Home Front by Kristin Hannah

 Home Front tells the story of a woman who goes off to war as a helicopter pilot in Iraq. Prior to her leaving, her husband, a lawyer, tells her that he no longer loves her. Dealing with the absence of her two children and her lost love, she goes to war. The father, who has never played an active role in the family, must learn how to deal with two children who are trying to live without their mother while growing up.

This story, which is commonplace in military families, is turned on its head, because instead of the father heading to war, it is the mother. In today’s makeup of the military, this is becoming more common, but has never been explored in literature. The author does a tremendous job of examining the sacrifice of military families both at home and at war. The aftermath of war is also explored, and it is important to note that those who ask their soldiers to make the ultimate sacrifice are unwilling to support them when they come home broken and scared.

This is a tremendous, yet heartbreaking story of love, commitment, responsibility, and sacrifice. Kristin Hannah is becoming one of my favorite authors.