The Band of Sisters By: Annette Lyon

The Band of Sisters, by Annette Lyon, is an amazing LDS fiction novel. This book is about five women whose husbands are deployed in Afghanistan. The story line is set in Utah.

Each of the men's families has their own problems or trials. Nora, who is Russell's wife, finds out her mother is dying of colon cancer. Marianne, Brian's soul mate, does not have a great relationship with her teenage daughter. Tim's wife, Jessie, is trying t0 raise three children without her husband there to help out. Brenda, Rick's husband, has two young twins and a second-grader who are driving her bonkers , while Justin's wife, Kim, is pregnant and due before her husband arrives back safely in the USA. The women are all stressed and worried about their loved ones.

While fighting against the Taliban, Russell, Brian, Tim, Rick, and Justin become great friends. Each husband encourages his wife to get to know the wives of the other men. Eventually, the wives meet up and go out to lunch once a week. After a few of these weekly lunches, the women become bonded. They help each other get through the trials they have.

These women help each other get through deployment, job issues, and depression. After one of the husbands die, these women become more bonded than they had ever been before. Beacuse they feel like they are a group of close friends, they call themselves sisters.

This book was an entertaining, informative, and interesting book. I learned al ot about how badly soldiers' families are effected throughout deployment. It was fun to read the stories of each wife and learn how little things, like someone knocking on the door, frightens them.

I agreed with a lot if the author's opinions and views. I can relate to the religious things these women do to calm and reassure themselves. The author put a lot of her own feelings into this book, although it was very discreet.

This novel is a very clean book. There is nothing inappropriate or offensive. However, there is a part about Marianne's oldest daughter that involoves drugs, cutting herself, and dating a guy her mother doesn't approve of. It doesn't go into a lot of detail though.

I really liked this book. In some parts, I wanted to cry and in other parts, I couldn't stop laughing. It was a fairly quick read. While reading this story, I learned about a whole new perspective about families and war. This book was very appropriate for all ages. I rate this book an A+.