The Home Front

In Vandenburg’s novel, Todd Barron is a military officer who pilots drones in Afghanistan from his trailer in Nevada. Though he acknowledges the horrors of combat, he misses fighting face-to-face, where he felt connected to the reality of war. At home, his wife, Rose, is busy caring for their autistic son, Max. No amount of therapy seems to work, and she resorts to New Age solutions to cope with her feelings of helplessness. These solutions come at a price: Todd drifts further away from his wife, seeking to re-enlist in active deployment just to get away from home. Things change when Max tries art therapy, which shows the Barrons how much Max wants his family to stay together. Renewed by this breakthrough, the couple recommit to each other. Vandenburg has a clear understanding of both modern warfare and autism, and her depiction of the Barrons’ coping mechanisms is touching and realistic. Though the plot drags in the middle, Vandenburg eventually regains her stride and delivers a satisfying ending. (Feb.)