I had never given the Vietnam War that much thought outside of history class in high school. I’m not going to lie; reading from a woman’s point of view was much more intriguing and inspiring than any other war book I’ve read with a man as the main character. So many events in Frankie’s life were gut-wrenching and heartbreaking, and I found myself so angry on her behalf halfway through the book that I wanted to punch someone. I can’t even begin to imagine experiencing the sexism, betrayal, and coldness she felt in her life. While this is a work of fiction, reading this story opened my eyes to not only the horrors seen during the war but also the camaraderie that can form between people experiencing hell with you. This story is a lesson in discovering who you want to be and constantly finding ways to adapt, improve, and carry on. It’s a testament to surrounding yourself with people who genuinely care about you and leaning on them in good and bad times.