Alive Day

★★★★★★★½☆☆ 7.5/10

288 pages

What’s it about?

Karie Fugett is one of those kids who move around a lot.  She is in and out of different schools and eventually drops out of high school.  When she meets back up with an old boyfriend named Cleve, there is an instant reconnection.  Cleve is a Marine and home after his first deployment. Karie is living out of her car, and they impulsively decide to get married.  It seems like an easy solution to her problems, and she is crazy about Cleve.  In just a matter of months, Cleve is off on his second deployment.  Eleven days into his second deployment, his Humvee is hit by an IED.  Thus begins Karie's life as a  Marine wife and caretaker.  This is her story.

What did it make me think about?

They are so young!  "Cannon fodder," I once heard someone call units like Cleve's.  The units that were young.  Uneducated. Replaceable. Expendable."

Should I read it?

This is a challenging journey that the author takes us on, and it contains numerous triggers for readers, so please be aware. Again, I could not help but wonder at how young and impoverished these kids are who are making such a sacrifice for the rest of us. There were many instances in the book where their immaturity cost them greatly.  You see that they are not equipped to handle the complicated situation they find themselves in.  To make matters worse, Cleve gets injured at a time when OxyContin was still considered non-addictive. I hope the prescription protocols have changed now that the danger of addiction is recognized, but they seemed to be giving out pain meds like candy.  Either way, I give Karie Fugett props for shedding light on how the military is addressing addiction.  I was disheartened by how many times material items were given out instead of therapy.  A trip to Las Vegas just seemed like another way to binge, and yet no one is talking to these soldiers or their caregivers at all.  Crazy!  At times, I found redundancies in this story, but I am still glad I read it. I was also so glad to see that Karie's story ends with hope.  Who would not be impressed by her fortitude and determination?  I'm so happy for her that the book has been such a success. This is another book that shines a light on how we can do better for those who sacrifice for the greater good and how much those who love them also sacrifice.

A passage I marked

"The military often reminded me that I was a 'wounded warrior's caregiver.' They told me I was 'strong, brave, and essential.'  I understand now that the military relies on young spouses like me as cheap- sometimes free- labor.  Military brass knows what to say to make young women think their labor is their duty."