Fallen Angels

Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers, is a title that has been taught at my school off and on.  I have never read the novel, and figured it was high time I did so.  Taking place during the Vietnam War, Myers tells the story of Ritchie Perry and his fellow soldiers Peewee, Lobel, Johnson and Brunner.

Perry is just 17 and has graduated from high school.  He enlists as he knows that there is no money for college and life in Brooklyn has gotten to be too challenging.  Perry is swiftly sent off to Vietnam.  We follow him through night duty, reconnaissance and battle and the drudgery of war.  There seems to be a lot of sitting around and waiting.  Myers's descriptions don't leave much to the imagination, although none of it is too gory.  The language used in the story is fitting for young soldiers, but may be a bit much for some middle school students for whom this book is targeted.

This novel would be an excellent novel for students to read prior to reading Shooting the Moon.  A study could be made comparing the soldiers and those they leave behind.   I am looking forward to reading Myer's Sunrise over Fallujah as it's a follow-up of sorts; the main character is Perry's nephew.