copyright date: February 2012
primarily marketed for: young adults (12 and up)
Somebody Please Tell Me Who I Am by Harry Mazer and Peter Lerangis is not your typical war
book. It tells the story of Ben Bright,
high school drama star and promising student.
Ben decides to enlist in the army, but keeps it a secret from everyone
with whom he is close to avoid being talked out of it. He is aware of the risks, but he deeply feels
a need to serve his country, to do something big.
The book is divided into three sections: Before, During, and
After. Based on the title and the fact
that the section titled ‘After’ is the lengthiest of the three sections, it is
clear that things don’t go smoothly for Ben in the army. He is injured and most of the book focuses on
the impact of that injury on his family, his friends, and his life after
military service.
This is not a book with a political message against war,
like it might seem to be on the surface.
This is a story about humanity, about the reality of being human.
Harry Mazer and Peter Lerangis have teamed up to create a meaningful story that is beautifully told, with lines like this one:
“Words were worse than useless; they were the enemy, hooks on which to hang anger and misunderstanding.”
If you like war stories, or even video games that mimic
warfare, this is a book you need to read.
It is a short, quiet story of another side of war that will leave you
feeling sobered yet hopeful.
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