LitPick Review
Private Matt Duffy wakes up with pain in his head while an army doctor is taking notes on a clipboard. The doctor checks his reflexes and memory. Shortly after, he diagnoses Matt with a traumatic brain injury. With this brain injury, Matt can't remember common words and especially why he is given the highest medal in the country, a Purple Heart. All Matt can remember is being alone in a filthy alley, like most of the alleys in Baghdad. Though dirty, a little Iraqi boy is there. In a quick second, the boy is dead. The scene terrorizes Matt because he thinks he killed the boy. The image lies at the back of Matt's head when he sent back to his squad. He feels better with the rest of his squad but then the image comes back. Matt has to get over his guilt and become a real soldier again.
Opinion:
Patricia McCormick has written a beautiful piece of literature. The realistic description of the setting made you feel like you were in the mellow hospital. The author made you feel like the hot, Baghdad sun was beating on your face. Besides the setting, the characters are very realistic with their thoughts and actions. Matt Duffy, the main character, is like any other soldier. He wants to get out the hospital so he can go back to his buddies. His loyalty to his fellow soldiers teaches the reader a good lesson. Also, his guilt teaches a lesson. He teaches us that the guilt may be the hardest part of war. The distinct setting and characters teach the reader a lesson about the horrors of war that they will never forget. I would recommend this book to mature teenagers and adults because of the language and the events which take place.
