Purple Heart, written by Patricia McCormick, is a book about an 18 year old private in the Iraq War named Matt Duffy. Matt wakes up in an army hospital not knowing what happened to him however he has flashbacks about something. Matt finds out the he is being held and tested for TBI, traumatic brain injury. Matt doesn't know what day it is or how long he has been in the hospital but he wants to get back out with his squad. Matt stays in the hospital and is taken through a series of test and befriends a man named Francis. As time goes on in the hospital Matt finds out more information about what happened and learns some from his friend and squad member Justin. He has a hard time remembering things and writes down what he learns in a notebook. Matt is nearly questioned by the military police for the incident that put him into the hospital. When he is discharged from the hospital he gets to go back to his squad but he is scared of going back out into the war zone. He meets back up with his friends who are glad to see him except his best friend Justin, who seems weird about things. Matt gets back out into the city on patrols with Charlene, a woman from his squad, so that he could keep up with her. They weren't really very good friends but they see something in each other and become closer. One day on patrol things go awry as an explosions, gunshots, fire and smoke fill the immediate area. Two of Matt's squad members become victim's of an insurgent attack. Where is Justin? Can Matt pull the trigger when he needs to? Will he make it through the fight?
Purple Heart is a book about real life situations that effect the men and women in the military. McCormick gained accurate information to write the book via interviews of soldiers and soldiers families. It shows struggles both mentally and physically that soldiers may endure during battle, and the up close and personal situation that arise in the war zone.
I really enjoyed the book. It was very well written and draws the reader into the story, and leaves the reader wanting more, especially at the abrupt ending. The book was a very fast read and did involve some colorful language that many people wouldn't care to read or let their 5th grade student read. It wouldn't be a book that I would read in class but is a book that could be recommended to older middle school or high school students to read. It may be a book that as a teacher you would possibly send a letter home to the parents summarizing the book and stating what the book is about so that they aren't surprised when their children shows a book that you lent them consisting of vulgar language, death and war. War is also not an easy topic for some, so considerations should be made about the overall topic of the book as well. Overall I would rate the book a 4 out of 5! It would be a 5 out of 5 without the abrupt ending; I really wanted to learn more about Matt Duffy.
This sounds like a great book for boys. I agree though the vulgar language would probably turn me off. I would use it for a read-aloud and censor any inappropriate language or situations. I too would send a letter home getting permission from parents first though.
ReplyDeleteI would strongly recommend not using it as a read aloud and censoring. Instead I would recommend considering who the target audience is and then thinking about how you would feel comfortable incorporating it into the classroom (i.e. as a part of the library, as a book club, as a read aloud). If you find yourself censoring for the audience or purpose, then it probably is not the best fit for your exact context.
DeleteIan I am so glad to hear that you read this book. It is on my "someday" list after we watched the book talk about it last week. It looks like a great book especially for older students. I think it will be one of my first reads of the summer.
ReplyDeleteIt is too bad that the ending was so abrupt, I find that I get emotionally attached to characters and I like to know as much as possible about them that I can.
I have this on my list of books to read this summer! It is good to know that you read it and enjoyed it. It sounds like it is a good that I need to keep on my list and read. I think sending a note home to parents before reading this book as a class is a great idea.
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