Torn

July 1, 2013
Massey draws from personal experience as a consultant to London’s counterterrorism unit in his intense and heart-wrenching debut novel. British private Elinor Nielson is only 19 when she is sent to Helmand province in Afghanistan as a medic. Initially, everything is a shock to her: her bunkmate is chilly, the weather is as extreme as the accommodations are basic, and—in a subtly supernatural thread—a girl in a blue dress mysteriously appears in life-threatening situations. Elinor befriends a trio of rowdy but loyal soldiers and is drawn to Ben, an American Navy SEAL, while facing deadly ongoing assaults from both the Taliban and a group of orphaned children, the Young Martyrs. Compassionate and strong, Elinor strikes a deal with Husna, “a homicidal eleven-year-old,” promising to find out the truth about his family’s death in exchange for a truce. Massey delicately and impressively explores military politics, the stress of combat, and the roots of terrorism in a story about the daily pressures of war and the heavy toll it exacts on all parties involved. Ages 14–up.

This YA listen is compelling, thanks to a riveting story and an engaging narrator. As Ellie, a British medic new to Afghanistan, settles in to her unit, she encounters pushback from her roommate, befriends a mysterious Afghan girl clad in blue, participates in a clandestine operation, and meets an American lieutenant. At first, one might find Saskia Maarleveld's British accent and precise diction too formal for such a story. Yet, as Ellie rises to each new challenge, Maarleveld's voice underscores her pluck and compassion for the children she encounters. Maarleveld brings a gruffness to her male characters and a tone of belligerence to those fighting for survival. Middle grade and young adult listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of Afghanistan and its people. A.R. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine