After watching the twin towers fall on 9/11, high school student Ryan Smithson decides to join the army after he graduates from high school because "If I don't do something, who will?" His mind made up he joins the reserves at 17 and is sent to Iraq at the age of nineteen. He leaves his parents and high school sweetheart and heads off to war. "When people write nonfiction books about Iraq, I will not be in them. They will not make movies about me. There won't be any video games... I am just a GI. Nothing special. A kid doing his job. I am GI Joe Schmo." And so begins Ryan's journey as he takes the reader on a step by step account of his one year tour in Iraq that ultimately changed his life.
Military jargon is used but is clearly defined and a nice touch is the glossary which can easily be referenced for the military terms that are forgotten. An added bonus is the glossy pictures of him and his platoon in Iraq.
A powerful read as seen through the eyes of a 19 year old man who risks everything for something he believes in because "If I don't do something, who will?"
submitted by Sue @ Tippecanoe
