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The Mosaic
Twyla Jane Lee has one goal. To finish senior year so she can get out of her military hometown of Halo, Montana. But to graduate, she needs to complete forty hours of community service, and that means helping out a rude and reclusive former Marine named Gabriel Finch.
A young veteran of the conflicts in the Middle East, Gabriel spends his days holed up in a decommissioned nuclear missile silo on his family farm. Twyla assumes he's just another doomsday prepper, readying his underground shelter for Armageddon. But soon she finds out the truth, and it takes her breath away.
Gradually the two misfits form a bond, and Twyla begins to unearth the secrets that have left the Marine battling ghosts. Her discoveries force her to question her views on the wars until she realizes that even if she gets out of Halo, she won't ever be able to leave Gabriel Finch's story behind her.
A beautifully written and thought-provoking novel about a teen facing the collision of love, ideals and uncertainty about her own future.
A young veteran of the conflicts in the Middle East, Gabriel spends his days holed up in a decommissioned nuclear missile silo on his family farm. Twyla assumes he's just another doomsday prepper, readying his underground shelter for Armageddon. But soon she finds out the truth, and it takes her breath away.
Gradually the two misfits form a bond, and Twyla begins to unearth the secrets that have left the Marine battling ghosts. Her discoveries force her to question her views on the wars until she realizes that even if she gets out of Halo, she won't ever be able to leave Gabriel Finch's story behind her.
A beautifully written and thought-provoking novel about a teen facing the collision of love, ideals and uncertainty about her own future.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published September 5, 2017
2 people are currently reading
441 people want to read
About the author
Nina Berkhout
13 books24 followersNina Berkhout is the author of three previous novels, most recently Why Birds Sing, which was described as a “must read” by the Globe and Mail, a Best Book of the Year (Canada) by Audible, and a Great Group Reads selection by the Women’s National Book Association (USA). Her young adult novel The Mosaic was nominated for the White Pine Award and named an Indigo Best Teen Book, and her novel The Gallery of Lost Species was named an Indigo and Kobo Best Book and a Harper’s Bazaar Hottest Breakout Novel. Berkhout is also the author of five poetry collections, including Elseworlds, which won the Archibald Lampman Award. Her poems have been featured in publications across Canada including the Best Canadian Poetry anthology. Originally from Alberta, she lives in Ontario.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 5, 2017
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Halo, Montana is a dying town next to a military base. The future of the majority of the kids in this town involves oil fields, the slaughterhouse, or enlisting in the military. Twyla and her boyfriend plan to move to California to start a catering business. Twyla will be in charge of the logistics and photographing the food while Billy goes to college and does the cooking. On their off time they'll surf and enjoy life and all that stuff teenagers dream of. In the mean time, they need to get through senior year. Their school requires 40 community service hours to graduate. Twyla ends up with "Help a Vet", helping Gabriel, a local veteran/former high school football legend who has just come back from two tours in Iraq. This brings about a different sort of YA novel.
One of the major topics of this book has to do with the Iraq War and all the different viewpoints of the war and the military itself. Most the people in the town see the military as their lifeline. Recruiters swarm the school trying to get students to enlist right after graduation. Pregnant teens see themselves almost as incubators for future soldiers. Many people see Iraqis and Muslims as terrorists. They see going to Iraq as an opportunity to kill and rid the world of evil. Twyla is quite the pacifist and thinks everything about the war and the soldiers who go there as morally repugnant. Her first few interactions with Gabriel involve her asking him how he feels to have innocent blood on his hands.
Gabriel has obvious PTSD from his tours. He deals with it by making a massive mosaic made out of ammunition. It's a mix between paying homage to Mesopotamia and making amends for what he did while in Iraq. Twyla has to reconcile her opinion of the military with the grieving veteran she's helping. This is obviously on top of dealing with her messed up family and also her douchenozzle of a boyfriend.
