Book Review: Here, Bullet by Brian Turner

Book Review:  Here, Bullet by Brian Turner 

I came across Here, Bullet on my search to find mentor texts that our English 3 team could pair with The Things They Carried.  I also have a few students who are interested in learning about the military and I thought this would be a perfect "stretch" text for them.

Summary by Goodreads:

Adding his voice to the current debate about the US occupation of Iraq, in poems written in the tradition of such poets as Wilfred Owen, Yusef Komunyakaa (Dien Cai Dau), Bruce Weigl (Song of Napalm) and Alice James’ own Doug Anderson (The Moon Reflected Fire), Iraqi war veteran Brian Turner writes power-fully affecting poetry of witness, exceptional for its beauty, honesty, and skill. Based on Turner’s yearlong tour in Iraq as an infantry team leader, the poems offer gracefully rendered, unflinching description but, remarkably, leave the reader to draw conclusions or moral lessons. Here, Bullet is a must-read for anyone who cares about the war, regardless of political affiliation.

My Thoughts:

War is not pretty yet Turner has a way of turning something very gritty and devastating into something more beautiful.  Though I had some difficulty falling in love with all of his poems in this book, I definitely will share this with our English 3 team to use for mentor texts.  I also can't wait to get this in the hands of some of my students.  Thank you Brian Turner for serving our country and your ability to put your experience in Iraq into words for others to read.