Never Fall Down

Book review by Mary Eisenhart, Common Sense Media
Never Fall Down Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Harrowing true story of boy in Cambodia's Killing Fields.

Patricia McCormick Historical Fiction 2012
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Parents say

age 14+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 3 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Stands out for and .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that while Never Fall Down is a novel, it documents a young boy's personal experience of -- and participation in -- one of the worst genocides in history. Patricia McCormick's fictional "autobiography" of Cambodian human rights activist Arn Chorn-Pond, who was 11 when the Khmer Rouge took over his country -- and proceeded to massacre about a fourth of its population between 1975 and 1979 -- is a powerful tale of the triumph of the human spirit. Separated from his family, Arn personally witnesses shootings, stabbings, ax blows to the head, and innumerable dead bodies. He also sees a starving 5-year-old gnawing on a dead body, until the child is taken off and killed. Arn is sexually abused (no detail is given), and girls are commonly raped (not shown). There's frequent use of "s--t," in its literal sense, to describe starvation-induced diarrhea in the work and refugee camps.

Community Reviews

JIDDINS
JIDDINS Adult
February 22, 2017
age 12+

Complex & Fast-moving

McCormick does an excellent job at conveying Arn's take on this horrific time in Cambodia's history. She does not, however, provide much background on Cambodia or communism. When I read through this novel with my eighth graders, I find it useful to provide supplementary background info on both Cambodian culture prior to the Khmer Rouge and on experiments with creating communist "utopias" more generally. Students will easily relate to young Arn and with assistance can use this novel to see how complex political situations can give rise to the conditions for genocide. McCormick also does an amazing job "rounding out" Arn's character for us. Faced with his complex situation, we see Arn's character adapt and grow in complexity as well. We also witness Arn's struggles after he arrives in America and attempts to fit into white American culture. There are countless points of meaningful discussion in this novel!

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Hildegard
Hildegard Adult
April 13, 2015
age 15+

Good but very violent

I read this book for the first time when I was 15. There were times when I had to step away from the page and take a break because the violence was so intense. It was horrifying. That said; I learned a lot, and the book is very well written. I felt like I was stepping into Arn's shoes.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Arn is a carefree 11-year-old kid, hustling money from the tourists with his younger brother and having good times in the city, when the Khmer Rouge take over his native Cambodia. Soon separated from his family, Arn learns to turn off the horrors around him and seize whatever opportunity he gets to survive -- the phrase \"never fall down\" comes from his quick discovery that anyone who does meets a quick death. Early on, Arn finds a way to survive by playing propaganda songs for the soldiers and workers -- music, he later learns, that's being used to drown out the sounds of mass killing. NEVER FALL DOWN is based on the real experiences of human rights activist Arn Chorn Pond, who now works to restore traditional music in Cambodia.

Is It Any Good?

Never Fall Down is a powerful, compelling story whose subject matter is both horrific and inspiring, since the narrator survived and went on to have a good life and do good things. Still, it may be too intense for some readers, as it takes place in a world in which deadly violence is an almost casual occurrence.

Author Patricia McCormick elected to tell the story in the broken English of the child narrator, Arn, which is at once effective and somewhat distracting.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Arn's aunt's advice: "Do whatever they say. Be like the grass. Bend low, bend low, then bend lower." In a world in which powerful people can kill you for any reason, is this good advice? Does it damage the person who takes it, even when they survive?

  • What do you know about life in Cambodia today and how the country has recovered from this chapter of its history?

  • Why do you think some people in Never Fall Down did some of the best and some of the worst things -- like the man who saved Arn's life several times but didn't hesitate to murder a baby?

Book Details

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