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penalew's review against another edition
4.0
Very good war book - I am guessing that most teens would like it, and it would likely even appeal to reluctant readers.
dalet3's review against another edition
3.0
For the most part I really liked the book - the characters were interesting, the environs well set and the slow reveal of the central plot mystery nicely constructed, but.. by the closing sections it started feeling a little too constructed, too much like it had a point to make and that if characters and events had to be bent to make it then so be it.
For my money, Sunrise Over Fallujah covered similar territory for a similar readership both with more heart and more guts.
For my money, Sunrise Over Fallujah covered similar territory for a similar readership both with more heart and more guts.
marydawnschuck's review against another edition
When private Matt Duffy wakes up in a military hospital in Iraq, he knows something bad has happened because his head hurts like crazy, but he can’t remember what happened. As pieces of his memory start to return, Matt struggles to make sense of it all.
Iowa Teen Award Nominee 2011-12
Iowa Teen Award Nominee 2011-12
bookworm_630's review against another edition
4.0
As always, Patricia McCormick has written another story that cuts right to the heart of an issue that is often ignored by ya books. And she does it so well! This is a look at what the teens who join up and go overseas to fight experience daily: the confusion, the fear, the uncertainty, and the disconnect from home ("regular" life). Highly recommend this!
emilyanne_van's review against another edition
3.0
Real rating is a 3 and 1/2 stars. Very sad novel that opened my eyes up to the horrors of war.
bethanymiller415's review against another edition
3.0
Private Matt Duffy awakens in a military hospital in the green zone of Baghdad with only scattered memories of the incident that landed him there. An officer presents him with a Purple Heart – the medal given to soldiers who are wounded in battle. A doctor tells Matt that he is suffering from a post-traumatic brain injury, which could be the reason for his confused memories – an overturned car, a stray dog, the sound of the muezzin, a flash of light and a young boy being lifted off of his feet. When his friend Justin comes to visit, he tells Matt about how the two of them had gotten separated from the group and were trapped in an alley and forced to fire upon insurgents when an RPG (rocket propelled grenade) slammed into a wall about twenty feet away. Matt tries to make sense of his own slowly returning memories and the story that Justin told him, but something just isn’t right. Will he ever figure out what really happened that day?
kits_little_library's review against another edition
4.0
I hate the idea of saying I really liked this book because it's about war and there's death and after effects and it's sad and it hits home.
I liked the story. I liked that it felt real, it hit me in the feels, I was scared, and it made me tear up a couple times.
I think I'll just leave it there.
I liked the story. I liked that it felt real, it hit me in the feels, I was scared, and it made me tear up a couple times.
I think I'll just leave it there.
teenlibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
More like 2.5 stars.
I never really connected to the narrative or any of the characters. I wasn’t into the mystery. It wasn’t so much of a “gripping psychological thriller.” I expected to be more engaged after reading her other work, SOLD.
I never really connected to the narrative or any of the characters. I wasn’t into the mystery. It wasn’t so much of a “gripping psychological thriller.” I expected to be more engaged after reading her other work, SOLD.
samcarlin's review against another edition
4.0
This book is intense and follows Private Duffy as he recovers from a brain injury and tries to piece together the events surrounding his injury. As he remembers more and more it becomes more emotional. I think it does a good job of being realistic of soldiers overseas and really touches on the "don't ask don't tell" policy.