BLASTED from COMPLACENCY is ultimately a love story—love for one’s country of ethnic origin, love for family and friends, love of self, and a surprising empathy for those who are perceived as enemies. Penny S. Tee weaves her family’s story of a vacation to Israel with her insights gained from finding herself in the middle of the 2014 Israel/Gaza conflict. Her work is a gift to those seeking to better understand both what is going on in the Middle East and their personal reactions to it. It is a gift of love.