Juiceboxers
by Benjamin Hertwig
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Pub Date Sep 17 2024 | Archive Date Sep 30 2024
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Description
A powerful debut novel about four young soldiers serving in Afghanistan, and the devastating aftermath of war.
“An unvarnished, intimately informed dissection of war’s physical and emotional derangements.” – Omar El Akkad, author of What Strange Paradise and American War
Sixteen-year-old Plinko, attending basic training in the summer before high school starts up again in the fall, acquired his nickname when he happened to mention The Price is Right to another recruit. Feeling adrift from his own family after graduation, Plinko moves in with an older soldier, where he forges an unlikely group of friends: Walsh, who moves in shortly after Plinko does; Abdi, whose Somalian immigrant parents often welcome the group of young men over for dinner; and the unpredictable and gun-loving Krug, who is brash and exasperating yet magnetic. The four are variously involved with the military – Plinko, for instance, works as a reservist on weekends and Wednesday evenings – and they fill their days with school, part-time jobs, watching movies, ordering pizza, playing video games late into the night.
And then – 9/11. As the military prepares to move into Afghanistan, the trajectories of the four friends’ lives are changed irrevocably.
Drawn from the author’s experiences as a soldier in Afghanistan, Juiceboxers tenderly traces the story of a young man’s journey from basic training, to the battlefields of Kandahar, to the oil fields of Alberta, braiding together questions of masculinity and militarism, friendship and violence, loss and trauma, ideology and innocence.
A Note From the Publisher
The juicebox generation: author Benjamin Hertwig posits that his is the “juicebox generation” – a beverage ubiquitous to every ’80s and ’90s kid, and one that also conveys a sense of immaturity and disposability. The young soldiers in Afghanistan in Juiceboxers feel that they mean about as much to the military as a pack of juiceboxes.
Based on the author’s experiences in Afghanistan: the author is a former soldier who served in Afghanistan and knows firsthand about the world he is writing about. Hertwig’s debut collection of poetry, Slow War, was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award and is considered an instant classic in Canadian war literature.
Advance Praise
Praise for Juiceboxers
“Juiceboxers is an unvarnished, intimately informed dissection of war’s physical and emotional derangements. So many moments in Benjamin Hertwig’s dark but ultimately tender novel reminded me, with eerie precision, of things I had seen and heard while covering the invasion of Afghanistan – the marrow-deep racism; the casual bloodlust; the desperate need to belong to something, anything. To read this book is to contend with what the enterprise of industrial-scale violence can do to its most active participants, the many ways in which one emerges from so bloody a thing dislocated from who they used to be.” OMAR EL AKKAD author of What Strange Paradise and American War
“Juiceboxers is a fiercely honest portrait of young soldiers fighting a war Canada would rather forget and then discovering that it has followed them home. Benjamin Hertwig’s debut novel is an unflinching act of remembrance, a tale of brotherhood and prejudice, and a moving portrait of lives and friendships forged and torn apart.” THOMAS WHARTON author of The Book of Rain and Icefields
“Tempering harshness with tenderness and humour, Benjamin Hertwig’s Juiceboxers maps external and internal territories of conflict with sure grasp of character. A gripping addition to the canon of the literature of war and what comes after.” NABEN RUTHNUM author of A Hero of Our Time
Marketing Plan
- Author appearances: Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto
- National advertising
- National targeted review mailing
- Pitches to literary festivals
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781990601712 |
| PRICE | CA$24.95 (CAD) |
| PAGES | 352 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Joe M, Reviewer
Juiceboxers by Benjamin Hertwig. Published by Freehand Books, 2024.
AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2024!
Summary:
“Sixteen-year-old Plinko is attending basic training before high school starts up again in the fall. Feeling adrift from his own family, he moves in with an older soldier, where he forges an unlikely group of friends in the military: the very tall Walsh, who moves in shortly after Plinko does; Abdi, whose Somali immigrant parents often welcome the group of young men over for dinner; and the unpredictable and gun-loving Krug, who is brash and exasperating yet magnetic.
After 9/11, the military prepares to move into Afghanistan — to go to war. Plinko and his friends have no idea that the trajectory of their lives is about to be irrevocably altered.
Drawn from the author's experiences as a soldier in Afghanistan, Juiceboxers tenderly traces the story of a young man's journey from basic training, to the battlefields of Kandahar, to the inner city of Edmonton, braiding together questions of masculinity and militarism, friendship and white supremacy, loss and trauma and hard-won recovery.” (Back Blurb).
For some reason, this was the second book I read about war in a few weeks. Different wars, different times though. Hertwig does a great job introducing the reader to the characters of the book early, and sets the tone. I loved how the book travels back and forth in time. Also, how Hertwig shows the impact of war on each character, both before and after. I loved the brashness of the character of Krug, but also the journey Hertwig takes Plinko on. Hertwig brings his own personal experience to the book, and his knowledge of the subject matter was fitting and flawless.
"Those who survived could never really trust one another again because they knew that war was just another word for the things people do to one another." (Juiceboxers, Benjamin Hertwig).
Shout out and high-five to Colby @freehandbooks in Calgary for sending over a new copy to read. Thanks to @netgalley as always.
4/5
Strong debut.
Don't sleep on this one!
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