Do not believe the press that this book gets. If you have seen the movie, disregard it. In it’s heart this is a thoughtful examination of the process of taking a normal person and turning them into a soldier. This shares some similarities with Enders Game, but explores a lot more philosophy. While it can be said to be a positive portrayal of soldiers, it’s a long way from justifying war or even military aggression. This book surprised me, I couldn’t put it down and it was probably the best book I have read this year so far.