age. She dreams of baseball and of playing for the Workington Sweet Peas, a team in the All-American Girls Baseball League. Her little sister Flossie dreams of books and writing, and frequently flees bullies. Overall, though, they live a sweet life in a close-knit neighborhood. But then their father is accused of being associated with the Communist Party by the Un-American Activities Committee. Overnight, life changes drastically and their family is hounded out of the neighborhood, relocating to a small town in Northern Michigan to start over.

What a powerful look at the American dream and what it means to be All-American! This novel is so well woven, with points of view switching mostly between Bertha and Flossie, with epistolary work in the form of letters and articles adding another element to the story. That feeling of knowing for sure what your life is about and who your friends are, and then having that pulled out from under you, is a punch in the stomach that the reader will experience along with the family. The American way of rebuilding and fighting back under stress and tremendous odds is also very evident in this book. A question the reader may ask is “Who is All-American?” Is it baseball player Bertha, reader and dreamer Flossie, or their father, the author William Harding, whose very patriotism has been challenged? The answer is all of the above. Richly layered, beautifully written, and oh, so American, this one shouldn’t be missed.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

This book was unlike other historical fiction books I’ve read — in the best way. I loved the story, the characters, the writing. It was interesting and easy to read, and I kept wanting to know more.

My favorite Susie Finkbeiner book yet!!

What an intriguing and captivating story! I enjoyed learning more about the two impactful issues during this time period. The communism scare and women's baseball.

With a lovable cast of characters, I enjoyed them all from a spitfire youngest sister, a baseball loving older sister, an English Mam, a father who is an author, a beloved older brother, a reclusive uncle, and some good friends made this an unforgettable story. I highly recommend The All-American!

I was so invested in all the characters, that I wish the epilogue would have included updates on them all!

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for allowing me to read an ecopy. All opinions are my own.

This was really eye opening and the first historical fiction book that I have read about this subject which makes it really unique and a stand out.

I really enjoyed this historical fiction!

The writing flowed and easily kept my attention. The characters were easy to get behind. And I learned things I never knew.

Loved this one!

A wonderful sister story about a non-traditional (at the time) American dream. You'll love following this unexpected adventure!

The All-American by Susie Finkbeiner is a brilliant work of historical fiction. I’m not sure that there is another author alive today that is able to embody his or her books with such raw, authentic emotion. This author consistently touches my heart with her books and often makes me cry. This book is a rare look at life in the 50s, including women’s roles and communist accusations. I loved learning about the women’s professional baseball leagues. This book will quickly draw you in and you will feel engrossed in this time period. I cannot recommend this book enough. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

AMAZING! I loved this book! I love the look at the inner workings of this family. I love the step back in time. I love looking at the prejudices of the times. What a super book that was really written well!

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, specifically 11-year-old Flossie who loves books and 16-year-old Bertha who'd much rather play baseball than assume the traditional roles of women in her era. The chapters alternate from their points of view and reflect their ages and personalities. When their father, a writer, is accused of engaging in Communist activities, the implications impact the entire family.

The author immerses readers in the history of time and place by weaving facts into the lives of genuine characters you'd meet in any small Midwestern town. It was so interesting to learn about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (think A League of Their Own) as well as McCarthyism. There's also a plot thread about a librarian who refuses to engage in book banning, which is sadly relevant today. Bits of humor and elements of faith help readers move through a plot that deals with heavy topics.

Thank you to Revell and NetGalley for the review copy of this novel.

I really enjoyed this historical fiction novel. It is unlike most stories I have read and I really liked it. Written in the 1950s it showcases just what it is like to be a girl who loves baseball in a society that doesn’t really rally around that. I loved the two viewpoints between the sisters Bertha and Flossie. Watching the events of their lives unfold from two different perspectives made the story fuller and vibrant, like watching it all unfold before you. This story surprised me in so many ways and really made me think about life. I truly enjoyed reading it. I received a copy of this book for free; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Very different sort of novel, easy to read, yet filled with emotion.

It's almost like two diaries that switch back and forth between 11-year-old and 16-year-old sisters perspectives. You get to read their honest feelings as life moves forward, filled with struggle and moments of happiness, as well as tragedy. There is unexpected foreshadowing that took me by surprise until I was smacked in the face with it. I wont give it away, but because I have and still walk in those shoes I balled my eyes out.

