In the aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, listeners will find themselves immersed in a fictional but very real story of the war's cost to National Guard families serving in this elongated conflict. Jolene Zarkades, a 41-year-old Black Hawk helicopter pilot and mother of two young girls, is sent to Iraq with Tammy, her next-door neighbor and best friend. The impact on the two soldiers, their loved ones, and their fellow crew members is captured in a whirlwind of emotions that never preaches but gives faces to the reality of the dangers in the war and afterward.
VERDICT The novel's second half, a moving exploration of the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder on an already shaky family dynamic, is especially well read by Maggi-Meg Reed, who inhabits all the voices and characters with skill and heartfelt emotion. A timely book that is highly recommended for all audiences. ["Hannah has written a remarkable tale of duty, love, strength, and hope.... Buy multiples for her many fans," read the similarly starred review of the St. Martin's hc, LJ 1/12.—Ed.]
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