Purple Heart
Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick, published by Harper Collins in September 2009, is a poignant exploration of the complexities of war through the eyes of Private Matt Duffy. After waking up in an army hospital in Iraq and receiving a Purple Heart, Matt grapples with feelings of guilt and confusion stemming from a traumatic memory of a young Iraqi boy’s death, which he believes he may have inadvertently caused. This edition spans 208 pages and is presented in English.
Readers will find a deep dive into the psychological struggles faced by soldiers in combat, as Matt is sent back to the battlefield alongside his squad—Justin, Wolf, and Charlene—who have become his family. The narrative delves into the blurred lines of morality in warfare, highlighting the challenges of loyalty and the fear of making life-and-death decisions. McCormick’s work offers a historical perspective on military life, emphasizing the emotional toll of conflict and the intricate dynamics of relationships formed in the midst of chaos.
Official synopsis Publisher
When Private Matt Duffy wakes up in an army hospital in Iraq, he’s honored with a Purple Heart. But he doesn’t feel like a hero.
There’s a memory that haunts him: an image of a young Iraqi boy as a bullet hits his chest. Matt can’t shake the feeling that he was somehow involved in his death. But because of a head injury he sustained just moments after the boy was shot, Matt can’t quite put all the pieces together.
Eventually Matt is sent back into combat with his squad—Justin, Wolf, and Charlene—the soldiers who have become his family during his time in Iraq. He just wants to go back to being the soldier he once was. But he sees potential threats everywhere and lives in fear of not being able to pull the trigger when the time comes. In combat there is no black-and-white, and Matt soon discovers that the notion of who is guilty is very complicated indeed.
National Book Award Finalist Patricia McCormick has written a visceral and compelling portrait of life in a war zone, where loyalty is valued above all, and death is terrifyingly commonplace.
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