Cole’s battalion has already deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. Is almost impossible, especially when he’s deployed. Loving a Marine who’s an aggressive frontline marksman And all must eventually ask themselves if the collateral damage it causes is worth the fight. While those at home may be far from the relentless, sand-choked skies of the Middle East and the crosshairs of a sniper rifle, they, too, sacrifice their lives and happiness for their country at war. Written in Ellen Hopkins’s stunning poetic verse style, Collateral captures the hearts of the soldiers on the battlefield and the minds of the friends, family, and lovers they leave behind.

Cole desperately wants Ashley to marry him, but when she meets another man, a college professor, with similar professional pursuits and values, she begins to see what life might be like outside the shadow of war. Their relationship evolves into a deeply felt, sexually charged love affair that goes on for five years and survives four deployments. He doesn’t match the stereotype of the aggressive military man she’d always presumed to be true he’s passionate and romantic, and he even writes poetry. But one night, she meets a handsome Marine named Cole. The last thing she ever expected was to end up a military wife. She was raised in northern California reading poetry and singing backupin her best friend’s band. Meet Ashley, a graduate student at San Diego State University.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Triangles comes an exquisitely told story about a young woman torn between passionate first love and the gripping realities of war.

Ellen hopkins poetry