 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Fallen Angels
- By Walter Dean Myers
- Genre: Historical Fiction
Common Sense Media says
A violent but unvarnished portrayal of the war in Vietnam.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
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.
What's the story?
Richie, an 18-year-old African-American kid from Harlem, joins the army and is sent to Vietnam in 1967. There, he bonds with the other soldiers in his small squad and watches as some of them die. Richie wonders if he'll live through the year as he participates in the growing violence of the war.
Is it any good?
Reading FALLEN ANGELS can be an intense experience, one that even reluctant readers may appreciate. This highly realistic depiction of young soldiers fighting the ground war in Vietnam was one of the first books to illuminate that war for young people. Today's adolescents, who were born after the Vietnam War, may not know much about it -- but that's OK because this book focuses on the experiences of the soldiers, not on the history of the war. Myers has the ability to make readers care about his characters and see them as real human beings. Ultimately, this is a vivid and unvarnished portrayal of the war in Vietnam.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the Vietnam War. Did you know anything about the Vietnam War before you read this book? Why is it important to read about events that happened before you were even born?
Richie sees that African-American soldiers are often put in the most dangerous situations. Do you think that is still true today? Why are so many of our soldiers fighting in today's wars from minority backgrounds? Is that fair?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
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.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
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.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
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.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
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.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
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.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Angel Warriors
its such an awsome book.. it makes u reflect on thoughts and actions!!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
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.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
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.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
a great book
one of the best books i have ever read!!!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
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.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Author: | Walter Dean Myers |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Historical Fiction |
| Publisher: | Scholastic Inc. |
| Publication date: | January 1, 1988 |
| Number of pages: | 309 |
| Paperback price: | $5.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 14 |
Review It
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already read it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
