“Kozelka’s book is a collection of 15 grim tales of conflict. Some characters in these stories are living in the aftermath of a war ... Other characters are currently engaged in conflict, such as Pfc. Alvin Petkoff in the closing title story. This outstanding but notably violent tale follows Petkoff, a Slavic American man who endures bullying in his youth and later becomes a WWII soldier. ... The author writes with a confident hand, and even prolonged passages feel efficient and economical. ... Potent, somber, and detailed short stories featuring vivid characters.” –Kirkus Reviews