Sunrise Over Fallujah

Myers, Walter Dean. Sunrise over Fallujah. Scholastic Press: 2008. ISBN: 9780439916240.

Summary:
2003, the invasion of Iraq by U. S. and Coalition Forces. Suddenly being in the military is about more than traveling and seeing new places. Robin Perry joins the Army after graduation instead of going to college like his father wants. Robin has grown up listening to his Uncle Richie's stories about Vietnam and is curious to have his own experiences. Richie is assigned to a Civil Affairs unit sent to Kuwait to be part of the invasion. Technically, civil affairs do not engage in combat. Their job is to bring a human side to war and help rebuild locations that have been bombed and secure a safe water supply. Women are not authorized to serve in combat, but they are assigned to the civil affairs units. Richie spends much of his time bored and waiting until his unit is given orders. These orders place Richie in harms way on a continual basis and he is involved in combat. The longer the unit spends in the relatively safe Green Zone, the more unsure they are about going about in town. The enemy is constantly changing and a new technology called IED's are killing soldiers each week. Richie reacts to the stress of living in a war zone in a typical fashion. His sleep is disturbed and unrestful and his thoughts are frantic and scared. Sent on a mission for Special Operations Richie and the unit are pushed just about as far as he can go.

Evaluation:
This first person account of a young soldier's experience in the invasion and occupation of Iraq is fiction based on a actual historic events. Fictionalizing recent world events is not easy. The ability to remain objective is difficult. Walter Dean Myers is able to walk the very thin line of the reality of the situation and not politicizing it. Robin Perry and his squad mates could be any young Americans trying to serve their country. The experiences of war are very similar. The details may vary, but the effects are the same. Teens wondering what fighting a war is really like should read this book. The author includes women in this story and female teens will find a connection point as well. The author explores the feelings a person has after killing someone. For some people it is a high, power, adrenaline. For others, a part of them dies with the victim. No one knows how they will react until confronted with the situation. Other titles to consider are The Things a Brother Knows by Diane Reinhardt, and Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick.

Reader's Annotation:
It is not always clear who are the good guys and who are the bad guys.

Bibliotherapeutic Uses:
This novel could be used with someone who is considering joining the military or dealing with issues after getting out. Shared experiences can be validating and make us feel like we are not alone. This book would work for male or female soldiers. Family members would benefit from gaining an understanding about what their service member went through.

Genre:
Issue Novel/Death and Deadly Disease

Why I Chose This Book:
At this point in my life I am drawn to books about war and the military experience. I have read some adult titles like Jarhead by Anthony Swofford and Operation Phantom Fury: The Assault and Capture of Fallujah, Iraq by Dick Camp.

Read-alike: The Things a Brother Knows by Diane Reinhardt