While the "typical YA" topics of her family, boyfriend, school, college, life are dealt with in a better than average fashion than other YA books; what makes this book stand out is commentary on the war. It's not as easy to condemn soldiers or insurgents as some people try to make it. And while it comes off a little heavy handed in this book, it's something that needs to be said 5, 10, 100, 1000, millions of times. Just on repeat really.
Another important topic this book covers has to do with mental healthcare for veterans. Slight spoiler, but Twyla notes at the end that no one from the program she was with ever came to check up on Gabriel. No one from the program ever checked in with her to hear Gabriel's condition. It's vexing how interested some people are spending a lot of money in sending young men abroad to witness atrocities, but not willing to spend money to help them when they come back. It's a damn shame we don't put more money, time, and effort in saving lives. I say that also from my experiences working in a VA.
I do think the last part of the book seem rushed. With the slow buildup throughout the book, the last little bit came off as a disappointing way to finish the book. Some parts of the book were predictable due to the genre, . And some characters got the short end of the stick. But there was a touch of realism in the story that I appreciated and I think helped it stand out from other YA books.
4.49/5 rounds to 4.
Halo, Montana is a dying town next to a military base. The future of the majority of the kids in this town involves oil fields, the slaughterhouse, or enlisting in the military. Twyla and her boyfriend plan to move to California to start a catering business. Twyla will be in charge of the logistics and photographing the food while Billy goes to college and does the cooking. On their off time they'll surf and enjoy life and all that stuff teenagers dream of. In the mean time, they need to get through senior year. Their school requires 40 community service hours to graduate. Twyla ends up with "Help a Vet", helping Gabriel, a local veteran/former high school football legend who has just come back from two tours in Iraq. This brings about a different sort of YA novel.
One of the major topics of this book has to do with the Iraq War and all the different viewpoints of the war and the military itself. Most the people in the town see the military as their lifeline. Recruiters swarm the school trying to get students to enlist right after graduation. Pregnant teens see themselves almost as incubators for future soldiers. Many people see Iraqis and Muslims as terrorists. They see going to Iraq as an opportunity to kill and rid the world of evil. Twyla is quite the pacifist and thinks everything about the war and the soldiers who go there as morally repugnant. Her first few interactions with Gabriel involve her asking him how he feels to have innocent blood on his hands.
Gabriel has obvious PTSD from his tours. He deals with it by making a massive mosaic made out of ammunition. It's a mix between paying homage to Mesopotamia and making amends for what he did while in Iraq. Twyla has to reconcile her opinion of the military with the grieving veteran she's helping. This is obviously on top of dealing with her messed up family and also her douchenozzle of a boyfriend.
While the "typical YA" topics of her family, boyfriend, school, college, life are dealt with in a better than average fashion than other YA books; what makes this book stand out is commentary on the war. It's not as easy to condemn soldiers or insurgents as some people try to make it. And while it comes off a little heavy handed in this book, it's something that needs to be said 5, 10, 100, 1000, millions of times. Just on repeat really.
Another important topic this book covers has to do with mental healthcare for veterans. Slight spoiler, but Twyla notes at the end that no one from the program she was with ever came to check up on Gabriel. No one from the program ever checked in with her to hear Gabriel's condition. It's vexing how interested some people are spending a lot of money in sending young men abroad to witness atrocities, but not willing to spend money to help them when they come back. It's a damn shame we don't put more money, time, and effort in saving lives. I say that also from my experiences working in a VA.
I do think the last part of the book seem rushed. With the slow buildup throughout the book, the last little bit came off as a disappointing way to finish the book. Some parts of the book were predictable due to the genre, . And some characters got the short end of the stick. But there was a touch of realism in the story that I appreciated and I think helped it stand out from other YA books.
4.49/5 rounds to 4.
February 20, 2019
I picked this up because I loved The Gallery of Lost Species and I didn't realize until I got into it that The Mosaic was a young adult novel. At the end of the day, I think I liked The Gallery of Lost Species better, but this really impressed me.
