Alan Cheuse reviews Kevin Powers’ first novel The Yellow Birds, which is based on his real life experience serving in Iraq. MELISSA BLOCK, HOST: Writer Kevin Powers enlisted in the army at age 17 and served in Iraq in .

How old is Murph in The Yellow Birds?

age 18

Daniel Murphy, a.k.a. Murph (Sheridan), age 18, approaches 20-year-old Brandon Bartle (Ehrenreich) because he’s heard they’re both from Virginia.