This wasn't fully what I expected. I thought it was a book about a teenager serving in the Israeli military but Abigail is really just getting her toes wet with a boot camp tryout. This is more about being on the cusp of a new phase of life and trying to make sense of her place during uncertain times. A good addition to the number of books for young people about life in the Middle East. ( )

Cross-posted from http://yaromancereviews.blogspot.com/2009/02/freefall-by-anna-levine.htmlRomance Review:Romance Rating: 4/5Percentage of book focused on Romance: 30%Chemistry between characters: 4/5Love Triangle: Sort of but not reallyThe bases (hotness factor): 1st baseI really enjoyed reading this book. I was struck with how much uncertainty teens in Israel live with in regard to their future. When it's mandatory for all to join the military for a period of time, how do you make plans and choices about your future prospectives and your relationships with family, friends, and loves?I thought the romantic elements in this story were great. Aggie and Noah spend so little time together during the course of the story but each interaction was satisfying and had enough substance to carry you toward their next meeting. Their interactions were sweet, awkward (in a nice, first love kind of way), hesitant, and filled with yearning for more. For most of the book, they walked that fine line between friends and more. There was always that sense of "is there something special happening between us?" hanging in the air when they were together. The author also did a nice job of incorporating other character's comments and observations to provide additional support for their romantic connection (e.g., Shira saying she hardly sees her brother but when she does he always asks about Aggie, Jonas saying that anyone who knows Noah will know about Aggie, Noah's mom mentioning to Aggie that Noah was home even when she came over to see Shira, etc...). Those extra touches help to reveal the strength of their attraction to one another even if they aren't admitting to each other yet. ( )

I love books about young women who push against boundaries, both external and internal, and Aggie does both in Freefall. The first-person, present-tense narrative lends an intimacy and immediacy that makes Aggie's excitement, doubts, and adventures -- both physical and emotional -- engaging and dramatic. At the same time, the setting and story are so different from the lives of most readers, they'll be transported to a whole new world. ( )

Reviewed by Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen for TeensReadToo.com

What would you do if you were required to serve two years in the military once you've turned 18?

Aggie's eighteenth birthday is approaching, and as a teen in Israel, she must serve her time in the Israel Defense Force. Aggie doesn't want a boring job stuck in an office filing paperwork for two years. So she decides to try for a combat unit.

Aggie's mother is scared and sees her as weak, her friends aren't quite sure about her decision, and Aggie herself has her doubts about if she can really make it hauling sandbags, sleeping in a tent, and gaining enough weight to be considered. She's also developing a crush on her best friend's brother, and life is getting more and more confusing by the minute.

When war breaks out and rockets destroy a friend's house, Aggie decides she needs to be there to help out. But will she be brave enough and strong enough to make it through?

FREEFALL is an engaging look at teens facing military service.. Aggie may be in Israel, but her story is one that can resonate with teens everywhere. She has difficulty with her family, she has doubts about her abilities, and she's unsure about the future. It's easy to feel as though you're there with Aggie as she's struggling with her decisions and you want her to make it. The touch of romance with Noah added sweetness to the story and made Aggie's tale seem even more real to me.

Highly recommended for readers looking for a different take on the familiar coming-of-age tale. ( )

What would your life be like if military service was compulsory, not voluntary? For 18-year-old Aggie, life is pretty stressful. Sure, she's got the normal teen girls things going on - crushes on boys, hanging out with her best friend - but she's also trying to decide which military service to join. Will she be happy pushing pencils at a desk for the next two years? How about auditioning for the entertainment corps with her best friend? No... Aggie's got something different in mind: an elite combat group. But does she have what it takes to get in? And if she does get in, is it what she really wants?

The interesting concept and likeable characters will hook teens who will find a lot to think about and discuss in this book. This would make a great book discussion title or conversation starter and it's sure to spark an interest in Israel. Hand this one to kids who wonder about teens in other parts of the world.

Read more on my blog:
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/2009/01/book-review-freefall.html ( )