Torn

by David Massey

Afghanistan. In the heat and dust, young British army medic Elinor Nielson watches an Afghan girl walk into a hail of bullets. But when she runs to help, Ellie finds her gone. Who is she? And what's happened to her? What Ellie discovers makes her question everything she believes in, even her feelings for the American lieutenant who takes her side.

Librarian's note: Alternate cover edition of ISBN 0545496454.

Genres: Young Adult, War, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Fiction, Teen, Historical Fiction

276 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Discovered by the same publisher as J.K. Rowling, David Massey certainly made an impression with his debut young adult novel TORN. Published in August 2012 in the UK by Chicken House, TORN won the Lancashire Book of the Year 2013 and on July 30th 2013 the amazing hardcover edition was released by Scholastic in the USA!

David's second book TAKEN was released by Chicken House on World Book Day 2014 and around the world by Scholastic. TAKEN won Dudley Teen Book Awards 2015.

Now David is back with his third and most exciting young adult novel BONE SURFERS - a murder mystery set twenty metres below the heart of Paris in a chilling labyrinth of catacombs lined with the bones of six million dead people. BONE SURFERS will be officially launched on 1st March, World Book Day 2018, with a free download available on Amazon.

PRAISE FOR BONE SURFERS
“Massey really taps into the teenage psyche, taking his readers into an exciting world of motorbike chases, parkour runners, manga expos and catacombs! The sense of mystery stays with you to the end” ~ Dr Jacqueline Harding.

David Massey lives near Stourbridge with his wife Debi and is Senior Film, TV and Radio Engineer at Birmingham City University. His varied career has taken him from teaching and music journalism to presenting, producing and writing for radio. As the Romanian revolution was ending, David even led a team taking supplies to Bucharest and Timisoara. On the way home he stopped near Checkpoint Charlie to help chip holes in the Berlin Wall.

In his spare time, David is an accomplished classical guitarist and is currently writing his fourth YA novel and is available for schools, festivals and events.

PRAISE FOR TORN
"This thrilling, war-torn drama, told through the eyes of a nineteen-year-old female British army medic, brings to life the war in Afghanistan – and the perils and challenges facing our young soldiers. It’s both moving and fantastically compelling – from the joys of comradeship to the terror of enemy attack and the ultimate victory of love, understanding and compassion" - Barry Cunningham OBE, publisher.

PRAISE FOR TAKEN
"TAKEN cleverly marks out the disabilities you can see, from those you can’t, and
combines love and war to deliver the thriller of this or any other season. Totally unique,
totally gripping – it’s simply a stunning and fiercely important read" - Barry Cunningham OBE, publisher.

For more information about David Massey or BONE SURFERS please contact drmasseybooks@gmail.com

Reviews

[jv poore · Rating 4 out of 5]

War changes things. That which was clear-cut, becomes blurred. Good or bad; easily distinguished in theory, mesh and blend together during battle. The single-minded, grim determination to conquer the enemy can be difficult to maintain when the antagonist is but a small boy. When the terrorists are children, barely into their teens, shooting hate-filled daggers from wary eyes; combat training doesn’t take over. Facing the haunted eyes of the beautiful girl in blue, as she quietly, almost hopefully, watches for the reaction scrambles the mind, challenging known information. Suddenly and without warning, all of the categorical reasons for being here fade and fizzle away.

Newly trained medic, Private Elinor Nielson is justifiably anxious, and already questioning her decisions the first morning on base in Afghanistan. Before the rest of the world has had a chance to hit the snooze button, Elinor has unwittingly showered in clear view of fellow soldiers and exchanged unfriendly words with her icy, inexplicably angry, bunkmate. One may think that her first day on patrol can’t get worse; but this is war, and situations and circumstances deteriorate quickly.

If you were to pluck this book from a shelf, the blurb on the cover may have you believing that you are about to delve into love, challenged by the vast differences of one soul inhibiting the body of an English medic, the other an American soldier.

To me, this is an inaccurate representation that grossly over-simplifies the story. Please, don’t misunderstand. Sure, there is attraction and affection; but it is secondary and if excluded, Mr. Massey would still be giving us a compelling, engrossing and thought-provoking narrative.

In fairness, having boldly declared what the novel is not, I should articulate what it is: a remarkable, very real, gripping representation of being a soldier. Internal struggles that don’t make the news, but consume a soldier like nothing else could. A mind, once sure, becomes plagued with doubt. Who is the actual aggressor and who is simply fighting to defend what is left of war-riddled families and shrapnel torn homes? Could an entire war erupt because of a personal vendetta? How can it be that a few can influence a country?

