Sunrise Over Fallujah

Though I felt at times that the author presented shocking situations merely for shock value rather than adding to the story, "Sunrise Over Fallujah" is a well stated work of fiction. In the fever of patriotism, sometimes Americans forget what war really is. Like a pitcher of ice water poured down the back of your shirt, Walter Dean Myers gets your attention and violently chills the warm hear of patriotism. Robin "Birdy" Perry wanted to make a difference in the world. Even if he was not placed on the front lines in Iraq, he was to play an important role working with Civil Affairs. Roles in a war are not always clearly defined, so Birdy's roles was not limited to being a smiling face. Myers tells the story through the eyes of Birdy, but allows Birdy's fears and emotions to spill in letters to his Vietnam veteran uncle. Myers seems to be implying parallels between the conflicts. Through the eyes of Birdy, the conflicts are not that different. Birdy writes to his uncle ost of the time because his father was against his military service. Those left behind also suffer the burden of war. In the final chapter, Myers uses a child with blindness as a metaphor for war. In the cases of a frightened child with blindess and a fearful country, both search for soemthing greater through the wreckage of terror. But as is implied, both are merely stumbling in the dark. "Sunrise over Fallujah" is a very clever book. Though I am not certain if calling it an anti-war book is justified, I am certain that it will weigh on the conscience of a reader. This is the mark of a good book.

Several times while reading this book I had to stop and remind myself that this was a novel and a work of fiction. Walter Dean Myers captures the very essence of the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a Member of an Army Transportation Unit deployed to Iraq from April of 2003 to May of 2004, I recognized many of the sights and sounds (and even the smells) brought to life by the author. War is a challenge for the best of us, and the young people depicted in this novel are no different than those that I had the privilege of serving with. This book is not a political statement, but instead a glimpse into the very life of the first OIF soldiers. For those who believe that Mr. Myers characters are whiny and unprofessional, I am here to tell you that you worry more about soldiers when they cease to complain. For that is the very first clue that your troops have lost their drive and their will to survive. I would recommend this book to any young person who is considering joining the military, and I salute Mr. Myers for a first rate book and also Scholastic for printing such a timely and profound piece.

Sunrise over Fallujah is a really really good book. It is a definite 5 stars. It is realistic fiction and from my uncles stories it follows the war pretty good. I can really connect the main character "Birdy" to my uncle who was in the war. The antagonists were the Iraqis. The protagonists, Birdy and his friends were from America in the Iraq war. I read the book Fallen Angels but this book is still better than it. Robin,or Birdy as his friends call him, writes letters to his uncle who was in the Vietnam War. Birdy is faced with challenges of the war. He watched a civilian die, his friend get shot and he was shot at. Walter Dean Myers really makes the book show a little of how the war is really happening over there. This book is more for teenagers but even my dad read it so it could be for anyone. I hope Walter Dean Myers makes another book about the end of the Iraq war with Birdy reunited with his uncle and starts his own family.

If you like "Fallen Angles" or just all around War/History books then you should get this. It's about Robin "Birdy" Perry who is the nephew of Richard Perry (the main character in "Fallen Angles"). Robin joins the Iraq War and realizes what his uncle went though in Vietnam. In the end he sees what really goes on in wars.

If you really want to understand what went wrong with the war in Iraq, look no further than "Sunrise Over Fallujah" by Walter Dean Myers. The first three months of the war are viewed through the eyes of Private Robin Perry - aka Birdy - who is part of a Civil Affairs Unit. The men and women in Birdy's unit are well-trained, yet ill-prepared for what awaits them on the battlefield. In the beginning their mission is to follow the invasion forces, and make contact with the Iraqi people to begin building a democracy. Yet as the weeks progress, their unit keeps getting pushed further into the combat zone and deeper into danger. All too quickly they go from playing soccer to win over Iraqi youths to combat in the streets. From Marla-the-gutsy-girl-gunner to Jonesy, the blues fanatic philosopher, Birdy is flanked by a colorful and diverse bunch of characters from all walks of life, which is so typical of the military experience. Their story is an important one because it shows what happens when good, brave young people are tasked on an impossible mission with a woefully in adequate understanding of the language and culture of the region, and where the rules of engagement (ROE) change from one day to the next. While some readers might find the dialogue a bit tame - perhaps even unrealistic - it's clear Myers chose a style that makes this book palatable for the classroom, and suitable for readers as young as 10 years old. This book is not an escape into a fantasy world of wizards and dragons, it is a jolt of reality about the war our children have already inherited. However, "Sunrise Over Fallujah" is one voice - one perspective on this war. Surely we need other voices and more perspectives. I hope this will be the first of many books for teens about a war that has been waged for a third of their lives.