Light Years by Tammar Stein

After the death of her boyfriend in a suicide bombing, Maya leaves Israel to attend college in Virginia in hopes of escaping her grief and sense of guilt. Maya finds escape in the astronomy lab and struggles to avoid connecting with anyone- including her roommate and the attractive TA who try to get to know her. Maya's story is revealed through her present day narration coupled with flashback to her past in Israel. A strong story with well-rounded and strong characters. As Maya grows, she struggles with her experiences between the two cultures which are light years apart.