Lush imagery and poetic writing. It boggles my mind that the author was able to plumb the depths of the human spirit as it confronts the atrocities of war having never engaged in battle. I felt immersed in the fight along with the youth. Riveting literature! Highly recommend the audiobook available on Libby (Listening Library, Books on Tape...reader unknown). The reader is at turns stoic and passionate which imbues the literature with a tone which I may have missed reading on my own.