When She Came Home

Written by Drusilla Campbell

Narrated by Jane Jacobs

Frankie Byrne has returned from the war in Iraq to a war in her San Diego home. More than anything, Frankie wants to regain the closeness she once shared with her husband and daughter, but it feels like they've created a new life without her. She doesn't seem to belong anywhere anymore. Her father, Brigadier General Harlan Byrne, USMC retired, thinks that Frankie's problems are her own fault. A woman, especially a mother, should not go off to war. When Frankie is pressured to testify about what she saw in Iraq, her fragile nerves are stretched even thinner. She knows the time has come to be honest about her PTSD and find a way to heal. It's a battle that won't be easy, but one Frankie must face in order to save her daughter, her marriage, and herself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Apr 9, 2013
• ISBN: 9781452681894

Reviews for When She Came Home

[wjbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I usually don’t read war/military books, but I don’t know why this book caught my eye. However, I am so glad I read it. When She Came Home has everything under the sun going on: domestic abuse, dysfunctional family, military issues, etc. You name it, it is probably somewhere in this book. You learn how to grow with the characters, how they intertwine with one another, you start to understand how it is to be in war, you urge to reach to them.. so captivating.Frankie enlists in the military after 9/11, she thinks she needs to protect her daughter, her family, but most importantly her husband thinks she wants the approval of her father, the General.When Frankie finally gets home she doesn’t want to admit anything is wrong with her, even two months later; however, the effects of Frankie’s emotions are toying with her daughter emotional balance.This was by far one of the hardest books I have read in the longest time, probably why I don’t like reading war/military type books. On another note, I am so glad I did. It gives me more respect, than ever, for those who fight for our country on a daily basis.

[brokenteepee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a very timely book given the number of soldiers - both male and female - returning from war currently. As a society we are recognizing the traumatic effects that living in a constant state of alert and fear combined with the brutality of war has on the psyches of these soldiers. For the first time in history a fair number of them are mothers coming back to families after having lived through hell on earth.When She Came Home tells the story of Frankie Byrne, the daughter of a retired Marine general who enlists after 9/11. She says her decision to join is because of her need to protect her daughter and other children from harm in light of the horror of that tragedy but she has been seeking her father's approval her entire life; he lives and breathes the Marines. Will she finally get that love she seeks? Apparently not - he sees women in the armed forces as unnatural. Her husband is less than pleased with her decision as well; it seems she enlisted without discussing it with him.Frankie serves 10 months in Iraq and does not experience any personal trauma but does come home with PTSD. After two months home, living with its effects her family feels she should be "better" already. She can't seem to admit she has a problem or how do deal with it or its effects on her daughter.This was not an easy book to read. It was dark, unhappy and there is no way to tie up a story like with with a ribbon and neatly tied bow. I can't say it was a story I liked, but it is a story I'm glad I read. The characters were well drawn, real and have stayed with me. At times I wanted to shake any one of them. Not having ever served myself I can only draw on my experience with my brother's return during peacetime service. Even then he had trouble readjusting to "normal" life so I can only imagine after a war time deployment. The book is compelling with no easy answers.