Purple Heart, written by Patricia McCormick. Balzer & Bray, Harper, 2009. $22.50 ages 14 and up

"'You still having language-retrieval problems?' Kwong said.
'Some.'
'Mood swings?' Kwong's voice came from over Matt's shoulder as he shined his light in Matt's ears.
Matt blinked. 'Sort of.'
'How about your cognitive functioning? Are you able to absorb new information?' Kwong had put on his stethoscope and was listening to Matt's heart. If Matt answered, what would it sound like through the stethoscope? Would his voice rumble in Kwong's ears? Or would it sound like a fly buzzing just out of range?
'How about focus?' Kwong asked, his stethoscope now on Matt's back. 'Are you having trouble concentrating?'
Matt tried to think. He couldn't even remember what Kwong's last question was."

When Matt Duffy awakens in a hospital ward, he is astonished to learn that he is being presented with the Purple Heart. Matt remembers little of the event that has won him the honor. We discover he is suffering from TBI...a traumatic brain injury from the bomb blast that nearly cost him his life. He is warned that he will feel a variety of symptoms related to his injury. He has difficulty with balance and stamina, his word retrieval is slow and often, he cannot 'get' the word he needs, he has little memory of the events that led to he and his buddy being trapped in an alley facing enemy gunfire. He has flashbacks that brings memories of a young Iraqi boy named Ali who followed his squad around while they were on patrol. He sees him smiling and then flying through the air, and is told that Ali is dead. Matt wonders if he is responsible for the death of a child. As his body heals, he is sent back to his company. He remembers more and more...will he remember what his brain is helping him forget?

It's really tough to say that a book about the war in Iraq is good, but that is the case with this one. It is so well written, and thought-provoking. Matt is such a strong character; and as a reader I found myself suffering with him. What hurts my heart most is the cost to the young men and women who will live their lives with the repercussions of injury and trauma. This is a heartbreaking book that gets right to the 'purple heart' of that matter.