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Heroic is effective in educating its target audience about the issues associated with soldiers returning home from the Afghanistan War as it highlights issues discussed such as changing family dynamics, media portrayal of people and events, significant personality change and post-traumatic stress disorder. Within these sub topics Heroic captivates its target audience, almost putting them in the position of main characters Sonny and Jammy, making them realise how war tears people apart and dramatically changes them. By reading this novel and learning about returned veterans, I have gained much respect for them and what they do. PTSD, changing family dynamics, media portrayal of people and events and significant personality change are not often things that families that do not go to war do not experience. I have now realised how hard it is for people that return from war although I cannot relate their issues as I take many simple things such as a good education, no mental issues, and a healthy family for granted.

(Earle, 2013)

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Soldiers post war often return with depression, anxiety and PTSD. '1 in 10 Iraq veterans are diagnosed with PTSD'. When Jammy returned home it was obvious that he had symptoms of PTSD and anxiety. Jammy's obnoxious nightmares and unexpected late night fights with Sonny show how he is oblivious to the change that he is home. From months of being at war and having to be alert all of the time, Jammy developed habits that Sonny cannot understand. In an interview with returned veterans one man sits down and says 'I'm sweating aren't I, its my PTSD and anxiety kicking in'. This shows how 'normal' and apart of peoples lifes PTSD becomes to some people after a while.

Jammy's PTSD becomes out of control when he rampages through the town damaging cars, graffitiing public property, stealing cars and firing gunshots. Whilst Jammy is on his rampage Sonny is frequently searching for signs of Jamm. When Sonny approaches 'The Ghost' he says 'I'd no idea what Afghanistan looked like. All I did know, as we hit the edge of the Ghost, was that Jammy decided to bring a bit of it back with him'.

After returning and suffering from PTSD many veterans enter addictions and suicide attempts. 'I drank alcohol every day, because of my problems'. 'every 80 minutes a veteran attempts suicide'. 'Im now an alcoholic.'

(Earle, 2013) , (TED-Ed, 2018) , (Anon, n.d.) , (YouTube, 2018)

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Earle, P. (2013). Heroic. London: Penguin Books.

Bbc.co.uk. (2018). The history of the Afghanistan war - CBBC Newsround. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/15214375 [Accessed 2 Apr. 2018].

TED-Ed. (2018). Your time in Iraq makes you a threat to society: Andrew Chambers at TEDxMarionCo. [online] Available at: https://ed.ted.com/on/z6Yw7aT8 [Accessed 6 Apr. 2018].

Anon, (n.d.). You Can't Ask That - Series 2 Recent War Veterans : ABC iview. [online] Available at: https://iview.abc.net.au/programs/you-cant-ask-that/LE1617H004S00.

YouTube. (2018). Invisible Wound's - Break Down (Documentary). [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBX-1pAyXnI [Accessed 3 Apr. 2018].

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'Sometimes the FIERCEST BATTLES are fought at HOME'. Brothers are the closest of bonds, war tears them apart. When Jammy and Tommo go overseas to fight the Afghanistan war, dynamics between the no-sisters bond change between younger siblings Cam and Sonny that were left at home. Devastation occurs when the boys are expected home. Tommo is tragically killed one week prior to returning home, Jammy fills with guilt, blaming himself for Tommos death. Jammy returns home to the lads and Hitch (one of the lads) is missing, but yet to be found almost a skeleton, pale and overdosed. Jammy enters into a rampage, blaming himself for Tommo's death. Jammy causes havoc in the town, damaging cars and graffitiing public walls. Sonny steps up to support Jammy, taking blame for the havoc caused around the town. In the end Jammy reunites with the lads, Tommos presence is missed but will never be forgotten.

This novel is aimed towards older teens/young adults as the characters are around 17 - 18 years of age.

The Afghanistan war started in 2001 when Afghan leaders and the Taliban refused to hand over Osama Bin Laden. The United states began bombing Afghanistan and in particular Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda fighters.

(Earle, 2013) , (Bbc.co.uk, 2018)

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It has been said by soldiers that come back from war 'people don't understand your story, they think that I'm on a pension, or that I only went to war for the money'. This judgement from other people shows that not only the media, but other people make fake accusations or comments about you. Days after Jammy comes home he is invaded by wanting journalists 'By the way, Jammy, not something to worry about now but there's been a journalist calling for you.'

When Jammy returns home he is in the local newspaper, being recognised as a 'Hero' for his 'HEROIC' actions in Afghanistan and his efforts to save his best friend; Tommo. In Afghanistan Jammy did all he could to keep Tommo alive. Jammy still takes the blame for Tommos death, therefor he is ashamed of being called a 'Hero'. When Jammy is recognised in the 'Gazette' after finding overdosed friend hitch he enters rampage, letting out all of his anger.

(Earle, 2013) , (Anon, n.d.)

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When Jammy returns from service his personality has changed significantly. The significance of Jammy loosing Tommo devastates him, causing him to have nightmares that result in him fighting with Sonny. Jammy states in the novel 'And as hard as  tried to hide it, well, I failed.' This and many other quotes said by Jammy post war was obvious that he had dramatically changed.

In the novel significant personality change is handled well by Jammy's family and friends considering that he returns from war completely changed. Although Jammy has different outlooks he is supported by both family and friends. With support Jammy gradually gets better but he will never be the same.

Often after war when veterans return home they have difficulties fitting back into 'civilian life'. Fitting back in often effects veterans personality, as they have habits taken from war. Some troubles that returned war veterans said they faced include; 'you have habits, you look for bombs everywhere', 'there are so many choices in the supermarket', and, 'people in westerns country have no idea what it is like to be spoilt for choice, sometimes you want to slap them in the face, but that is not socially acceptable'. 'In 2001 America employed 30,000 troops, more than 30% came back not the same.'

(Earle, 2013) , (Anon, n.d.) , (YouTube, 2018)

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Jammy returns home a changed person. Jamm's mum constantly is worried about his where-abouts and if he okay. Jammy and Sonny share a room, this results in Jammy accidentally retaliating to Sonny that tries to wake him up during the night.

The night that Jammy returns him and the 'lads' have a big night drinking, resulting in hangovers the next day. As Sonny returned home that night without Jammy his mum was disappointed. The next morning Sonny and Jamm's mum was urging Sonny, 'Could you not look after him for once?'

In the text changing family dynamics are handled appropriately for each situation. As a result of Jammy changing Sonny finally grows up, stepping up to play the role for his older brother. When Sonny steps up to cover for Jammy he says, 'I was used to hearing orders. Usually they came from Jammy. And usually I ignored them. But not this time. This was what had to happen. I'd stepped up. It was what brothers did.'

(Earle, 2013)