Somebody, Please Tell Me Who I Am

Book: Somebody, Please Tell Me Who I am

Author: Harry Mazer and Peter Lerangis

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books For Young Readers

Pages: 160

Grade Level: 6^th-8^th

Rating: 5 Stars

Ben Bright, a smart, popular and talented senior in high school enlists in the army after his graduation, despite pleas from his family and closest friends. Shortly after he begins his training he is sent to Iraq where he is injured and suffers a traumatic brain injury. The book is broken up into three sections: Before, During, and After, and the focus of the book is on Ben’s rehabilitation and struggle to remember his past.

I was unable to put this book down and read the whole thing in a little over an hour. The emotions that were evoked from the family and friends throughout the book resonated with me even after I finished reading. This work of realistic fiction will have the reader glued to their seat and be rooting for Ben and his family the entire time. I would definitely recommend this book to middle schoolers, especially if they are discussing American Wars in their classes. Ben’s experience is extremely descriptive from injury through recovery and may be relatable to those who have friends or family members who have served in the Army in recent years.