In1998TeresaFaziosignedupfortheMarineCorps’ROTCprogramtopayherwaythroughMIT.AftertheUnitedStateswasattackedonSeptember11,2001,leadingtotheWaronTerror,shegraduatedwithaphysicsdegreeintoaverydifferentworld,owingtheMarinesfouryearsofactiveduty.Attwenty-threeyearsoldandfivefootone,Faziowastheyoungestandsmallestofficerinherbattalion;thecombinedeffectofhershorthair,glasses,andbaggycamowaslessHurtLockerthanHarryPotterGoestoWar.Shecutanincongruousfigurecommandingmoreexperiencedtroopsinanactivewarzone,wherevulnerabilitywasnotonlytaboobutpotentiallylethal.Inthiscoming-of-agestorysetintheearlydaysofOperationIraqiFreedom,Faziostruggleswithherpast,hersenseofauthority,andherwomanhood.Angerstiflesherfearanduncertainty.Aforbiddenaffairplacatesherneedforloveandsecurity.Butemptiness,guilt,andnightmaresplagueFaziothroughherdeployment--andfollowherbackhome.
