She loved him so, and always asks how she will be forever changed by the events that have happened. ( )

Terrorism, survivor’s guilt, culture shock and the college experience are all things Maya Laor experiences during this novel. The first two pages of the book describe a suicide bomber and conclude with “I ruined his life. So he ruined mine.” Over the course the book the chapter’s alternate between Maya joining the Israeli army as all eighteen year olds are required to do and two years later when she is first starting college at the University of Virginia. The book slowly reveals who the suicide bomber was and his connection to Maya, while simultaneously tracking her new life and grieving process in Virginia. There is a poignant theme of not making assumptions about cultures or individuals you do not. Through both Maya’s initial hesitance with her American roommate and her description of Israel as a familiar place, the author is able to show the downfalls of judging a book by its cover. The first person narrative is written in past tense and has pretty simple sentence structure that can get repetitive. The writing style veers a little young, but the adult content or drugs, alcohol, sex and violence would suit an older teen audience. Recommended. ( )

I don't usually read YA fiction, but I met Tammy on a vacation and was impressed that she had had a book published already. I see why, now that I've read it. It's amazingly well-written and well-constructed for such a young author. In alternating chapters, she creates the heroine's life in the Israeli army and at UVA (such very different worlds!) in concrete detail, both physical and emotional. Tammy has another book on the way, I see - and I suspect it's not the last. She has a bright publishing future ahead. ( )

20-year-old Maya Laor is on her way to meet her boyfried Dov to tell him that she has decided to leave Israel to study at the University of Virginia when he is killed by a suicide bomber. In alternating chapters between Virginia and Israel, Tammar Stein pieces together Maya and Dov's relationship, Maya's life in Israel, her army service, and her family.