As Mr. Massey brilliantly opened my mind, forcing me to consider that which I never hoped to think about; he also captures and clearly illuminates the quick, strong bonds formed between soldiers. While indeed a work of fiction, there is certainly more truth to his tale than I’d like to admit. This book took me on a roller-coaster ride of emotions; with lows of blood-boiling anger, twists of heart-wrenching sadness and turns of teeth-gnashing frustration; with highs of kindness, caring, compassion and, most importantly, hope.

Well done, Mr. Massey.

This review was written for Buried Under Books Blog.

[mackenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

honestly, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. I adored the relationship between Ellie and Husna, they’re the reason I liked this so much 💙

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at: http://www.booksbiscuitsandtea.co.uk/...

When I first saw David Massey’s Torn and what the story’s about, I knew I had to read it. Even though the synopsis doesn’t give too much away, I had a feeling I’d be in for an emotional ride. My only concern was that (and I know I’m not the only one who feels this way) I don’t normally read war books so I was hoping it wouldn’t be too… you know, war-like and all about politics. However, I shouldn’t have worried – for David Massey makes this difficult subject accessible for the young adult generation with such ease that you just won’t be able to put the book down.

Torn is narrated by a 19-year-old British medic called Ellie, who’s recently joined the troops in Afghanistan. Ellie is likeable and funny but very down-to-earth and ordinary as well – just like any of us. Massey’s aim by writing the story from a young girl’s perspective was to raise awareness to the fact that many young adults have died in the Afghan war, as well as adults. In fact, most of the characters in Torn are around Ellie’s age, and even younger. There are kids as young as 12 and soldiers around the age of 20-23. Reading what these people have been through was definitely an eye-opener for me. Even though it’s not just about people dying but friendship, love, and forgiveness as well, you still can’t help thinking about troops who are fighting in these circumstances day by day.

One of the things I loved the most was the friendship between Ellie and a young, twelve/thirteen year-old Afghan boy, Husna who the British troops hold captive after a gunfire attach in a nearby town. I loved the unlikely friendship between captor and captive and how much Husna changed by the end. How he didn’t trust anyone at first and slowly but surely he opened up and started to trust the girl. Husna’s by far my favourite character, although Ellie is a close second.

All in all, Torn is a definite must read. Don’t let the war subject put you off – it’s nothing like what you’d expect from a book about such a serious topic. It’s fully of mysteries, it’s funny, charming and it’ll bring tears to your eyes at the same time. It’s a heart-pounding adventure about friendship, loyalty, courage, but most importantly, hope.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very random pick for me, based mostly on the fact that I loved the cover and am somewhat into an Afghanistan phase at the moment. It was a good pick, though, because David Massey managed to deliver an interesting well-written story and a very well created leading female character.

Torn is a very quick read that follows the story of 19-year-old Ellie, a British Army medic, and her first ever experience in Afghanistan. We follow Ellie's first days on the job, the difficulties she has with her colleagues/superiors, her being sucked into a sort of a secret mission that is beyond her competence, the way she builds friendships and eventually finds...love?

Although this is realistic fiction, there is a slight paranormal/mystical twist that is not only important to the story throughout the entire book, but also softens the roughness of the environment to some extent (the character of Aroush felt like an oasis in a desert each time she made an appearance in the story). What I didn't quite like, though, is the fact that the book was a bit shorter than I would have wanted it to be, and to me it sounded a bit rushed. I think there were certain aspects of the story that needed to be further explored in order their conclusion to come smoothly (this especially applies to the "feelings" that start to develop between Ellie and Ben, the US lieutenant). All in all, Torn was a really nice read that provided a different view on war.

[Kathryn Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 3.75 - this book was very touching and moving and definitely makes you think about the war. There were a few plot holes and the writing wasn't really that amazing but I still enjoyed this and recommend this.

[Marlon Balraj · Rating 4 out of 5]

See more of my reviews at We Live and Breathe Books

This novel is, if anything, extremely blunt and forward. It does not hold back. From the blurb on the back cover, I first thought it would be a mediocre action-drama with blood and guts and a little bit of love, as tacky but as heartfelt as the rest. Fortunately, I found that David Massey is anything but tacky. This piece is wrought with emotion, humor, suspense, and insight on the human mind under pressure.

What struck me the most was the sense of realism that absolutely earns this novel its genre. It may well have been a series of letters. Massey was able to clearly describe the environment of a war that others struggle to understand or even imagine, all through the eyes of a young woman who seems so genuine it is difficult to consider she is the fictitious work of any man at all.

