There’s a Man with a Gun Over There

In this autobiographical novel, Ryan, a young American desperate to avoid Vietnam in 1968 is drafted, but manages to maneuver his way into a post as a translator. The book’s message is clear: the Army is not a game, and no matter what you tell yourself, you are still a trained killer. Ryan offers a side to Vietnam that most people don’t see. He drives his points home about the dangers of the military and how it affects people. —Publishers Weekly