Today We Go Home

by Kelli Estes

Overview

"Today We Go Home shines an illuminating light on history and the female soldiers who have served this country from the Civil War to Afghanistan today. Kelli Estes passionately brings the past to life, interweaving the story of two women from different centuries whose journey towards hope is timeless."—GWENDOLYN WOMACK, USA Today bestselling author of The Fortune Teller and The Time Collector

In this evocative work of historical fiction, USA Today bestselling author Kelli Estes pairs two military women who—in the Civil War and Afghanistan—share determination, honor, and a call to serve the United States, no matter the cost.

Seattle, Washington: Larkin Bennett has always known her place, whether it's surrounded by her loving family in the lush greenery of the Pacific Northwest or conducting a dusty patrol in Afghanistan. But all of that changed the day tragedy struck her unit and took away everything she held dear.

Soon after the disaster, Larkin discovers an unexpected treasure—the diary of Emily Wilson, a young woman who disguised herself as a man to fight for the Union in the Civil War. As Larkin struggles to heal, she finds herself drawn deeply into Emily's life and the secrets she kept.

Indiana, 1861: The only thing more dangerous to Emily Wilson than a rebel soldier is the risk of her own comrades in the Union Army discovering her secret. But, as the war marches on and takes its terrible toll, Emily begins to question everything she thought she was willing to risk her life for.

Historical fiction fans of Marie Benedict, Beatriz Williams, and Kate Quinn will be inspired by this story of two women in militaries, separated by centuries, but united in hope and dignity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781492664185
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	09/03/2019
Pages:	416
Sales rank:	319,791
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Kelli Estes lived in the deserts of eastern Washington state and Arizona before settling in the Seattle area, which she loves so much she plans to forever live near the water. She’s passionate about stories that help us see how the past shaped who we are today, and how we all have more in common than not. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. This is her first novel.

Editorial Reviews

09/30/2019

Estes (The Girl Who Wrote in Silk) delivers a decent dual-narrative novel about the women who’ve served in America’s armed forces, both those who did so in disguise historically and those who serve today. Captain Larkin Bennet has returned to her grandmother’s house in Woodinville, Wash., after receiving a medical discharge following tours in the military police in Afghanistan , which ended with an explosion that killed her best friend, Capt. Sarah Faber. Sarah has left her effects to Larkin, including a diary of her ancestor, Emily Wilson, who disguised herself in order to serve alongside her brother, Ben, in the Civil War. Larkin suffers from PTSD, resents the way women in the armed services are treated by male members of the military and civilians, and has feelings of guilt over Sarah’s death. In alternating chapters, Emily tells her own story, one that helps Larkin move forward in the present. Estes is sometimes heavy-handed in pointing out the parallels between Larkin’s and Emily’s stories and is a little clumsy in inserting informational passages. Still, the book does convey some of the extreme challenges facing women in the military. The result is a purposeful and competent tribute to American women in uniform. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Through moving details in twin centuries, both the power of war to destroy and the healing nature of love and art, even across time, are beautifully conveyed." — Historical Novel Society

"Pairing the dual narratives of Larkin and Emily, Estes relates the hardships faced by women who serve in the military...Based on the real-life stories of women who served, this is an excellent read and highly recommended." — Booklist

"Illuminating, sympathetic and deeply human, Today We Go Home shines a much-needed light on the brave, bold women of all eras whose military service puts even more than their lives on the line." — Greer Macallister, author of Woman 99 and The Magician’s Lie

"Today We Go Home shines an illuminating light on history and the female soldiers who have served this country from the Civil War to Afghanistan today. Kelli Estes passionately brings the past to life, interweaving the story of two women from different centuries whose journey towards hope is timeless. " — Gwendolyn Womack, USA Today bestselling author of The Fortune Teller and The Time Collector

"This tender story about complex women is an easy one to fall into. It makes the perfect read for those who savor the finer details of historical fiction and love to cheer for strong female protagonists." — Due South Magazine

"A compelling examination of war and its contradictions, and a moving story of two women fighting for their own places in the world." — Shelf Awareness

"Two women, separated by a century and a half, survive life in the United States military in Estes' suspenseful, neatly structured second novel...brings the Civil War era to life and effectively links it to contemporary times." — Kirkus Reviews

"A story of breathtaking resilience, honor, and courage in the face of unprecedented challenges. Characters’ struggles quite literally transcend time and generations, offering up connection and hope in a time of need. And, as Larkin comes to understand and say, hope never tasted so sweet." — Booktrib

From the Publisher

2019-05-13
Two women, separated by a century and a half, survive life in the United States military in Estes' suspenseful, neatly structured second novel.

Larkin Bennett has recently returned home to the state of Washington after a stint in Afghanistan, suffering from PTSD and mourning the death of her best friend and fellow soldier, Sarah. As she cleans out Sarah's storage locker, she discovers the diary that Sarah said inspired her to become a soldier. It belonged to Emily Wilson, who grew up on a farm in Indiana and, during the Civil War, changed her name to Jesse and posed as a man in order to join the Army. Estes (The Girl Who Wrote in Silk, 2015) moves smoothly between the stories of Larkin, who with the help of her grandmother and other friends and relatives begins to find her way back into civilian life, and Emily, who both faces the horrors of war and starts to recognize the freedom inherent in appearing to others as a man. Estes includes passages from the (fictional) diary but primarily reveals Emily in the third person. Although the historical dialogue is occasionally anachronistic (would anyone in the 1860s say, "Yeah, me too"?) and the contemporary dialogue is sometimes overloaded with facts about the past, both central characters are credible and well developed. They're surrounded by equally intriguing secondary characters, including Emily's brother Ben and fellow soldier Willie and, in the contemporary sections, Sarah's brother, Zach, with whom Larkin forms a tentative relationship. Though it would have been easy to make Emily the more compelling character, Larkin's struggles with survivor's guilt and the day-to-day issues of recovering from war make her story just as riveting.

The novel brings the Civil War era to life and effectively links it to contemporary times.

Kirkus Reviews