"As if in answer, there is the crackle of gunfire behind us in the village. It looks like the rest of the platoon has troubles of its own." (Massey, 23)

What I loved the most: this simple and effective writing. Not only does this bit lend us important information about the rest of the platoon, but it gives us incredible insight on the people involved. If a regular person were in this situation, the adrenaline and gunfire would have them running or insane. Instead, Private Nielson doesn't even consider it. There is this horror:

"The walls around it are pockmarked with bullet holes and blood." (72)

Which is beautifully measured by the mystery elements I'd like not to give away, and the lighthearted bits (like the football match) that allow the characters -- and you -- to have some breathing space. The relief and that spark of romance, as well, are balanced by the fear of the war, the mysteries surrounding the girl, Aroush, and the fact that everyone in this novel has something to hide. Everyone has layers and layers that Massey shows can only be exposed under the harsh conditions they are forced to face.

The relationships formed under the pressure of war are astounding. For instance, even in the first few pages, Ellie and Yugi bond like they'd been friends for a lifetime and Yugi would protect her from anything. Similar unlikely relationships develop and change Ellie from the girl she was before tracing blood on the field, especially her friendship with Husna, a thirteen year old boy.

It is a short novel but it has much to say about human nature and society. However, I would have loved for there to be a few more chapters of it, maybe? Some more exposition on the feelings between Ben and Ellie, because at times the novel can get quite rough, and not even the quasi-mystical aura of Aroush could soften it. But I suppose that's what Massey teaches. War is hard, but it is war.

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept here was a promising one; the execution, not so much. I can appreciate writing about modern-day war. I'm certain that in a few decades there will be a plethora of books exploring the psychological, physical, and social implications of the war in the Middle East that we've now fruitlessly waged for more than a decade (many are on the market already). And writing about it in the YA genre when so many of our soldiers are barely out of high school is also not a bad idea. But Massey's writing is clunky and fraught with fussy details. There is little connection between paragraphs, and the characters felt so wooden, they became one person in my head.

Elinor is 19 and a new medic from the UK serving in Afhganistan. Told in the first-person (from Elinor's point of view), the book tracks her experience patrolling in Afghanistan. There's an unnecessary romance between Elinor and Ben, an American SEAL, which felt like a rushed aside and didn't add much to the story. Elinor's friendship with three of her fellow soldiers worked better, but still felt flat.

The book also includes a vaguely supernatural element that didn't work at all and a focus on political conspiracy theories (with the required twist/revelation at the end) that was excruciating. I am interested in politics, and it made my brain glaze over.

I received a free galley copy of this book from Netgalley that was so filled to the brim with grammatical and stylistic errors (near complete lack of capitalization, for example) it was nearly impossible to slog through; the errors were just that distracting. I am no stranger to galley copies, but this is by far the worst one I've read. I would think that if you're providing someone with a copy you want them to read and review (and like!), you would make an effort to do a final edit beforehand, but, alas, that was most certainly not the case here.

[Nrossiter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is good at times but not during enough of the book. The action and fighting parts of this book are very interesting, but they are few and far between. Although this book does have a combat scene very early into the book, the next one isn't for a while. In fact, for a book that is set in Afghanistan, there is not nearly enough combat. When there is combat, it is mostly good, but it is always way to short. It starts one second, and the book does a good job of making it a surprise, but it always ends way to soon. An example of this is the RPG attack on the base. The actual attack was about two paragraphs long, but they talked about a character getting killed and a character getting injured for the rest of the chapter. However, I didn't care about either one of them because of their horrible development.

The book may have been better, if the characters were well developed, but none of them are. Throughout the entire book, I never felt connected or attached to any of them. The book had too many characters, that could have been so interesting and unique, but they were never used to their potential. One example of this is the girl in the blue dress. She was always very mysterious and could have been so much, but when it was revealed who she was it was a big let down (I won't spoil it). Another is Gizmo, Chip, and Yugi. They are fellow soldiers that are in Eleanor's, the main character, squad. They are in the first few chapters and then they kind of fade away with no explanation other than Yugi's death. There were a lot of characters that meant a lot one chapter and then never appeared again or would briefly come in later. This was a big problem in the book, as it lead to a lot of character, but no good characters which I think is a shame, because like I said earlier it had a lot of potential. One of the big reasons for this was that there were just too many characters.

Another issue that this book suffered from was that the romance, which was supposed to be good as it was on the cover of the hardback copy. However, it always felt like it was just in the book to be there. It, like the characters, never felt developed enough. Throughout the book it was awkward, and it never felt like it was what it should have been. It never felt like Eleanor and Ben had anything worth caring about. The whole time it went back and forth from their love to something else that was not related at all. This made it hard to get any of the points across. An example is when their love was growing stronger and out of nowhere they had to go on a recon mission that ruined all of the progress that they had made in making me care, and I went back to not caring again. Their love felt like just another thing to add to the book, even though I never felt like it belonged with the book and it felt like it was just added to be another thing to have.

