I loved living the lives of Bertha and Flossie and their parents. I loved learning about the All American Girls Professional Baseball Team and the House Un American Activities Committee. I laughed and cried. I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. ( )

The All-American by Susie Finkbeiner is a richly woven tale of a family pursuing big dreams and fighting against the realities of life. Set during the Red Scare in the 1950s, The All-American gives us an in-depth look at the culture and politics of the time and how it affected regular citizens and shaped their futures.
I absolutely fell in love with this story from chapter one. The characters are so vivid (especially Flossie) and quirky and just darn loveable. I counted it a blessing to sit in on conversations in their home and hear the wisdom and love of the Harding parents. Their lives were ordinary in so many ways, and yet because of their love for one another and their courage to pursue big dreams, they were also extraordinary.
I could NOT put this book down. I read it while traveling and devoured it whole. If you enjoy women’s fiction or historical fiction, I would highly recommend this story. You will laugh at Bertha’s pie or Flossie's antics. You will cry when life’s not fair. But you will be left a heart brimming with hope.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own. ( )

16 year old Bertha dreams of playing ball with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. When her writer father is accused of being a communist, her family begins to spiral out of control. Moving to a different town, the family lives with Uncle Matthew, a shy and reclusive relative.

The book alternates between Bertha's point of view and her younger sister Flossie's point of view. I did not enjoy Flossie's point of view. She was presented as a naive child, which took away from Bertha's journey. I also wanted to read about the baseball team, instead the book focused on their family life. Overall, not a story for me. ( )

I enjoy reading several book genres but sometimes, I just need a family-driven story! The All American is set in the 1950s and I loved the historical details, the characters who could have been my neighbors, and the realism that is such a big part of the plot. Author Susie Finkbeiner shares the points of view of two very different sisters, and I can't decide which one I liked the best. Bertha Harding loves baseball and her desire to become a player in a women's baseball league makes her a role model for any girl wanting to be more than just a wife and mother. Flossie may be my favorite because she is a reader and a dreamer, and she has no filters on what she says! I enjoyed her ability to make me laugh and the important part that she plays in the epilogue that happens sixteen years later.

The All American takes readers back to early professional baseball for women, and it also offers a powerful look at the witch-hunt that destroyed the lives of innocent people in the 1950s. People who were falsely accused of being members of the Communist Party and ostracized from their communities! Finkbeiner's stunning story kindled my emotions and left me longing for more time with this memorable Harding family. I highly recommend this book!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Revell Reads. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts. ( )

Do Dreams Come True?

This is a snapshot of the Harding family in the 1950's. They are a family of five, with a mom transplanted from England, a well-known author for a father, two girls and a married son. For good measure, there is also a quirky relative.

Highschooler Bertha, the oldest girl, loves baseball. She is talented and tenacious, the only girl that the local boys allow to play on their team. Bertha has always dreamed of being on the all-girls team, the Sweet Peas.

Flossie, in grade school, is a precocious child who is misunderstood and made fun of by her peers. But she is bookish and smart, although she talks with no filter, saying whatever pops into her head. In today's jargon, she would probably be called ADD.

You will feel like a time-traveler who steps back in the '50's as the characters speak the lingo of the day, and face situations of the era, both good and bad.

I like that this tale is told by two narrators, Bertha and Flossie giving their different perspectives of life for the Harding family. Their good times will make you laugh out loud. But they also faced things that had life-changing consequences. Be forewarned, some of those will require a handkerchief. I was engaged in this book until it took a dramatic twist towards the end, which turned me off to the story.

Fans of 1950's tales, and the ups and downs in a family will enjoy this clean, 4-star book.

Thank you, Revell Books, for providing Tickmenot with a book to review. Opinions are my own. ( )