Berkhout did a wonderful job building the setting and capturing the despair of knowing that your town is small and disappearing. She also showed the paralysis that can strike when you're finishing high school, but don't believe you have any prospects, partly because you're poor and partly because you can't imagine yourself succeeding at anything.
I loved Twyla - she's so adult in so many ways, but also so young. As you read, you watch Twyla succeed at things because she doesn't know how easy it would be to fail, and fail at the simple things we all had to fail at. She's resourceful, but also naive, and does her best to hide her vulnerability. Berkhout really tugged at my heart.
Berkhout was published as a poet before she started writing novels, and it really shows. Her use of language is deft, weaving stark landscapes and poignant emotion, but never piling on too much.
I'd definitely recommend picking this up.
Berkhout did a wonderful job building the setting and capturing the despair of knowing that your town is small and disappearing. She also showed the paralysis that can strike when you're finishing high school, but don't believe you have any prospects, partly because you're poor and partly because you can't imagine yourself succeeding at anything.
I loved Twyla - she's so adult in so many ways, but also so young. As you read, you watch Twyla succeed at things because she doesn't know how easy it would be to fail, and fail at the simple things we all had to fail at. She's resourceful, but also naive, and does her best to hide her vulnerability. Berkhout really tugged at my heart.
Berkhout was published as a poet before she started writing novels, and it really shows. Her use of language is deft, weaving stark landscapes and poignant emotion, but never piling on too much.
I'd definitely recommend picking this up.
February 4, 2018
This borders on an age range that crosses from YA into twenty-something where Twyla has all of the trappings of a senior in high school with global issues of the effects of war and mental health. She's got a boyfriend, she's got dreams after graduating. But she's also got a 40-hour service project where she's dropping in on a veteran who served two tours in Iraq and getting to understand his PTSD and the "project" that he himself is working on.
Berkhout uses this project and the relationship that emerges between Gabriel and Twyla to share various viewpoints about war, especially with Halo being so close to a military base. I'll likely be with many of the readers who felt that the relationship didn't need to head in the direction it did, but Twyla's arc over the story is an interesting one to follow, especially with the messages that she received from her mother who left the family to pursue her dreams to ultimately come back around as well as others from their hometown.
Berkhout uses this project and the relationship that emerges between Gabriel and Twyla to share various viewpoints about war, especially with Halo being so close to a military base. I'll likely be with many of the readers who felt that the relationship didn't need to head in the direction it did, but Twyla's arc over the story is an interesting one to follow, especially with the messages that she received from her mother who left the family to pursue her dreams to ultimately come back around as well as others from their hometown.
December 25, 2019
A plot that had the potential to be amazing, this novel was horribly written, with awkward dialogue, unrealistic actions, and predictable “plot twists.” Plot gets a 4/5 for creativity, but writing gets a 1/5.
November 2, 2018
This book was very bittersweet. It moved my heart in many ways, big and small. It also made me so sad.
I read it for the White Pine 2019 List.
I read it for the White Pine 2019 List.
June 21, 2019
Wow. Just Wow. It was not what I expected in all the right ways.
It is a book that will haunt me for a long time.
It is a book that will haunt me for a long time.
September 18, 2017
This is a really powerful book about a girl who just wants to get out of her close-minded, dying military town in the middle of Montana. She and her boyfriend dream of going to California where she will get away from the military industrial complex and take easy pictures of the surf and people's weddings.
But before then she has to complete community service with a terse Marine veteran who is more complicated than he seems. Will he burst Twyla's worldview?
But before then she has to complete community service with a terse Marine veteran who is more complicated than he seems. Will he burst Twyla's worldview?
September 5, 2017
It was simply breath taking. An incredible contemporary piece that explored the depths of humanity through real characters. Slow to begin with, but once Gabriel's secret is revealed to Twyla, you cannot put it down.
Genuinely an eye opener. Incredibly thought provoking, and an absolute must read if you don't mind your heart breaking and then rebuilding itself all over again.
Genuinely an eye opener. Incredibly thought provoking, and an absolute must read if you don't mind your heart breaking and then rebuilding itself all over again.
