May 11, 2020
Finkbeiner (All Manner of Things) examines loss and the solidarity of family in this stirring tale about a widow who adopts her young nephew. In 1960 LaFontaine, Mich., homemaker Betty Sweet is widowed when her husband dies of the flu. A month later, Betty’s estranged sister, Clara, suddenly appears with her five-year-old, biracial son, Hugo. Clara, who appears to be suffering from the same mental illness as their mother (possibly bipolar disorder), is incapable of carrying for the boy and abuses him. Betty takes charge with an innate motherly instinct, teaching Hugo faith, giving him the freedom to be a child, and helping him escape the fear that living with an abusive parent can trigger. After Betty assumes parental responsiblities for Hugo, her broken upbringing—her father died when she was a teenager, her mother was committed to a sanitarium—is revealed through poignant flashbacks. Betty’s supportive and caring in-laws, who own a bakery in town, strike a stark contrast, imparting a clear moral to the story: unconditional and selfless love heals. Readers of historical inspirationals will enjoy this gratifying story.
December 4, 2020
Betty Sweet knows firsthand that age 40 is too young to be widowed, childless, and alone. In the throes of grief after her husband's recent passing, Betty is shocked when her estranged sister and young nephew, Hugo, suddenly reenter her life. Hugo silently carries his own hurt over his mother's mental illness, and Betty realizes their arrival may be the new direction she desperately needs. Using her gift of storytelling to share memories and lessons with Hugo, Betty reminds them all of who they are as a family and helps them heal their broken hearts. Set in LaFontaine, Michigan in 1963, Stories That Bind Us shows how family tales hold families together. Themes of rediscovering joy after loss and of fighting for one's family are conveyed with simplicity and depth, and Finkbeiner showcases beautifully told stories both real and imagined. Through Betty's tales, she creates a magical blend of whimsy and reality that underscores the devotion of a marriage, family loyalty, and connection to one's community.
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