The Lord makes everyone different and if you're a mom of more than one kid, you know how true that is. Flossie is 'that' kid; born self-absorbed, and attention seeking her entire life. But, she's also smart as a whip. I don't think she's for everyone, but heck, nobody is. In fact, there are a lot of personality types in this book. I absolutely loved the brief interaction with elderly Mrs. McFadden and her never-ending support of the Sweet Peas Baseball gals. The town librarian was another gem.

A couple of things that bugged me: the author repeatedly calls Cracker Jack (TM) Cracker Jacks which is an absolute pet peeve. She also does not include Bertha in the epilog (only Flossie). I think she did that on purpose, because so many time Flossie would complain when a book did not end right or wrap-up well. I have to agree with Flossie.

It was really incredible what people went through during "The Red Scare", when neighbors were encouraged to turn in each other for suspected communist ties. Fear and government pressure persuaded people to lie. I think of the Jews in Hitler's day; same thing. And recently in my own time when some American towns were pressuring people to turn in neighbors for not masking and social distancing during the height of Covid. There were even 800#s you could call and anonymously report in. Government officials throughout history have tried to divide us. It's a very sad thing when the people allow it.

Overall, I recommend this book. It makes you stop and think, step back in time and it feels real.

4⭐= Very Good

I was sent this eBook by NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher, Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group.
All opinions are mine alone without expectation or compensation.

𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 73 𝓖𝓸𝓸𝓭𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓼 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓰𝓮 📚 2023

Reviews have or will be added to my blog, GoodReads, Amzn, B&N, BAM, Kobo, My IG, and my Pinterest

Susie Finkbeiner never disappoints! This story was such a delight. I loved both sisters, and the baseball story was fascinating.

I’ve long adored the story of women’s baseball in the movie A League of Their Own. When I saw there was a novel highlighting the very same sport, it was easily a must-read for this sports-loving heart.

I loved that this story was told through the eyes of a pair of school-aged sisters. One had the hopes of joining the nearby women’s baseball team, while the other was a voracious reader dealing with some mean bullies.

Underscoring their personal struggles and goals was the Red Scare and communism trials. This was such a fascinating aspect of the story. I love reading about the Cold War, but this was an angle I hadn’t before seen in Christian fiction. It was written superbly and in as non-politically-focused way possible.

Other things I enjoyed about this story were…
• the sweet high-school romance
• the fact that the librarian was nice
• the quirky uncle
• the heart-wrenching emotional twist—totally should have seen it coming but didn’t—such masterful foreshadowing!
• That the girls were growing up in the 1950s—my favorite decade

One disappointing thing and the reason for the docked star was that the humor was crude in certain moments. I don’t appreciate “loo humor,” as one character called it, as it’s immature and inappropriate.

Content: crude nicknames and humor, alcohol, rumors, replacement profanity, replacement expletives, expletives, tobacco

2.5 Stars.

Not going to lie, I love a good American story. Call it bias or plain old-fashioned patriotism, there’s something about those stories (both fiction and nonfiction) that simply warms my heart. Baseball? Not so much, unfortunately. But the funny thing about that, it only took one look at The All-American by Susie Finkbeiner to think that maybe baseball wasn’t so (dare I say it?)… boring, after all 😁.

The All-American delivered its story in true 1950’s style, with characters and lingo to match. Finkbeiner sparked my imagination with her descriptive, almost non-traditional but totally hilarious opening. I was instantly swept into the swing of the story, which was fluidly narrated by Bertha and Flossie Harding. What a pair! I had such a blast “meeting” the Harding family and then seeing the world through their eyes. And I was really impressed with how their personalities balanced out each other, as well as the often complicated storyline.

Finding your true self while achieving your dreams is never an easy feat, but it can definitely be a worthwhile journey. The All-American explored that journey through a wide range of happenings and emotions that urged me to read on, if only to experience the mood of the next chapter. So in short? There were parts that didn’t sit well at all with me, but I’ll admit that I liked this novel. It had a compelling story that I enjoyed reading. Even the baseball scenes 😉.

A huge thanks to Revell for providing a free copy for my honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

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 loved this book! I went in a little weary because I know absolutely nothing about baseball, nor did I think I was interested, but from the first few pages I was invested, I even found myself googling women’s baseball history to find out more.

This was my first Susie Finkbeiner, I devoured it in one day and immediately purchased her back catalogue. The writing was beautiful, the characters relatable, the whole thing was perfect. Absolutely loved it, can’t recommend this book or any of the authors books enough!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.