It was these three reasons that made me really not like this book. I wanted to like it, and I tried to think of it positively, but reading it felt more like a chore than something that I would want to do. The characters, although they had potential, were boring and it was hard for me to care about them, the love in this story was horribly developed and it felt like just another thing in an over saturated genre full of romance stories, lastly the combat, while good and interesting, did not appear in the book nearly as much as it should have. I honestly would not recommend this book because it felt like it tried to cater to too many types of people and as a result isn't really good for any type of person. It felt like David Massey was just trying to check boxes off for what he thought would make a good book without making any of them good or interesting. This unfortunately makes me feel like I have to say that this book isn't really worth your time and that there are definitely other book that are.

[Muriel · Rating 1 out of 5]

The concept sounds good when you read the back cover. But when you start the story the first thing you notice is the harassment of the main character. For some reason the author plays this off because the boys that harassed Ellie were "good" people. Aside from that though, the main character is (in my opinion) a Mary Sue. There is no chapter in this story where Ellie is not complimented by men or praised for her femininity. Everybody like Ellie, even people she's met five minutes ago. And as far as I can tell, nothing bad EVER happens to her(Except for the thing at the end(even then she survives)), she's perfect. Even when she's dirty and covered with blood the dumbed down people in this story compliment her 24/7. Even if this character is dying or injured they can't help but see Ellie's apparent beauty. It gets old, although the rest of the book is alright. Let's talk about the love in this story, which is filled with so many cliches that it could stand on it's own. The love interest is the most boring character I think I have ever read about. He has no redeeming qualities and the only thing special about him is his tattoo. He first meets Ellie and is immediately smitten with her (Of course.) And of course Ellie's boss Heidi is in love with him too, and of course he turns down Heidi. Heidi was the most interesting character, she could be nice and mean, sometimes in the same chapter. But the author dumbed her down to badguy-mcbad. People aren't black and white, but the writing is so awful it seems that way. Ellie is just a savior to every character she comes across. End of rant. Praise Ellie.

[Alicia Beranek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about a girl, Ellie, went into the military and she had a couple of heartbreaks, and a couple of bone breaks but over all she had a pretty good time. I thought it was a really good book, it had a bunch of detail, action, sad parts, and romance. At the beginning of the story, Ellie met a girl named Heidi and they were room mates, they really didn't like each other. I think that if they could have gotten along they would have been great friends, Heidi even sacrificed herself when they weren't friends. When Ellie met Yugi, they were best friends right away, except he died too. When Yugi got hit by the missle, Ellie was heartbroken, so she took his soccer ball. I feel like Ellie and Yugi wouldn't get very far in a friendship although they were pretty good friends before he died. When Ellie and Ben met on the other hand, they liked each other straight away, they would flirt while on missions, they seemed as if they were married even when they just met. When Ellie got her leg broken Ben went to see her in the hospital and he promised to see Ellie when she went home, even if he had to search the entire world. I really liked this book. If there was another book like this from the author I would for sure read it.

[Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first looked at the cover and the first couple pages, this book looked very promising and looked like it would be something I would enjoy. I guess I was only half right. The concept of this book also had a lot of potential to be really good. I feel like this book does deserve at least 3 stars, but unfortunately, it did meet my expectations fully. For the first thing there were so many different characters and I feel like that made it harder to follow along with the book. Also the characters were kind of all over the place which also made it harder to follow along. One thing I did like, was how Massey portrayed war in the story. It was a lot like how some people describe war in real life, with the children being the main enemies and how people died in the story just like how it is in real life. Another thing that I didn't really like is how I kept having this feeling that the book was kind of just dragging a long. This book didn't have any really interesting and/or exciting moments and that is why I felt like it was just dragging a long. Overall this book was ok, but for the amount of potential it had, it definitely could have been better.

[MichaelTascher7 · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I was drawn in by the cover and the premise seemed interesting, I was quickly disappointed. There is only one word I can use to describe this book, and it's boring. The characters feel two dimensional and bland, and despite the potential, the setting was uninteresting as well. The book also fails to have any distinct atmosphere to immerse you. The characters, as I stated earlier, are forgettable and bland. You'll often find yourself having trouble keeping up with the events simply because you won't remember whose who. This is only further harmed by the fact that there are so many characters. Whenever these characters are in at risk there's no real sense of tension because it's hard to relate or sympathize with them. The book also drags on for too long, fueled by a relationship that feels forced and a mystery plot that never seems to go anywhere. The "mystery" advertised in the summary barely goes anywhere until very late in the book and by that time feels almost unimportant. I found this book a let down, and as Massey's debut novel, i'm not impressed.

