This was an uplifting Story of Scotty Smiley's faith triumphing over his adversity. It was a good read that I enjoyed.
I qualify my praise, though, with a few notes: the book has kind of a bragging tone to it. I also could not help but observe that Captain Smiley was not a war hero in the strictest sense of the word--he did not injure himself saving others, but in the dangerous course of a job that he was determined to do. This alone makes him a brave and dedicated warrior, even a hero. But there are many others who died or were injured because they specifically put themselves in harm's way to save another. Also I wondered why this boy's injuries were to be lauded any more than any other soldier who lost parts of him/herself. Many have lost limbs, mental and emotional health and even lives over the course of this war. Is Scotty Smiles especially lauded because of his high profile friends? Was he able to stay in the military because of the powerful influence of his military friends that were his superiors? It really does appear that way.
This book, however, was the story of a patriot who is also a religious man. This is the kind of man that we want our sons to be like. I enjoyed reading of his struggles and the effort it took for him to rise above them. There are still overtones of self-pity and bitterness in the book, but these only make him easier to relate to--because which one of us wouldn't feel those things? It was a good book, uplifting and heart-warming. This country could use many, many men just like Scotty Smiley.
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