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Reviewed by Makeda Cummings for Readers' Favorite
Bastard Soldier: Earnest Medic by Michael Plotkowski follows Joe, a regular young man who joins the U.S. Army after a minor run-in with the law leaves him with few good options. What begins as an attempt to dodge trouble turns into long years of training, deployments, and role changes that shape who he becomes as an adult. The book moves through basic training, later schooling, and Joe’s first army jobs. During all of this, we see his routines, the discipline he faces, the rules he follows, and the people he crosses paths with. He later transitions into medical training, where he is given greater responsibilities than before. Joe tells his story with humor, frustration, and junctures of personal growth. In the end, will he ever understand what this was really preparing him for?
Bastard Soldier: Earnest Medic by Michael Plotkowski is a darkly comic military novel. I read it as a blunt account of how institutions shape people more through pressure than guidance. Plotkowski writes in clear, engaging language and often cuts scenes short rather than overworking them, which suits the subject well. The humor is rough at times, but it reflects the environment Joe is trapped in. I respect that the author doesn’t explain everything and lets things play out on their own. The pacing follows army life, with long stretches of routine broken by sudden disorder. By the final pages, the book leaves a strong impression of how lasting these experiences can be, even after the uniform comes off. Great book. I enjoyed every page. Highly recommended!
