In Honor by Jessi Kirby - ADVISABLE

Kirby, Jessi  In Honor  Simon and Schuster, 2012.  $16.99  235 pages 

Content: Language: PG-13 (10+ swears);  Sexual Content:  PG-13 (talk but not action); Violence: PG)

MS-OPTIONAL; HS-ADVISABLE 

Honor loses her brother in the war in Iraq and after hearing of his death she receives the last letter that he has written to her.  His letter includes two tickets to a concert in California and the challenge to have fun before she goes to college in the fall.  After the funeral, Honor is packing up her brother’s car when her brother’s best friend Rusty shows up claiming that he needs to join her on her road trip.  Rusty knows the old car better than Honor, so she allows Rusty to come, even though she blames Rusty for letting her brother go to war in the first place.  Honor slowly comes to terms with her grief over her brother and the questions she had about him going to war with the help of Rusty.  

I found myself laughing and crying throughout this touching coming of age novel.  The characters were well developed and their emotions seemed genuine.  As Honor figures out why her brother Flinn when to war, there are a few surprising discoveries that make the story even more interesting.  The ending was realistic and hopeful.  

 Reviewer, C. Peterson.