[Kyle 4-7]

When first picked up torn i didn't know what to expect. Then when I started reading it i couldn't stop reading it. I like the constant action and the mystery behind the story. They are in a war with the Taliban and the community. I rate this book five starts for the constant action and the great story line.

[Puru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story! The war in Afghanistan certainly made an impact on the world but it made an even greater impact on the soldiers fighting there and this book can certainly tell u that ....to see innocent civilians being killed ...it's a hard job ...though I think that this book has a love story in it...the way the way has been portrayed even for a love story is great!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do believe this is my first YA novel based on a current war situation. I'd give it 3.5 stars if allowed. The story was interesting, but the writing was a bit flat. I wish the characters had more distinct voices. And more depth. Perhaps YA has something to do with this...? Hmm.

[Stephanie (Stepping Out Of The Page) · Rating 3 out of 5]

As soon as I saw the cover for Torn, I knew that I had to read it. I absolutely adore the cover and anything about war really intrigues me. The lovely people at Chicken House provided me with a review copy. As soon as it landed in my postbox, it was taken and put on the top of my reading pile. I was very, very, very eager to pick this one up!

Torn was a good read. The writing was enjoyable and accessible and the story was certainly not boring. I personally have an issue where I like to hype myself up for books and so I have great expectations - I think that may have been the case with this book - though I did enjoy it, I felt that it was lacking a certain something. I can't actually pick out what this book was lacking in, but it didn't pack a massive punch for me and so I don't think this will be a story that will stay with me for a long time.

I thought that Massey did a absolutely wonderful job of introducing us to the war front of Afghanistan - in simple yet effective and descriptive terms, he introduced us to a foreign an very different land compared to the reasonably safe one that most of us live in. Though the beginning of the book wasn't exactly fast paced, for me it was the most impressive part of the book and it gave us a good introduction to Ellie, our main character who is starting out as an army medic.

Most of the characters in Torn were well formed and played good parts. Though it wasn't explicitly written, the emotional trouble of both the soldiers and the civilians in Afghanistan was portrayed quite well. We were introduced to some rather interesting characters. For me, the relationship between Ellie and a child prisoner of war, Husna, was certainly the most effective. However, I also enjoyed reading about Heidi, Ellie's colleague, trying to figure out more about her and what she'd do next - even if she did irritate me at points! I also liked reading about Ellie's friendship with Chip and Yugi. I wasn't all that bothered about the romantic side to this story - it didn't feel all that natural and it was a bit rushed for my liking - against the backdrop of war, it just didn't feel right nor did it seem entertaining.

Learning about the war in Afghanistan was intriguing, but to be honest it was all a little bit too political for me - I understand that war is certainly a political thing, but the politics of it felt a little forced upon me in this book. I found the story of the child soldiers and the mysterious little girl to be very interesting, but the story behind it did get a little too political for me - I do think that some people will enjoy the political aspect, especially as it throws some mystery into the book, but I personally didn't.

Overall, Torn was a good, interesting book. It is certainly different to many of the other choices of Young Adult books out there and I'm glad that Massey decided to approach the subject of war as it's certainly something to be written about! I will look forward to more work by Massey in the future and I hope to read more books about this subject, too!

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a story about a real war that's still going on, but the author has evidently done little research, focusing instead on the plot and the characters. And it shows. He has soldiers using bayonets, Navy SEALS referred to as Marines, and and a private who constantly argues with Lieutenants and Captains. The covers refers to a romance between the main character and an American soldier, but other than almost kissing on page 226, nothing of the sort ever happens. If this was about a fictitious war in an imaginary country, fine. The characters are likeable and the plot is engaging. But this is an actual conflict, people are still dying, and Massey decides to add ghosts (yes, ghosts) to the mix. Not cool.

[Michal Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Go into the Afghanistan war with Ellie, a British medic assigned for the first time to a unit who comes across a band of children fighting against the Taliban and the United States forces. She shows tremendous courage, strength, and grace as she befriends the local hostage, a boy named Husna, and does her best to uncover the identity of a girl called Aroush, a local legend of sorts. The action is true to life and you feel as if you're walking alongside Ellie as she moves through Afghanistan countryside with her unit. I couldn't put this down!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second time I have read this book, and I have to say that it was just as good as picking it up for the first time. This should tell you how good this book really is. I remembered a lot of the main points and plot twists, but I still forgot enough over the course of a year to enjoy reading. If you like more recent historical fiction or just action stories in general, then you should read this book.

[Joleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't think I was really going to get into this book as much as I did. But I really enjoyed the pace. But there where some spots I had to go re-read because the way it was worded was absolutely odd.

