Purple Heart opens with the image of an Iraqi boy engulfed in a flash of light and floating into the sky. How does this image develop as the novel continues, and how does it influence the events of the story? Why does the author couch this image—which ultimately turns violent—against the idyllic, innocent backdrop of a “crayon-blue sky” (4)? Does this juxtaposition encapsulate any larger themes in the novel?

At the opening of Purple Heart, Matt is awarded a Purple Heart, a medal that symbolizes heroism for most soldiers. At the end of his hospital stay, Matt gives the medal to Father Brennan. Why do you think Matt does this? What larger questions about heroism, and particularly the nature of heroism in the Iraq War, does his action raise?

Throughout Purple Heart, the author includes vivid sensory imagery—sights, sounds, and smells—that bring the Iraqi landscape to life. What are some of the images McCormick uses? How do these images help readers experience the Iraqi setting? Do they contribute to the themes of the novel?