Ben Bright has everything going for him. He's a senior in high school with a great best friend, loyal girlfriend, and a bright future in acting. So it's alarming when, out of the blue, Ben enlists in the army. He cannot be talked out of "doing his patriotic duty" and reassures his family that he will not be called to war. After all, he is just a guard. However, Ben could not be more wrong. Not only is he called to war, but he is gravely injured. Back at home, Ben's parents, his autistic brother, his best friend, and his girlfriend all fight to help Ben remember who he is, and to help Ben become whole again.

Somebody, Please Tell Me Who I Am is an easy read on an important topic. Ben is a popular boy who went to war voluntarily--and it was not what he thought it was going to be. Ben is injured in an explosion (the scene is not descriptive or gory) and promptly sent home. Most of the book takes place back at home, as this is a book about what veterans and their loved ones go through and how the war is not over for them when they come home. In Ben's case, he struggles both physically and mentally. The characters, also a bit traumatized by Ben's experience, do their best to cope and support him. Language is mild (do-chebag, a-s, bullsh-t) and a joke is made about sexting. Ariana gets drunk at a college party. This is a great book for a reluctant boy reader as it is an easy but engaging read with depth.

{be the first to share your thoughts about this book}

{Click on a keyword to find other books containing the same subject matter}