Reading: War & Veterans

In the tradition of "Black Hawk Down," The Good Soldiers takes an unforgettable look at the heroes and the ruined soldiers fighting in the Iraq War. Nonfiction. 287 pages.

In this gripping memoir, Uwiringiyimana, a member of the Banyamulenge tribe in the Democratic Republic of Congo, recounts a childhood shaped by experiences as a refugee in Africa and the United States. Young adult memoir. 288 pages.

Hayley Kincain and her Iraq War vet father, Andy, are being pulled deeper into the post-traumatic stress disorder that leaves him depressed, drunk, and unable to work. Buoyed by a couple of friends from school and her new love interest, Finn, Hayley struggles to keep herself and Andy from falling into the abyss. (review from MCL). Young Adult Fiction. 391 pages.

A memoir of the Gulf War by a front-line infantry marine recounts his struggles with the conflict on the front lines, his battles with fear and suicide, his brushes with death, and his identity as a soldier and an American. . Nonfiction. 260 pages.

Navy SEALS: Their Untold Story charts the dramatic evolution of the frogmen from their origins in WWII to their rise to preeminence in Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11. Nonfiction. 310 pages.

This intense collection of short stories takes readers to the frontlines of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, asking us to understand what happened there, and what happened to the soldiers who returned. One of the New York Times Best Books of 2014. Fiction. 291 pages. Available as audiobook

Robin "Birdy" Perry, a new army recruit from Harlem, isn't quite sure why he joined the army, but he's sure where he's headed: Iraq. Young Adult Fiction. 290 pages. Available as ebook

What happens to soldiers and their families after they return home? “Thank You for Your Service” takes us inside the heads of those who must live the rest of their lives with the chilling realities of war. Nonfiction. 256 pages.

In the military, soldiers form intimate bonds, a closeness that is lost at the end of deployment. Tribe explores the irony that for many veterans war feels better than peace, why we are stronger when we come together, and how that can be achieved even in today's divided world. Nonfiction. 168 pages. Available as ebook

In May of 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean Lt. Louis Zamperini is captured by the Japanese and driven to the limits of endurance. Zamperini answered desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor. Adult Nonfiction. 473 pages.

Jal, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, witnessed and perpetrated unspeakable brutality in his country's civil war. Shocking, inspiring and finally hopeful, War Child is a memoir by a young man determined to tell his story and bring peace to his homeland. Nonfiction. 262 pages.

Written by experienced trauma specialists, this highly practical guide is packed with information, support, vivid stories, and specific advice. Readers learn to navigate the rough spots and help their loved one find a brighter tomorrow. Nonfiction. 292 pages. Available as ebook

A novel written by a veteran of the war in Iraq, the Yellow Birds is the unforgettable story of two soldiers trying to stay alive. Fiction. 226 pages. Available as audiobook