March 5, 2025
I plucked this book off my bookshelf not reading what it may be about and quickly realized this is a young adult book. I read YA books sometimes, but I do like to know up front, so that was a bit of a surprise.
The writing style is a bit easier, simpler than an adult book, but some of the content was perhaps not so much. Twyla is a senior in high school, ready to leave her small Montana town. It’s a dwindling town supported by the military base nearby, which when it announces will close means certain death for their town.
Twyla’s plan is to go with her boyfriend to California. He, Billy, has plans to be a chef and Twyla will be there to support him and take photos of the food. Before they graduate the seniors have to put in volunteer service. Twyla ends up with a new program, Save A Vet.
Twyla is paired with a vet not much older than her but, war torn and working on a mosaic art piece in an abandoned missile silo on his family farm's property. Gabriel’s parents have moved, leaving him alone and rely on Twyla for checking in and making sure he’s okay. Seems like a lot for teenager doing 20 hours of volunteer work.
One weird thing about the book, for me anyway, was how many different nicknames Twyla had. Everyone called her something different and often multiple different names. There is some shocking gruesomeness near the end of the book that seemed unnecessary in a way, or could have been minimized a little. But there is violence and racism and other things in the book. I can’t imagine this would be an easy read for a teenager.
Book rating: 3.25 stars
I received a free copy of this book at a library conference. I was not required to write a review, but felt like it and, of course, the above opinions are my own.
The writing style is a bit easier, simpler than an adult book, but some of the content was perhaps not so much. Twyla is a senior in high school, ready to leave her small Montana town. It’s a dwindling town supported by the military base nearby, which when it announces will close means certain death for their town.
Twyla’s plan is to go with her boyfriend to California. He, Billy, has plans to be a chef and Twyla will be there to support him and take photos of the food. Before they graduate the seniors have to put in volunteer service. Twyla ends up with a new program, Save A Vet.
Twyla is paired with a vet not much older than her but, war torn and working on a mosaic art piece in an abandoned missile silo on his family farm's property. Gabriel’s parents have moved, leaving him alone and rely on Twyla for checking in and making sure he’s okay. Seems like a lot for teenager doing 20 hours of volunteer work.
One weird thing about the book, for me anyway, was how many different nicknames Twyla had. Everyone called her something different and often multiple different names. There is some shocking gruesomeness near the end of the book that seemed unnecessary in a way, or could have been minimized a little. But there is violence and racism and other things in the book. I can’t imagine this would be an easy read for a teenager.
Book rating: 3.25 stars
I received a free copy of this book at a library conference. I was not required to write a review, but felt like it and, of course, the above opinions are my own.
July 1, 2017
Senior Twyla Lee has always considered her hometown of Halo, Montana, to be a dead end, and she and her boyfriend Billy Goodwin have plans to move to California for a better life. Billy's not a local, and he has his parents' financial backing and dreams of cooking his way to fame. Although Twyla enjoys taking photographs just like her grandfather, she has floated through school, barely passing and participating in few extracurricular activities. Although she may have dreams, they seem submerged beneath Billy's ambitions. When she has to complete community service hours by helping out at the home of Gabriel Finch, a Marine who has severe PTSD, Twyla has no intention of getting involved. The man is rude, and even his dog Storm is not particularly friendly. Eventually, Gabriel reveals his secret: he's using ammunition to create a mosaic in one of the area's decommissioned missile sites on the family farm. His labor of love is a tribute to the wonders of ancient civilization and a way of atoning for what happened when he was serving in the Baghdad area. Twyla decides to enter the mosaic in a contest held by the Museum of Modern Art. Not only would the $100,000 save his family's farm, but possibly give Gabriel a reason to live too. While I liked the descriptions of this amazing art treasure, I saw the book's ending coming from a mile away, which was a little bit disappointing. The judgment and bigotry of some of the citizens of this small town are displayed clearly in the book, showing how quickly the sentiments of a small town can turn against someone who was once a favorite son. While there are things to like about Twyla, I wondered about her rootlessness and her lack of a goal as well as how many times she missed signs about what was in Gabriel's future from what he said about not having much time left to finish his work. I also didn't see the point of the drama about her parent's relationship, and I wondered about what will happen next to this small town, a lot like many others in our country, dependent on one or two industries whose departure dooms them. Twyla's family wants more for her than working at the local slaughterhouse, but had she not planned to hitch onto Billy's coattails at first, I wondered what her fate might have been. If nothing else, readers will finish this book with the firm realization that war and conflict are complicated, and there is not one side to matters.
