Institute for Curriculum Services

Zenatti, Valerie.
New York: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books, 2006. 235pp
$7.95. ISBN: 1599900599
Recommended for Grades 9-12

This is a memoir by Valerie Zenatti, a French immigrant to Israel who, upon reaching age 18, is drafted into the Israel Defense Force for her compulsory two years army service. Her memoir begins the summer before her call-up as she finishes her school exams and says goodbye to her best friends and her boyfriend. She recounts in great detail her first few months in military basic training, her relationships with the other girls in her unit and her transition from rookie to full-fledged female soldier with top-secret duties. She carefully, seamlessly, and beautifully examines her military life and her ties to home. She hides no emotion from the reader, exposing some of the more universal aspects of military service: homesickness, uncertainly, pride, triumph, stress, bad food, camaraderie, and accomplishment. Valerie's story also illustrates that Israeli youth have much in common with their peers elsewhere. They love movies, go to bars and discos, party, challenge authority, and stick up for each other.

This book presents an inside look at Israel's compulsory military service. Valerie belies stereotypes: although she carries an Uzi, she is still vulnerable and heartbroken by her boyfriend's rejection of her. She cares deeply about her friends and family, and is confused about life. She explains how her training, albeit very demanding, also instills in young soldiers an understanding that their duty is to protect their country while at the same time respecting and protecting all life. During her training she gains insight into her own personality when she experiences a panic attack from fear of failing a difficult written test.

Although Valerie is attracted to Israel's peace movement and tries to organize her friends to join together to challenge some of her government's policies, she remains committed to defending her country, as she understands that the Jewish state was created as a refuge from antisemitism. However, this book does not dwell on nor analyze political philosophies. Rather, it is a compelling read about the experience of an introspective young woman. Interspersed with the story's narrative, Valerie shares her loves, hates, anxieties, and triumphs with the reader by entries in her diary. When I Was a Soldier is appropriate for high school students. They will identify with Valerie's teen-age experiences and uncertainties about life and at the same time learn about another culture: the youthful Israeli army recruits at ages 18-20 doing required national service that is very different from their own lives.