[Esimon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. I will need to buy a copy for my school book shelf.

[ScottM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scott Miller
Ms. Richey
Advanced World Literature
4 April 2018

Independent Reading

The book Torn by David Massey is about medic named Elinor Nielson who works from the British army. When she is in Afghanistan she is in the middle of a war and watches a girl walk into the line of bullets. She risks her life to save the girl, but realizes she is gone. She works with the American Navy Seals to help try and find the missing girl, but while they are looking for the girl they find out about a resistance made up of children called the Young Martyrs who are fighting both the Western Coalition and the Taliban. Elinor than meets and begins to bond with an 11 year old who she meets in Afghanistan named Husna and fall in love with Ben who is the commander of the Navy Seal’s. Then some of the soldiers for the Navy are followed by a girl named Aroush, but they don’t know who she is or why she is following them. Later after Aroush shows up something bad happens in the story. I would recommend this book because it was very interesting to read and had a good plot. This book has a lot of ups and downs in it which I didn’t like because it got hard to follow at times, but if you enjoy action and adventure than this book would be a perfect read.
One of the elements of fiction that affects how the characters act in the story is the setting. The setting is in war torn Afghanistan with three groups of people fighting each other. Their is a lot of danger in the setting of this book which helps develop the plot. As the author states “ Why didn’t I ask him for his number, address, e-mail — anything? Why? Because I'm in a sodding war zone, that's why. And I'm a soldier. And this wasn't supposed to happen (Massey 277). This shows how the setting is set in a dangerous place which effects the characters actions. Such as the soldier is so paranoid about what is happening in Afghanistan because of the war that he is forgetting some of the orders that he was given by his commander. As the author also says “Somehow these weapons are making their way into the hands of a group of kids calling themselves the Young Martyrs, I guess we now have to plan on how to handle these kids” (Massey 213). This also shows how the actions of the characters are changed by the setting. Since the setting is in a violent place with a war going on, Elinor and the Navy now has to try to deal with kids that have weapons by trying to get them into protection and not have them trying to fight the Taliban and Western Coalition on their own. Otherwise if the book had a different setting this would not be necessary because if the book had any other setting the characters would have not needed to worry about kids with firearms.
Another element of fiction that affects how the characters act is point of view. The point of view affects the characters actions in the story in many ways. Massey states “ I look at the girl, but she has turned her back to us. She is looking through the curtain of gunfire. She begins to run through the fire, for no reason.” “ The girl has disappeared” ( Massey 76-77). The point of view of Elinor is that the girl ran into the gunfire for no reason, so we don’t know what the girl was thinking as she was running into the gunfire. So, the point of view changes how the characters act because maybe if Elinor knew why the girl ran into the gun fire she might not have gone looking for her. Massey says “You’re not going to tell me? He shrugs. Don’t you think it’s important? Why won’t you answer me?” (Massey 102-103)?. Elinor is getting frustrated when she is talking to Husna who she met in Afghanistan, but she doesn’t know what Husna has been through being an 11 year old child in a wartorn country. Since she doesn’t have his point of view it changes how she acts because if she knew what he has been through she would probably be more sensitive towards Husna about asking him what he has seen in Afghanistan.

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I’ve only been here a day and already the place is getting to me. It is impossible to tell whether the smiles are genuine, and whether the kids pointing their finger guns are playing or wishing they had a real one.”( Pg. 16)
Hmm so I was misled by the cover LOL and thought this was about some kind of war and picked it up thinking maybe Black History, maybe just a random YA read and I could tell from the first pages that this one may be a little advanced for middle school..though I have to hand it to whoever bought the books at my school’s library they really took it there in pushing the diversity and maturity levels of the scholars here but hey that’s why I like to pre-read..Okay so for starters the protagonist is a British soldier medic named Elinor who is about nineteen/twenty and thrown into the heart of Afghanistan fighting the Taliban..Oh yeah this one starts off with descriptions of heat, child snipers, bombs, tension and terror and it doesn’t let up as the book goes on..I found it easy to read despite the military jargon and the war aspect and I learned a lot about Afghanistan and how the ordinary people trying to live and work, basically just survive are affected by the incoming foreign armies and the civil war of insurgents. Just as the British army is occupying the Taliban area so are the Americans and around page 50 or so you learn of the elite group of Navy Seals commissioned to go and assist in quelling the terrorist group not afraid to die as martyrs for the cause.
The book takes you through the mountains and warzones of Afghanistan where they are shot at and deal with the trauma of losing friends to IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and gunshots. There is the additional heartache of kids with guns, kids immune to killing and an unlikely romance thrown in that really could have been left out along with a supernatural angel element I thought was intriguing though it didn’t really flesh out to much..Surprise characters die and you learn about the injustices and tragedy of war and entering countries in conflict with themselves and then with you as the infiltrator..I liked but didn’t love this book..I thought it had a lot of potential and will hold readers but something was a little off for me..