November 17, 2018
An incredible, powerful, touching, finely nuanced story about the horrors of war - and that there is nothing black and white about the fact of war - and the power of art to heal. This is also a story about the Cold War and the arms race and detente between the US and the Soviet Union… a period in history which the current younger generation knows little about and needs to know about… especially given the current global political climate.
Things to love about this book include:
the relationship between Twyla and Gabriel
the depiction of life in small town rural America
pacifism as a form of civil protest
the sensitive treatment of PTSD
cynicism about the military and the military industrial complex and the belief that military engagement is a righteous path
treatment of hope... and art as an element of hope and stimulus for the healing process
the wry humour
the imagery and lyrical writing
the sometimes biting socio-political commentary... on war, terrorism and the treatment of veterans, among other items of discussion
the debilitating nature of trauma
the depiction of the horror(s) of war
photojournalism and the role of the press
the cover… there is only one sky...
Notwithstanding that this book is set in the U.S… This is a quintessentially Canadian book!
This novel carries on a tradition of Canadian literature serving to highlight the follies of the world and demanding that we respect our fundamental humanity and our shared global community. In these troubled and dangerous times this is an important and necessary critique of the US war machine and military industrial complex.
Things to love about this book include:
the relationship between Twyla and Gabriel
the depiction of life in small town rural America
pacifism as a form of civil protest
the sensitive treatment of PTSD
cynicism about the military and the military industrial complex and the belief that military engagement is a righteous path
treatment of hope... and art as an element of hope and stimulus for the healing process
the wry humour
the imagery and lyrical writing
the sometimes biting socio-political commentary... on war, terrorism and the treatment of veterans, among other items of discussion
the debilitating nature of trauma
the depiction of the horror(s) of war
photojournalism and the role of the press
the cover… there is only one sky...
Notwithstanding that this book is set in the U.S… This is a quintessentially Canadian book!
This novel carries on a tradition of Canadian literature serving to highlight the follies of the world and demanding that we respect our fundamental humanity and our shared global community. In these troubled and dangerous times this is an important and necessary critique of the US war machine and military industrial complex.
June 30, 2017
Twyla has her life planned, knows what she wants and the guy she is going to do it all with. until she meets Gabriel, and injured war veteran. Her community service stint is supposed to be a one of , no strings attached. At first she dislikes Gabriel, but over time she starts to meet the real man behind the solitary, don't need any help image he presents. This community service arrangement brings out the worst in her seemingly perfect boyfriend.
Twyla has to confront a lot of truths she is now learning. She has to determine who she truly wants to be as opposed to who others expect or are pressuring her to be. While Twyla is learning about becoming an adult, Gabriel begins to confront the ghosts that have haunted him since his earlier deployments. I was fascinated to read about the ammunition mosaic that he is creating and how it was helping him to cope.
This was a thought provoking read. It wasn't light and fluffy, but more a gritty story that reflects true to life issues that teens have to deal with. I had me thinking about gossip and heresay as opposed to the underlying truth of situations. Twyla learned that you can't take everything at surface value especially when people and their emotions are involved.
To learn more about art made with ammunition, visit the website of artist John Ton
A google search for ammunition art found many more examples.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music Inc., in exchange for an honest review,
#IndigoEmployee
Twyla has to confront a lot of truths she is now learning. She has to determine who she truly wants to be as opposed to who others expect or are pressuring her to be. While Twyla is learning about becoming an adult, Gabriel begins to confront the ghosts that have haunted him since his earlier deployments. I was fascinated to read about the ammunition mosaic that he is creating and how it was helping him to cope.
