Book Review - Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick

If you have read any of Patricia McCormick's other books, like Cut or Sold, you know that she is a fantastic writer that tackles difficult topics. Purple Heart is no different. The story is about a young man named Matt who is stationed in Iraq when he is seriously injured during a mission. He is in a military hospital, trying to figure out what happened to him, and freaking out that he will be forever damaged by his traumatic brain injury. He is haunted by dreams of a young Iraqi boy named Ali, who often played soccer near where Matt's unit patrolled, and Matt can't shake the feeling that he was in some way responsible for his death. Above all else, Matt wants to be back fighting for his country with his boys, and it is loyalty to his friends that is most striking in this story. Matt's story gives us a brief glimpse into the messy and painful consequences of war.