Title: Sunrise Over Fallujah
Author: Walter Dean Myers
First published January 1, 2008
320 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780439916257 (ISBN10: 0439916259)
Rating: 3.71
Overview
Walter Dean Myers’ Sunrise Over Fallujah is a stunning portrayal of the brutality and bravery of war. Join the newly recruited army soldier, Robin “Birdy” Perry, and his comrades as they embark on a perilous journey to Iraq.
Their mission is no easy feat – to restore order, stabilize the country and establish peace. However, as they plunge deeper into the conflict, the line between right and wrong becomes increasingly blurred.
A gripping follow-up to Fallen Angels, this novel is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the true cost of war.
About the Author
Walter Dean Myers was a prolific author who wrote over 70 books for children and young adults. He was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia in 1937, but moved to Harlem at the age of three with his foster parents.
Walter attended public school in Harlem until he joined the army at the age of 17.
After serving in the army for four years, he worked at various jobs and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Empire State College. In 1977, he began writing full time.
Walter had a passion for writing from a young age, and in 1969 he won the Council on Interracial Books for Children contest, which led to the publication of his first book for children, Where Does the Day Go? He went on to receive numerous awards for his work, including the Coretta Scott King Award five times, two Newbery Honors, the Margaret A.
Edwards Award, and the Virginia Hamilton Award. His book Monster received the first Michael Printz Award for Young Adult literature awarded by the American Library Association, and both Monster and Autobiography of My Dead Brother were selected as National Book Award Finalists.
In addition to writing, Walter also contributed to educational and literary publications and visited schools to speak to children, teachers, librarians, and parents. He even led a writing workshop for children in a school in Jersey City, New Jersey for three years.
Walter Dean Myers was married, had three grown children, and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He passed away on July 1, 2014, at the age of 76, following a brief illness.
Editoral Review
Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers is a powerful piece of literature that delves into the emotional turmoil faced by American soldiers during the Iraq War. Myers is an accomplished author, having received numerous awards and accolades over the years, but this particular novel stands out as one of his most powerful and memorable works.
The novel is set in 2003 and follows the journey of 19-year-old Robin Perry, a recent high school graduate who is deployed to Iraq as an Army machine gunner. Along with his fellow soldiers, Perry confronts the intense physical and emotional challenges of war, as well as the complex political and cultural dynamics of the region.
As the war progresses, Perry must grapple with tough moral choices and the devastating consequences of his actions. Myers’ writing style is straightforward and honest, capturing the visceral experiences of war with detail and nuance.
He creates a web of complex characters who are realistically flawed, each struggling to cope with the weight of their experiences. His depiction of the Iraq War offers a stark contrast to the sanitized and sanitized version often presented by the media, highlighting the human cost of the conflict in ways that are both moving and thought-provoking.
The themes of Sunrise Over Fallujah are weighty and important, exploring issues of morality, trauma, patriotism, and the dehumanizing effects of war. Myers does an excellent job of exploring these themes without preaching or moralizing, allowing the nuanced characters and intricate plot to reveal the deep complexities of the issues at play.
One of the strengths of the novel is its realistic portrayal of the military experience. Myers himself served in the Army, and his personal experience shines through in the novel, making it feel like an authentic representation of military life.
The novel is also historically significant, capturing the raw emotions and experiences of soldiers during the Iraq War and providing insight into the difficulties faced by military personnel during this era. However, there are some limitations to the novel.
Some readers may find the plot to be overly predictable, and the ending may feel a bit too neat and tidy given the complex issues presented throughout the novel. Additionally, some readers may find the characters to be somewhat one-dimensional, lacking the depth and complexity seen in other works by Myers.
Despite these limitations, Sunrise Over Fallujah is a must-read for anyone interested in the human cost of war and the experiences of American soldiers during the Iraq War. Myers’ writing is powerful and evocative, and the themes he explores are both timely and important.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain a more nuanced understanding of the impact of war on the human experience. Overall, I would give Sunrise Over Fallujah a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
While it may not be a perfect novel, its strengths far outweigh its limitations. It is an important work that deserves to be read and discussed by anyone interested in the military experience and the impact of wars on individuals and society as a whole.