This was a thought provoking read. It wasn't light and fluffy, but more a gritty story that reflects true to life issues that teens have to deal with. I had me thinking about gossip and heresay as opposed to the underlying truth of situations. Twyla learned that you can't take everything at surface value especially when people and their emotions are involved.
To learn more about art made with ammunition, visit the website of artist John Ton
A google search for ammunition art found many more examples.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music Inc., in exchange for an honest review,
#IndigoEmployee
October 24, 2017
The Mosaic was moving and beautifully written, far more than I anticipated. The story follows Twyla, a young woman living in rural Montana who begins to fall for a former Marine who is surprisingly artistic, but is suffering from PTSD after serving two tours of duty in the Middle East. The book captures life in a small agricultural town in middle-America that is struggling economically and slowly fading. Reading the book I couldn't help but think of how it paints a portrait of some of the key voters in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
The author handles rather deftly the complex issues surrounding war, the military, and anti-Muslim sentiment. It is also a coming of age story that tackles the pain and complexity of love in a more realistic way then you typically see in a book written for a younger audience.
I will say that Twyla is initially not very likable and says some really insensitive things. Also be aware that while not used in a positive or exculpatory context, there are instances of extremely derogatory language about Muslims. The author doesn't shy away from portraying the ugliness of racism. However, the story is poignant and thought-provoking and I would definitely recommend it.
The author handles rather deftly the complex issues surrounding war, the military, and anti-Muslim sentiment. It is also a coming of age story that tackles the pain and complexity of love in a more realistic way then you typically see in a book written for a younger audience.
I will say that Twyla is initially not very likable and says some really insensitive things. Also be aware that while not used in a positive or exculpatory context, there are instances of extremely derogatory language about Muslims. The author doesn't shy away from portraying the ugliness of racism. However, the story is poignant and thought-provoking and I would definitely recommend it.
March 11, 2019
“The Mosaic” is a very thought-provoking novel, and it focuses on art in a way that is unique and important to the main plot. It’s also not the type of story you would expect based on its description. Gabriel’s story is so much deeper than military PTSD and Twyla Jane Lee is so much more than just a rebel teenager wanting to escape her run-down town.
They both help each other to realize what they really want in life and they help each other to discover their true passions. I think it’s great that this book can inspire potential artists with its message of expressing yourself through art because that is what Gabriel does.
This book also has a great focus on family and love. If you are not a fan of love based storylines, then some sections of the book might be a bit slow for you. And some characters, like the bully character and Gabriel’s family could have been given more character in this novel.
Regardless, “The Mosaic” is a truly powerful story with a truly heartbreaking core.
They both help each other to realize what they really want in life and they help each other to discover their true passions. I think it’s great that this book can inspire potential artists with its message of expressing yourself through art because that is what Gabriel does.
This book also has a great focus on family and love. If you are not a fan of love based storylines, then some sections of the book might be a bit slow for you. And some characters, like the bully character and Gabriel’s family could have been given more character in this novel.
Regardless, “The Mosaic” is a truly powerful story with a truly heartbreaking core.
September 26, 2024
Wow!
This was a page turner. Through an anti-war main character living in a military town, Berkhout captures multiple sides of the dialogue surrounding the American military and its role in the Middle East. She expertly makes you think of things from multiple different angles without ever pushing any specific agenda on you - I think to: 1) get you to come to a conclusion for yourself and 2) simply show how complicated the situation really is.
But the best thing is that she does it simply through the story of a 17 year old girl named Twyla and a mosaic project. The military is very much a key part of the book but it is not a book on the military. And so it’s like you’re dealing with this controversial topic through the everyday life of a teen girl, making it lighter. I don’t think I’m doing the book justice with my explanation, but it is an AMAZING book. From the moment I picked it up I could barely put it down.
