Fallen Angels
by Walter Dean Myers
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Book Summary Information
Author: Walter Dean MyersEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-05-01
ISBN: 0545055768
Number of pages: 336
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks
Book Reviews of Fallen Angels
Book Review: A war story, a teen drama, and a political statement all in one
Summary: 3 Stars
I was assigned to read this in college as an example of how "young adult" fiction is difficult to define. Fallen Angels definitely defies labeling, and adroitly demonstrates that young adult fiction can be every bit as weighty as adult fiction.
The book reminded me of Richard Price's "Clockers," in that it was a very unglamorous look at the harshly real life of a young black American trying to make his way through a dangerous world.
The characters in this book are much more fully fleshed out than they would be in an after school special; Myers takes advantage of the flexibility of the novel format to give us after school special themes done right. The characters are fully realized, and they grow over a period of years. There is plenty of introspection, even though the book is well-paced and consistently interesting.
More, the book poses some interesting questions-- what would I do if I were on the front lines of a war? What if my children wound up in this situation? Why, in our supposedly enlightened society, does race matter in this kind of situation?
This is a great, great book for an adult, but it's even better for a young person. The writing has the ring of truth about it, and most young people will recognize that. The themes are very relevant to the young adult who may be considering a tour in the military (almost certainly, he or she will have friends who enter the armed forces).
The clear, simple writing allows the story to move forward at a tolerable pace, and allows the readers to easily absorb the lessons contained therein.
I highly recommend this book as a bridge between lighter fare and more serious reading.
Summary of Fallen Angels
A coming-of-age tale for young adults set in the trenches of the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, this is the story of Perry, a Harlem teenager who volunteers for the service when his dream of attending college falls through. Sent to the front lines, Perry and his platoon come face-to-face with the Vietcong and the real horror of warfare. But violence and death aren't the only hardships. As Perry struggles to find virtue in himself and his comrades, he questions why black troops are given the most dangerous assignments, and why the U.S. is even there at all.A coming of age tale for young adults set in the trenches of the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, Fallen Angels is the story of Perry, a Harlem teenager who volunteers for the service when his dream of attending college falls through. Sent to the front lines, Perry and his platoon come face-to-face with the Vietcong and the real horror of warfare. But violence and death aren't the only hardships. As Perry struggles to find virtue in himself and his comrades, he questions why black troops are given the most dangerous assignments, and why the U.S. is there at all. Fallen Angels won the 1989 Coretta Scott King Award.
Military & Wars Books
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