Book Title: THE ALL-AMERICAN
Character Name: Flossie Harding, 11 years old
How would you describe your family or your childhood?
I’m the youngest in a family with three children. Chippy, Bertha, then me Flossie. Well, I guess we should include Peggy since she’s married to Chippy and we’re probably never going to get rid of her now. Dad and Mam — that’s what we call our mother because she’s from England — love us all very much. Uncle Matthew does too even though he has a hard time showing it.
What was your greatest talent?
Is being the smartest in class a talent? Or maybe reading books meant for adults? Because I’m very good at those things.
Do you have a boyfriend?
In my dreams! And in those dreams, it’s Gilbert Blythe. Oh, how I love him.
Where do you live?
I was born in Michigan, but I dream of moving to Hollywood so that I can become a movie star. I look like I could be Doris Day’s daughter, so I should have no trouble getting parts.
Do you have any enemies?
Would you like a list? I could ask my teacher Miss Lange for her attendance book. Every single person in my class — including the teacher — hates me. It’s because I’m so smart and they’re jealous.
Do you have pets?
Well, sort of. Sultan of Swat — yes, we have a cat named for Babe Ruth who I’ve been told over and over is a man and a baseball player. He really belongs to my brother, but he abandoned him when he went off and got married. Sully hates me. I’m not altogether fond of him. He smells bad.
Greatest disappointment?
I really hate how hard it is for me to make friends. It seems like it’s so easy for everybody else. For me, though, it’s very hard.
Greatest source of joy?
Books! I love them all! Unless they’re written by Mr. John Steinbeck. I don’t like any of his stories.
What keeps you awake at night?
Books! I know that’s the same answer I just gave. But I would stay up all night reading if I could.
Where is your favorite place to relax?
The library of course. Where else in the world can a girl like me find so many friends? My very dearest is Anne Shirley even if she ends up with Gilbert Blythe and I don’t.
THE ALL-AMERICAN by Susie Finkbeiner
Two sisters discover how much good there is in the world–even in the hardest of circumstances
It is 1952, and nearly all the girls 16-year-old Bertha Harding knows dream of getting married, keeping house, and raising children in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. Bertha dreams of baseball. She reads every story in the sports section, she plays ball with the neighborhood boys–she even writes letters to the pitcher for the Workington Sweet Peas, part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
When Bertha’s father is accused of being part of the Communist Party by the House Un-American Activities Committee, life comes crashing down on them. Disgraced and shunned, the Hardings move to a small town to start over where the only one who knows them is shy Uncle Matthew. But dreams are hard to kill, and when Bertha gets a chance to try out for the Workington Sweet Peas, she packs her bags for an adventure she’ll never forget.
Join award-winning author Susie Finkbeiner for a summer of chasing down your dreams and discovering the place you truly belong.
Women’s Fiction Historical [Revell, On Sale: July 11, 2023, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780800739362 / ]
Buy THE ALL-AMERICAN: Amazon.com | Kindle | BN.com | Powell’s Books | Books-A-Million | Indie BookShops | Ripped Bodice | Love’s Sweet Arrow | Walmart.com | Target.com | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Susie Finkbeiner
Susie Finkbeiner is the CBA bestselling author of All Manner of Things, which was selected as a 2020 Michigan Notable Book, as well as A Cup of Dust, A Trail of Crumbs, and A Song of Home. She serves on the Fiction Readers Summit planning committee, volunteers her time at Ada Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and speaks at retreats and women’s events across the country. Susie and her husband have three children and live in West Michigan.
No Comments
Comments are closed.