This was a page turner. Through an anti-war main character living in a military town, Berkhout captures multiple sides of the dialogue surrounding the American military and its role in the Middle East. She expertly makes you think of things from multiple different angles without ever pushing any specific agenda on you - I think to: 1) get you to come to a conclusion for yourself and 2) simply show how complicated the situation really is.
But the best thing is that she does it simply through the story of a 17 year old girl named Twyla and a mosaic project. The military is very much a key part of the book but it is not a book on the military. And so it’s like you’re dealing with this controversial topic through the everyday life of a teen girl, making it lighter. I don’t think I’m doing the book justice with my explanation, but it is an AMAZING book. From the moment I picked it up I could barely put it down.
October 10, 2017
Nina Berkhout, this is the second time you have broken my heart! It was a pleasure getting to meet you at Word On The Street and to tell you how much I loved your earlier book, The Gallery of Lost Species. When I read the synopsis for The Mosaic, I thought, "Well this is unexpected." But just like Gallery, it took no time for me to get caught up in the characters and their sidelined world. Even now, I find myself sitting here thinking about Twyla and Gabriel and the rural landscape and the story's interesting insights into war and pacifism and the individual and how grey it can become. Like I said, heartbreak! Thank you for writing this book. Thank you for the beauty you put on your pages. Now please tell me where to find my own pair of blueberry-colored cowboy boots. I'll wear them when I go to Whitehorse. ^.~
January 21, 2019
This book wasn't bad. I liked how the story was told and I liked the concept and how the story played out. But I had a problem with how quickly it ended. Like all of a sudden, we go through 10 years in four pages and so much stuff happened. I kinda felt as though all of the closing information was just thrown on us. Also, I didn't like the breakup scene with Billy. It also seemed kinda rushed and it wasn't totally clear at the start that they had broken up. And the way that they discussed it. Billy just said, "it's him isn't it" or something like that and she said yeah. But like nothing really happened. There were a few other details that seemed a little rushed and unrealistic. But overall I enjoyed the story that was being told and how it unfolded.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2017
Contemporary realistic YA fiction set in Halo, Montana. A high school senior girl, Twyla, signs up for volunteer work helping veteran, Gabriel. She needs to credit for graduation. He doesn't feel like he needs help, but his parents are away long term and want someone to check in on him. The area is home to warhead silos, and Gabriel has a personal art project creating a mural inside a silo honoring the people and culture of the area he served in Iraq. Twyla gets enthusiastic, enters him in a prestigious art contest and puts him in the public eye, for better or worse. They grow attached, it doesn't end the way she'd like.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2018
This one didn't have me rapt with attention. I'm not entirely sure what it was that kept me from loving it. The main character, Twyla, definitely isn't the independent type. She seems to follow whatever male interest she has, but by the end, that's not entirely true. The ending was good, but I felt like it was rushed. It wasn't the ending I was hoping for, but it was good and realistic nonetheless. I wish Billy would have had a "come-t0-Jesus" epiphany/moment. I was nervous about what Gabe was leading to, because I could tell he had something planned for after the mosaic. I didn't like how long it took me to figure out they were in Montana. The book took me longer than it should have.
October 26, 2017
I just finished the last page and am in my feelings. I like happy endings that pull everything together at the end and this was not it. That said, I was drawn into the characters and their stories. It gave me a closer look at military life and life in the Plains. I was pleasantly surprised by the way the author included art throughout the story in varying ways. Not sure how this book came to me but I'm glad it did.
November 26, 2018
A great book. The ending is just so sad. I felt like crying. It would have gotten five stars except the beginning was a little boring. The rest of the book was fantastic. I could feel a horrible foreboding feeling the moment she mentioned his dimples near the start of when she met him. I kept thinking 'please don't die please don't die please don't die' over and over again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It kept me guessing all throughout. What I thought would be Gabriel's fate, though I was semi-correct, was not at all what it turned out to be. What I like was the fact that it wasn't your cliche, typical war/love story.