[Frank Townsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Massey is a very successful writer in England. His experience in emergency supply delivery inspired him to write many books regarding the military. David wrote: Torn, a militaristic novel. Ellinor, a medic for the British army is the main character of this book. She decided to join the army to support the war in Afghanistan and to somehow influence surrounding soldiers lives. Most of the people in the camp have very different views than hers initially. Once she is stationed in Afghanistan she meets some of her comrades that go by nicknames: chip, Yugi, and gizmo. She is also grouped with another medic, Heidi. Ellinor and Heidi do not get along very well as Heidi is supposed to guide Ellinor Ellinor and her comrades go on multiple missions together. some of the characters close to her die in the book as well as she has saved plenty. Ellinor takes in a young marriage (wich is a rebellious army of young children with guns) to find out about their people and why they are against the British and United States. Ellinor´s feeling about war and life in Afghanistan change greatly with her experience.
The book is in a first person perspective and uses more complicated technical war terms. It is an action adventure novel that is very fast paced. It has 30 chapters and 313 pages.
The main themes of this book are Loyalty, Bravery, and Teamwork. teamwork comes into play to get out of a multitude of sticky situations in the book, and some of those plans require bravery to execute and loyalty to believe in your higher up.
personally, I thought this book was interesting because I always heard things about Afghanistan from my dad but he never wanted to talk much about it, so I had a good connection and engagement to this book. People that are into action books would really enjoy this. The book is also filled with sad heart touching moments regarding young soldiers and other tragedies. There is also a lot of history provided too so somebody that might want to learn about this conflict could benefit.

[KFC123 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Torn is a book about the military that seems very action packed, but it is really not. The first few chapters of the book are good, but as the story goes on, it becomes very boring. The story starts off by introducing the characters, and then it takes you into battle. The first battle is the best part of the book, because it is the most suspenseful. However, the book later stops having as many as battles, and has more boring conversations between characters.

The conversations between the characters are not funny, and don't intrigue me at all. I just felt that they often were talking about pointless things, and many of the the things they said had no impact on the story at all. I think if the book focused more on the battles, and had more suspense, then it would be a lot better.

Another thing I did not like about this book were the characters. The only characters in the book that are emphasized are Elinor, Jackson, Heidi, and Farshad. None of the other characters seem important or interesting. Some of the characters don't even interact with each other in the entire book. This made me feel uninterested in the characters. Some of the characters, like Heidi and Elinor, are very annoying. I just want to stop hearing many of these characters talk.

The last thing I don't like about this book is the love story. One of the primary themes of the book is love, and Elinor's love interest doesn't even show up until the book is almost over. This made the love story not important, even though the author tries to emphasize it a lot, and it just doesn't work.

Even though I don't like this book, I still think it has some positive things. I think the introduction to the book is great, and he does a good job of making deaths actually feel kind of sad. Other than those things, I don't think the book is good.

[Jelka · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 stars

Normaal geef ik geen halve sterren, maar deze keer wel. De verhaallijn was zo fantastisch dat het een dikke 5 sterren verdient, maar de schrijfstijl vond ik iets minder dus daarvoor 4 sterren. Vandaar dus 4,5 sterren.

Doordat ik nog nooit van dit boek had gehoord, en het ook geen bekend boek blijkt te zijn, verwachtte ik er niet al te veel van. Wat was ik verkeerd zeg, dit boek was zo goed en zal mij voor altijd bijblijven. Dit boek verdient zeker veel meer lof. Dit is één van die boeken die je leven verandert. De titel van het boek past ook perfect bij hoe ik mij voel na het lezen van dit boek. Het brengt zoveel gevoelens in je naar boven en het is echt hartverscheurend. Dat ik zolang over dit boek heb gedaan is waarschijnlijk omdat ik het af en toe aan de kant moest leggen omdat het er soms echt heftig aan toe kan gaan.

Dit is het eerste boek over oorlog dat ik ooit lees, en ik wil meer. Ik heb zoveel bijgeleerd van dit boek. Het was een heel nieuwe wereld die voor mij open ging. Ik heb enorm veel respect gekregen voor soldaten. Het voelde soms alsof ik één van hen was.

