9/11 happened when I was in the 8th grade. So many of the boys in the town I live in joined some branch of the military, for various reasons. I know the personal experiences of my ex-fiancée, who grew up to be a Marine with several tours of duty, some of the experiences of two other friends who grew up to be Marines, and some of the experiences that my now husband had in the Army. As a history major, who specialized in World War II, the experiences of those who were part of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are more personal to me in some way. Probably because I remember 9/11. Probably because I knew some of these guys personally, and the impact their experiences had on them. This isn't the best book as far as writing goes, but it is honest and raw. It is an experience, a first hand account of a kid going through things that most other adults do not ever have to go through. I am glad that I picked this book up.