Name: While He was Away
ISBN: 9781402264023

Karen Halvorsen Schreck

When Penna's boyfriend, David, goes off to Iraq, she's left facing life without him, and when he stops writing, she doubts if David will be the same boy she fell in love with when he eventually does come home.

While He was Away

Jess

Read this review on my blog! --&gt; <a href="http://www.gonewiththewords.com/2012/04/review-while-he-was-away-by-karen-schreck-guest-post-giveaway.html" rel="nofollow noopener">While He Was Away by Karen Schreck</a> Since the moment I heard about this book, I wanted to read it. I was very intrigued by that synopsis! It turned out to be a lot more than that. Penna’s mom owns a restaurant and Penna begins working there for the summer after David leaves. There we meet a whole cast of characters that play significant roles in this book, each in their own respective ways. I loved the sense of family amongst them that’s built in a place like that. My favorite parts in this book are the ones with David and Penna. David and Penna are crazy for each other. Their love is so strong, it’s felt in these pages. And you might think that this book might be about cheating or about her messing up while he’s away, which is what I assumed at first, but it’s not, and I am glad it wasn’t. While He Was Away opens a window into the life of a girl whose boyfriend has just gone off to war, and the struggles that come along with it. It tells the story of how she almost lost herself in the process. It’s important to not lose one’s identity in a relationship, even when the other person is not a million miles away fighting a war, but right next to you. It’s not your typical love story, but it leaves you with a feeling of hope.

While He was Away

Reviews

Highlights