Pulling from his own experiences as a Marine in Iraq, debut author Uriarte combines a casual, straightforward dramatic style with clear, no-frills art that draws readers into his characters- everyday experiences and then wallops them with the tragedy of ordinary life. Abe has enlisted for reasons he doesn-t understand, but explains it as looking for something that-s missing. Alongside his buddy Garcia, Abe-s journey through training, experience in combat, and home visits is a long odyssey during which he becomes displaced from his old life. The military lingo that dominates much of the dialogue can seem like a foreign language to a civilian, but that-s crucial to the story, defining the insular alien world Abe has entered. Both respectful to the military and its role and sympathetic to the delicacy of the young soldiers, the story-s power lies in a middle-ground view of the ongoing social conflict, seeking to bridge understanding on both sides. Agent: Katherine Boyle, Veritas Literary. (Apr.)