Customer Reviews

Sunrise Over Fallujah

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The Iraq War, in the news now for years, is the focus of SUNRISE OVER FALLUJAH, the latest book by veteran YA author Walter Dean Myers. He has written other war stories, but this newest one expresses the controversy and mixed emotions Iraq has generated among so many.

Robin Perry, aka Birdy, has made the decision to enlist. Certain members of his family have expressed their concern and even disapproval of Robin's decision to serve. Through occasional letters to family members, readers learn about many of Robin's wartime experiences.

As part of a unit assigned to handle civil matters with the Iraqi people, Robin and his fellow soldiers still see all angles of military action. The endless lines of army and marine vehicles traveling toward Baghdad, the choking sand storms, the frightening IED explosions, and grieving soldiers and civilians all combine to illustrate the horrors of war.

Robin's feelings about the senselessness of the war are clearly expressed. As the events of his tour of duty unfold, he realizes if asked whether the Americans were winning or losing, he would find the question unanswerable. The promise of a quick return home for the troops turns into delay after delay as it becomes obvious that Saddam's reign may have ended, but many more deep-seated problems exist in war-torn Iraq.

Although the story of SUNRISE OVER FALLUJAH is a mere glimpse of the action through the eyes of few, Myers has created a chance for teens to learn about a war that has filled their days much as the Vietnam War became part of the lives of teens some thirty years ago.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

Myers, Walter Dean. Sunrise Over Fallujah. Scholastic Press. 2008.
This is a poignant story about a young black soldier from Harlem, New York who is sent to Iraq in the early days of the war; and although fiction, his impressions, experiences and friendships portray vividly the emotional tension of a war zone. The book begins with a heartfelt letter that Robin "Birdy" Perry writes to his Uncle Richie, a Vietnam vet. "Birdy" explains that he wanted to help his country after 911 and he thought that his war experience would be different from that of his Uncle who had to deal with anger from his fellow Americans when he returned home. He asks his Uncle to help his father understand why he needs to fight for his country. Contemporary language and realistic interactions lend immediacy to this dramatic story that reveals the powerful friendships and conflicts that can arise amidst the affecting life and death backdrop of war.

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.

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.

The Sunrise over Fallujah is mostly about Robin Birdy Perry, a new army recruit, from Harlem. He is not sure why he joined the army. He goes with his unit in there melatary basic training. So some of the charters are Marla, the witty gunner, Captain Coles, the ever cool career man, Jones, the funny guitar- picking blues player, victor, and a exgangbanger and captain miller, and a thoughtful and understanding doctor.

The people on the other side of these is calling it operation Iraqi freedom but the men and woman at the basic that there in it is called war. Then Robin learns about the cities culture but he still does not understand and he learners winning just becomes surviving are great nation and not just saying he is a hero he is a hero. They go back to there families, and friends and shows off his metals. Then he goes back to war, and serves his year in the army.

I wood recommend this book to all 11 and 12 year olds or older because, there are so many hard words in this book that if your not a great reader your will get lost. You would not get the concept of this very good book. I think they should have a sequel because, the book leaves you wanting more, and it ends in away that you want to make your own ending or what's going to happen. I pick this book because of it's had action and humor.

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.

Robin "Birdy" Perry feels compelled to leave Harlem, forego college, and join the Army in the aftermath of 9/11. He does just that--without his father's support. In Sunrise over Fallujah, the 2008 young adult novel by acclaim writer Walter Dean Myers, Birdy finds himself in Iraq and attached to a Civil Affairs unit, a group of soldiers assigned the dubious honor of testing the waters in various "hearts and mind" situations with local Iraqis conceived by higher ups who say they are intent on establishing peace and building democracy. Birdy soon learns the people he can trust are the men and women soldiering right alongside them. Beyond this small group, nothing's for sure.

Because soliders who participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom had not only to defeat an enemy but also to build relationships with locals whose loyalties might by lie with the old regime or with some other religious faction or with some other tribe, knowing where to point the gun and when to soot becomes a nightmarish challenge. The Rules of Engagement change from day to day. Nothing is clear. Nobody can be trusted. Everyone has an agenda. And some lies are very convincing.

Myers's novel takes the reader on a journey through the desert, the streets of Baghdad, and other parts of Iraq that are as mysterious as they are ancient and sometimes incomprehensible to the young man from Harlem and his friends--a tough gunner who bounced around in foster care, a wannabe blues musician, a dad--in uniform. Moving forward from day to day with limited information to do job after job on which depends the future of a war-ravaged country about as unlike the US as a country could be turns Birdy and his friends into adults who understand the power and eloquence of silence to speak for the soul from that place deep down where words have no place.

As I turned the pages of this novel about teenagers at war, I found myself muttering, "No way, no way, no way...." because I liked the kids in this story. I could see the students in my classroom becoming these soldiers--and hopefully knowing before it's too late that life is about the person alongside you and the only moment you have is right now.
Sunrise Over Fallujah

This book really struck a chord within me. Admittedly, the plots are vague, but the characters are really knowable. The story is heart-wrenching but beautiful.

Excellent story with above average voice acting. For anyone thinking about joining the military, listen to this. This is a seriously emotional and raw book that had me interest from the being and didn't let go until the very end.

The characters were extremely likeable and I found myself scared for their safety, which isn't the norm for me when reading a book. The book is neither pro-Iraq or anti-Iraq war, it just is.

In my opinion, I would skip the written version and get the audio CD because it is a masterpiece.