In het begin van het boek had ik wat moeite om in het verhaal te komen. Het was soms moeilijk om de verschillende personages (vooral de soldaten) uit elkaar te houden doordat er te snel over de introductie van nieuwe personages werd heen gegaan. Naarmate het verhaal vorderde werd dat allemaal duidelijker.
De verhaallijn werd steeds meer een mysterie. En elke keer zat je weer met nieuwe vragen. Maar gelukkig werd alles duidelijk op het einde, alleen blijf je wel met één vraag achter. Waarom deze vraag niet beantwoord word, snap ik ergens wel.

Dit boek is echt fantastisch en aan te raden aan iedereen die van young adult en oorlogsverhalen houd.

[Leona Naan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I picked this book up I didn’t expect to like it as it isn’t the type of book that I usually read. Having said that I completely and utterly loved it. I loved it so much that I stayed up until all hours reading it and had it finished in a few hours.

There isn’t much that I can say because I am completely lost for words. This book was wonderful and haunting and addictive. There was always something happening, whether it was gunfire or bombs you were kept in constant suspense. You just wait for something bad to happen because it’s war and bad things happen. And people die and it’s tragic.

The writing style was very strong and easy to read. Massey expertly crafted images designed to shock us and to make us feel and think. There very eerie moments in the book that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I was nearly in tears at several instances. Having said that, the book was certainly not all doom and gloom. There were some very humorous moments courtesy of Ellie and her friends.

My favourite thing about this book was how much Ellie developed and grew as a character. She was so different in the end as compared to how she was in the beginning. I also loved the relationship that developed between Ellie and Husna, a twelve/thirteen year old boy. It was such an unlikely friendship and I think that’s what I liked about it so much.

The only thing that annoyed me was that it just wasn’t long enough. I would have loved a longer book but that might have taken away from the story.

[Joey B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Torn by David Massey is a very eye opening book, many people don't know all the sides of the story when it comes to learning about the war in Afghanistan. This book shows people that. A newly trained British medic travels all the way to Afghanistan to help protect soldiers in the war. She faces challenges right away, when one of her friends steps on an IED bomb. Because she is brave and audacious she saves her friend while almost killing the entire group she was in. The main character, Elinor faces other situations when they bring in American soldiers and a prisoner of the Young Martey. She has to build relationships with other people even if they don't like her. Elinor finds out how kids and town are affected by the Taliban and how this will affect her. Torn is a wonderful book that I will recommend to people of all ages.

Torn is probably one of the best books I have ever read. The plot is amazing, when I tell you I am very picky on how many books I like I mean it. Torn is in my Top 10. In the beginning there is a twist right away, and you don't want to put down the book. There is massive character development between the main character and the kid they capture. On the front cover it describes the book as a "love story", but the two main characters don't even say they like each other until the very last chapter. I really wish that there was a sequel to Torn, but overall I think it is a terrific book. So if you haven't read it already go read it NOW!

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title:Torn Pages:269 Author:Davis Massey Publisher: Chicken House Genre:Historical ISBN:978-0-545-49645-2 Price:$7.99



Summary
A nineteen year old had to go to Afghanistan for a mission. Her partner had seen a boy with a picture in his shirt pocket. The picture showed a family on the front, and on the back is a message. While they fight they have seen many children and they watch in fear. The nineteen year old; Ellie Nielson. When they were trapped in a cave there was a girl that no one had seen, and they saw her the whole time there in Afghanistan. They try to find the boyś family. She is questioning herself most of the time and realizes she came because she knows she is in the SEAL´s. She tries her best and almost loses her life trying to save people.

I enjoyed this book
I give this book 3.5
I picked this because it wasn´t the best book I have read but did enjoy some of the book. It could´ve been better in some parts of the book.

I would only recommend this book to people who like history. I would recommend this because people could be looking for a book to read and they might like history. I would also recommend this book because it has some parts that people might enjoy.

If you liked
Soldier Dog
Soldier Boy
Tomorrow, When The War Began
Then you will like this book

[Carol Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie is a soldier in the British army, on her first deployment as a medic in Afghanistan. The timeline of this novel is a couple weeks - maybe it goes into a third week by that end little bit. I bet that makes this deployment the most intense ever. In that short time, Ellie saves the lives of a couple soldiers, loses a couple others, lands in the middle of an international cover-up and, with the help of the Special Forces officer she has met and fallen in love with, gets to the bottom of it, which ends with the arrest of an Afghan minister and a headline story in the Post, and becomes the confidante and protector of an Afghan boy, one of the Young Martyrs, who is the key to the whole shebang. That's not even all of it. Intense couple weeks, right? In the first couple chapters, I thought the language was awkward and not done very well, then I realized they're British, which is why it sounded different to my Midwestern America ears. While the timeline of the adventure and the romance are not realistic, the story is engrossing. Other than the love interest, the relationships are well-developed and entail the stresses that would come in a war zone (not that I have first hand knowledge).