Invisible Wounds

Invisible Wounds is Jess Ruliffson's debut graphic novel. For five years she traveled from coast to coast interviewing veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Inside the book are comic strips of twelve veterans detailing their experiences with war. They all had different ranks and job assignments but all suffered in the same way from being involved in a war. 

The veterans are from different backgrounds. One is transgender and another was the only African American in his regiment. They are from different parts of the U. S., from New York City to New Orleans and Vermont. The one problem that they all had in common was trauma from having served. All of them had issues to deal with upon returning home.

The book reads fast. Since mental health issues are a big part of the veterans' homecoming, I wonder whether reading a graphic novel on war would be helpful for them when dealing with their emotions.

5 out of 5 stars.