Purple Heart

Gr 9 Up—TBI. These three initials haunt Private Matt Duffy as he awakes in the army hospital in Iraq. They stand for traumatic brain injury, and Matt remembers little of the attack that landed him in the hospital, although he experiences flashbacks in which he sees a young boy being shot. Eventually he is sent back into combat and rejoins his unit, but he must come to terms with his injury and the reasons behind the attack. Patricia McCormick's novel (HarperCollins/Blazer & Bray, 2009) is another great example of her ability to relate unimaginable situations to teen readers as she tackles the subject with sensitivity and honesty. The situation in Iraq and the soldier's experiences are captured perfectly. James Colby's no-nonsense, gruff style creates the perfect voice of a soldier. The way he expresses the feelings of the soldiers perfectly reflects the military image of well-contained emotions. The ties that bind the soldiers together and the loss they feel when one of their own is killed will keep listeners' attention and make the horrors of war even more palpable. The strong language and violent situations adds to the story's realism. The quick pace makes this perfect for reluctant readers, particularly male teens. Give this to fans of Walter Dean Myers's Sunrise Over Fallujah (Scholastic, 2008).—Sarah Flood, Breckinridge County Public Library, Hardinsburg, KY