Synopses & Reviews
In this adaptation of his best-selling book,
The Heart and the Fist, Eric speaks directly to teens, interweaving memoir and intimate second-person narratives that askand#160;readers to put themselves in the shoes of himself and others. Readers will share in Ericand#8217;s evolution from average kid to humanitarian to warrior, training and serving with the most elite military outfit in the world. Along the way, theyand#8217;ll be asked to consider the power of choices, of making the decision each and every day to act with courage and compassion so that they grow to be tomorrowand#8217;s heroes.
Review
Unflinchingly honest. Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Review
He lucidly recounts the intensity of battle and the pain of losing comrades. For Smithson, the war is a source of personal enlightenment, and this memoir is a remarkable, deeply penetrating read that will compel teens to reflect on their own thoughts about duty, patriotism and sacrifice. (Memoir. YA) Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Review
Smithson avoids writing either prowar propaganda or an antimilitary polemic, providing instead a fascinating, often humorous-and occasionally devastating-account of the motivations and life of a contemporary soldier. Publishers Weekly
Review
A tough but powerful look at one mans experience. School Library Journal (starred review)
Review
A
Kirkusand#160; Best Teen Book of 2012 "An uncommon (to say the least) coming of age, retraced with well-deserved pride but not self-aggrandizement, and as thought provoking as it is entertaining."--
Kirkus, starred review "Adapted from the adult title The Heart and the Fist (Houghton, 2011), this volume has been rearranged, shortened, and streamlined in way sure to appeal to its new audience."--
School Library Journal and#8220;Greitens describes his adventurous life in a manner that many teen boys will find inspirational."-- VOYA
"It's no small feat to make a difference in somebody's life. By sharing these stories with young readers, [Greitens] now has a chance to make a difference in a few more."--The New York Times Book Review
"[An] engaging and important book."--LA Times
Synopsis
In a harrowing memoir about combat, friendship, fear, and a soldier's commitment to his country, Smithson brings readers inside a world that few understand, as he describes his experience as a 19-year-old Army engineer in Iraq.
Synopsis
In this extraordinary and harrowing memoir, follow one GI's tour of duty as Ryan Smithson brings readers inside a world that few understand.
This is no ordinary teenager's story. Instead of opting for college life, Ryan Smithson joined the Army Reserve when he was seventeen. Two years later, he was deployed to Iraq as an Army engineer.
His story--and the stories of thousands of other soldiers--is nothing like what you see on CNN or read about in the New York Times. This unforgettable story about combat, friendship, fear, and a soldier's commitment to his country peels back the curtain on the realities of war in a story all Americans should read.
Synopsis
Ryan Smithson joined the Army Reserve when he was just out of high school. At age nineteen he was deployed to Iraq. His year in combat changed his life.
This is his story. It will change the way you feel about what it means to be an American.
Synopsis
Ryan Smithson joined the Army Reserve when he was just out of high school. At age nineteen he was deployed to Iraq. His year in combat changed his life.
This is his story. It will change the way you feel about what it means to be an American.
Synopsis
Eric Greitens, theand#160;New York Times best-selling author of The Heart and the Fist, shares his adventures as a young man that led him to a life of service as both a humantarian and a Navy SEAL in this inspirational book for young adults.
About the Author
ERIC GREITENS was born and raised in Missouri. After earning a Ph.D. as a Rhodes Scholar and serving as a humanitarian volunteer overseas, Eric joined the Navy SEALs. A boxing champion and a decorated combat veteran, he is the founder of the nonprofit The Mission Continues and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Heartandnbsp;and the Fist.