Book Summary and Reviews of Today We Go Home by Kelli Estes

Reader Reviews

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Carolt

Oh, my
I read far too many books in search of one as satisfying as this one. I wish I'd written it; imagine the fun in the research.

Sandi W.

the effects of war on a female soldier - past and present...
4 stars Thanks to BookBrowse and Sourcebooks Landmark for a chance to read this book. Published September 3, 2019

I really enjoyed this book. I had not read Estes before, but I know she had a prior book, that I will now secure and read.

In alternating chapters this book bounced back and forth between a current day, just discharged, female combat soldier having served in Afghanistan, and a young woman from the 1850's who disguised herself as a man to fight in the Civil War. The current veteran, Larkin, found the diary of the Civil War veteran, Emily, and read of all the horrific events that Emily went through, while still trying to maintain her own life, riddled with PTSD. Both women suffered devastating losses but yet took different routes to tame the elusive monster in their head.

Great story detailing the effects of war on a female soldier - past and present. How the female soldier is treated and her expected role, from both her surrounding military personnel and the general public's perception. Including what the female soldier expects from herself, while enlisted, in time of war and after discharge. Differences were acknowledged between the two women - 1850 to current day - however many similarities also remained.

KFox

This book honors women who serve
I gained so much insight reading Today we go Home.

The story of two women soldiers, Emily Wilson, who, during the Civil War, fought with the Union Army disguised as a man and Larkin Bennett, a US Army soldier who was deployed to Afghanistan twice.

In the present-day, Larkin is trying to cope with PTSD, grief and guilt over the death of her best friend Sarah. We travel to the past as Larkin reads the Civil War journal kept by Emily chronicling her enlistment in Indiana's 9th Infantry as a male Union soldier.

I loved the historical detail and accounting of how women had disguised themselves as men to enlist in the service during the civil war. I also felt the flow between the two women in dual time frames was very easy to follow.
The stories helped me to understand the parallel struggles of female soldiers in the past and female soldiers from our own time in history. Also, it was important to be reminded of the fact that women who serve also suffer from PTSD.

I thought there were some inconsistencies in the language used during the Civil War period, but that did not affect my enjoyment of the book

Thank you to BookBrowse and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC.