Fallen Angels (by Walter Dean Myers)
common sense media says
A violent but unvarnished portrayal of the war in Vietnam.
parents & educators say
- 36% say it's educational
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this book realistically describes what it was like for American soldiers fighting in Vietnam in 1967-68. Expect profanity, poor grammar, and graphic violence; there are depictions of shootings and explosions, including a woman who booby-traps a small child to explode in an American soldier's arms. The story builds until the soldiers and readers are caught in a vortex of war. Richie asks some big questions -- about the reasons for the war, about the treatment of African-Americans, and more. The realism, humor, and intensity attract even reluctant readers and keep them reading -- and thinking about the cost of war.
Educational value:
This books will illuminate the Vietnam war for
young people. It can help spark teens to learn more about the war. Our "Families Can Talk About" section can point parents and teens to some other interesting discussion topics.
young people. It can help spark teens to learn more about the war. Our "Families Can Talk About" section can point parents and teens to some other interesting discussion topics.
Positive role models:
Richie puts a human face on war. Through him -- and his often dispassionate telling of the horrors he has seen -- readers will get a true sense of the effects of war on a young person.
Violence:
Extreme, graphic war violence to both soldiers and civilians. Depicts shootings and explosions, including a woman who booby-traps a small child to explode in an American soldier's arms.
Sex:
References to some sexual fantasies of the soldiers.
Language:
Constant and extreme -- a realistic depiction of soldier talk. Asian people referred to as "gooks," as was common among American
soldiers.
soldiers.
Consumerism:
Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Soldiers drink, smoke marijuana.
More on Fallen Angels
Review It
Most useful reviews by all members
me and myself
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Heart Breaking Novel about the Realities of War
Walter Dean Myers at his best. Great Novel about courage under the worst circumstances. Realistic in every way.
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tvgirl
adult
adult
Summer Reading Book for 15 and 16 Year Olds
Lots of swearing including f--k, f--got, s--t, and g---amn. Talk of sexual diseases and fantasies. Mentions of war violence and sequences of battle.
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fangningsheng
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
Graphic, intense, and brutal war story
Fallen Angels is an intense, gritty Vietnam war story that offers plenty to think about. This is a rare book because it does not glamorize the violence of war. It is portrayed as it is: sad and brutal. There is lots of strong language, including tons of uses of words like f-ck and s-it. There is also some sex talk between soldiers and references to venereal diseases. Overall, Fallen Angels should be read by anyone mature enough for it.
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Muffin Man
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Good book. Lots of swearing, but that really is the reallity of it.
This is one of my favorite books, but has tons of swearing. Still a must read for war-historical fiction lovers.
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amparo17
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
Angel Warriors
its such an awsome book.. it makes u reflect on thoughts and actions!!
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._.NRM._.
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
Positives and Negitives of Falling Angels
What I love about this book is that it gives a good positive message and helps people under stand what people went through in the Vietnam. What I hate about the book is that they are to descriptive about the violent things in the book....other then that this is a pretty good book.
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Alex0224
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
why i love this book
i love this book because it show how hurtful the veitnam war was to soilders and other people it affected.
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caboose9125
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
Heart-Wrenching Graphic Book.
In this book you will follow the young 18 year old by the name of Richard Perry. In this book you will find some racial comments and swearing and gore. You will also feel like your in the book alongside the other members: Brew, Lobel, PeeWee, Johnson, Brunner, Lieutenant Carroll, Lieutenant Gearhart, Monaco, Sergeant Donogan, Sergeant Simpson, and also encounter rookies such as Jenkins, Turner, and Lewis... This story is definitely worth the 309 pages, and you will always keep this book in mind.
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eagles4ever
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Good Book
I love this book and it never gets old. I read it over and over again. But i would not recommend book for kids under the age of 13. They might not understand what the book is saying, and the book does give you graphic details about war.
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emerica96
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
a great book
one of the best books i have ever read!!!
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slmillen@aol.com
adult
adult
Parents Beware
While this book is written at a deceptively easy reading level (about 5th grade) it is NOT for any age teen. There are plenty of good books about the Vietnam War that do not use vulgarity, profanity and graphic violence. The author didn't even serve in Vietnam -- it is entirely fictional. There is pervasive use of the F-word throughout, as well as describing cutting off a baby's head and plenty of other gore. Disturbingly, the main character decides there is no line between good vs. evil.
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young hercules
parent of 18 year old
parent of 18 year old
It shows people how the world was at that time, and portrays the war from a different point of view
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We Can Do Better
adult
adult
Do not read this book--better out there
The book should not be read in public schools, there are so many other great books that provide teenage struggles and better help guide teenagers without all the harsh profanity.
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globeman
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
It is not a childs book but its really good it tells the story of a kid joining the army and wat it was like for him during vietnam i thought the author did a really good
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coolguyiscoolbro
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
it seems like this will be a great book. gettin it tomorrow yay!
As a movie my prediction: Rated R for constant, extensive, extreme, prolonged, brutal, realistic, intense sequences of war violence and action, sexual references, strong pervasive language, disturbing images, and brief drug use.
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Jordan_Smith101
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
Great for all ages above 11.
Love it one of the best depictions of war yet great to teach life lessons.By reading this it will help you yo understand the real world.
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evilthingey
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
Im 13 now and i think that anyone who gives this book a bad reveiw is a hypocrit. This is the REALITY of vietman. There was friendly fire and massacres and terror and gore and language and racism. I personally think that the hypocrytical adult review was good. Sure there are other books but this one is the one with the most truth. So get out of the fantisey that war is romantic 'cause its not. The guy's brother died in the conflict in southeast asia so give him a break. He writes good poems too.
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Aeio
teen, 18 years old
teen, 18 years old
A Really Gripping story. One That Will Stay With You.
I read this book a while ago and it actually changed my perspective on things. like for the veterans who fought in this war and others past. and the respect that was not given for there duties. it really made me think about things. War is bad, and as much as we want it not to happen it does. the sad part is that the soldiers who fight are usually young and innocent. some may have never voted. Another thing is that others may hate the vulgar language in the novel but face the facts. when your young you use words like that. all in all this is a great book.
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Castledude11
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
Good for teens
Even though it has crude language and gorey content, its good for anyone on and over the age of 12. If they can handle language and war novels.
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