Rating: 4 Stars Genre: Contemporary
Release Date: 9/1/2008
Freefall is part of my I LOVE BOOKS Contest Giveaway!
About the Book: What would you do if you were required to serve two years in the military once you’ve turned 18?
Aggie’s eighteenth birthday is approaching, and as a teen in Israel, she must serve her time in the Israel Defense Force. Aggie doesn’t want a boring job stuck in an office filing paperwork for two years. So she decides to try for a combat unit.
Aggie’s mother is scared and sees her as weak, her friends aren’t quite sure about her decision, and Aggie herself has her doubts about if she can really make it hauling sandbags, sleeping in a tent, and gaining enough weight to be considered. She’s also developing a crush on her best friend’s brother, and life is getting more and more confusing by the minute.
When war breaks out and rockets destroy a friend’s house, Aggie decides she needs to be there to help out. But will she be brave enough and strong enough to make it through?
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: It took me a bit to get into this book, but once I did, I found the story so engaging. The story seems to start right away, without much backstory about teens in Isreal and required military service, so I found myself doing some research online to understand the backstory more.
The plot makes it seem like the whole book will be about Aggie in the military, but only a small part takes place with Aggie in her combat unit. The story is more about Aggie growing up and deciding what to do now that she's 18.
Even though Aggie is a teen in Israel, her story is one that can resonate with teens everywhere. She has difficulty with her family, she has doubts about her abilities, and she’s unsure about the future.
It’s easy to feel as though you’re there with Aggie as she’s struggling with her decisions and you want her to make it. The touch of romance with Noah added sweetness to the story and made Aggie’s tale seem even more real to me.
Highly recommended for readers looking for a different take on the familiar coming-of-age tale.
8 comments:
I really like the cover of this book. and it sounds really good and I like the military aspect. very original
Wow, I didn't realize Israeli girls were required to enlist! That gives me mixed feelings - that would be fair, but talk about scariness! I don't know if I'd be ready at 18...or ever :/
cecilia
Yeah, I think I heard that about Israeal...definitely scary. I couldn't.
Sounds good though. Thanks for the review.
-Lauren
Erika Lynn-I thought the military aspect made it different, but it also didn't overpower the story, which I liked.
Cecilia & Lauren-I don't think I could do that either! One of the main character's friends tries out to be in an entertainment troupe-I think that's what I would want to do the most, if I had to do something.
-Sarah
Cute cover!
Military or entertainment... Yes, I think I'd join the entertainment troupe too! Though I'm not sure how entertaining I would be :)
cecilia
This sounds really good. I'll have to look into it more. :D
I got an ARC of this book and I thought it was very good. Not my favorite book, but it was unique and interesting!
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