The Road Home

Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with moral injury, the weight of heavy responsibilities, or a sense of isolation after a traumatic experience. While set during the Vietnam War, the emotional core speaks to anyone feeling like a different person after a life-altering event. The story follows Rebecca, a young army nurse who witnesses the brutal realities of war and then faces the jarring, lonely transition back to a civilian world that does not understand what she has been through. It is a gritty, deeply honest exploration of grief, guilt, and the slow path toward healing. Because of its intense medical scenes and mature themes of war, it is best suited for older teens who are ready for a realistic, unsanitized look at the cost of service and the complexities of coming home.