November 14, 2017
Very moving story about a young man back from war and the journey he embarks upon to heal from his time spent in the middle east. Quite a tear jerker.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2018
A surprisingly powerful read. This book took me on a journey that I won't easily forget. The ending truly touched me and surprised me.
July 22, 2018
I'm glad I read this one, pretty good little story.
4.5 stars.
4.5 stars.
September 22, 2018
Very slow first 60 pages, but worth the finish
April 20, 2020
Really lovely to read, powerful theme and sad in parts.
March 5, 2022
so so good, i feel like words can't explain this book and why its so good
though i thought the sex was unnecessary (but that's the only con to the book lol)
though i thought the sex was unnecessary (but that's the only con to the book lol)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2025
Good contemporary fiction.
November 7, 2018
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and you can find more of my reviews at https://spinesinaline.wordpress.com
This one has an interesting premise: the MC, a pacifist living in a military town, is paired up with a veteran to complete her volunteer hours in order to graduate high school. Beyond focusing on this coming-of-age/growing up and getting out aspect, it’s also an exploration of PTSD, the treatment of veterans, and the ambiguity of who the ‘good guys’ or ‘bad guys’ are.
Unfortunately, it didn’t feel like the author explored these areas as fully as she could have. We got more than a surface portrayal as she started to delve into how war permeates society, but it seemed a bit like she was holding back — her points really could’ve been pushed further to make an impressive argument.
It was often more like showing than telling, even with Twyla’s “pacifist” status. Besides a couple statements she made early on, there wasn’t really evidence of her attitudes about war in the way she behaved throughout, despite the fact that this was supposedly so central to her character.
The romance parts were iffy as well, but I’m glad it wasn’t really trying to be a romance novel. I’ve mentioned multiple times that I’m not a fan of underage relationships (it is illegal!) so one major red flag was the age difference of the two leads. Technically, they don’t get together until the MC is 18 but as I’ve said before, an 18-year-old is still not ready for an adult relationship! There were other relationships in the book as well but it didn’t feel like these were really fleshed out well, again more showing than telling.
It feels like I have more cons than pros in this review but there are many strong moments that pop up throughout the book and these really make an impact on the read. I noticed some similar inconsistencies in Berkhout’s first book but when she finds her voice, it’s some impressive writing.
The ending especially, when the MC is several years older so perhaps Berkhout permits her a more mature voice, was so powerful that I almost left the book with a completely different experience than I’d had through reading it.
This one has an interesting premise: the MC, a pacifist living in a military town, is paired up with a veteran to complete her volunteer hours in order to graduate high school. Beyond focusing on this coming-of-age/growing up and getting out aspect, it’s also an exploration of PTSD, the treatment of veterans, and the ambiguity of who the ‘good guys’ or ‘bad guys’ are.
Unfortunately, it didn’t feel like the author explored these areas as fully as she could have. We got more than a surface portrayal as she started to delve into how war permeates society, but it seemed a bit like she was holding back — her points really could’ve been pushed further to make an impressive argument.
It was often more like showing than telling, even with Twyla’s “pacifist” status. Besides a couple statements she made early on, there wasn’t really evidence of her attitudes about war in the way she behaved throughout, despite the fact that this was supposedly so central to her character.
The romance parts were iffy as well, but I’m glad it wasn’t really trying to be a romance novel. I’ve mentioned multiple times that I’m not a fan of underage relationships (it is illegal!) so one major red flag was the age difference of the two leads. Technically, they don’t get together until the MC is 18 but as I’ve said before, an 18-year-old is still not ready for an adult relationship! There were other relationships in the book as well but it didn’t feel like these were really fleshed out well, again more showing than telling.
It feels like I have more cons than pros in this review but there are many strong moments that pop up throughout the book and these really make an impact on the read. I noticed some similar inconsistencies in Berkhout’s first book but when she finds her voice, it’s some impressive writing.
The ending especially, when the MC is several years older so perhaps Berkhout permits her a more mature voice, was so powerful that I almost left the book with a completely different experience than I’d had through reading it.
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