Fallen Angels

Bibliography:

Myers, W.D. (1988). Fallen Angels. New York: Scholastic Inc., 309 pp.

Genre and Awards:

Fiction

A Coretta Scott King Award Winner (1989), ALA Best Book for Young Adults, Booklist Editors' Choice, A School Library Journal Best Book

Fallen Angels chronicles Richie Perry’s journey to Vietnam as a young, black soldier in the United States Army. When Richie first arrives in Vietnam, he believes the war will be over quickly and that he will avoid combat because of a knee injury. Richie’s future after the war is his constant worry throughout the novel. He wants to attend college, but is also concerned about supporting his younger brother Kenny. Richie mainly joined the Army to escape the poor conditions of his life in Harlem.

Richie must begin coping with the harsh reality of war almost immediately upon arriving at his squad’s camp. One of his friends dies on the squad’s first patrol. This is difficult for him and he feels compelled to share the experience with his family, but is unable to discuss his emotions on this and subsequent stressful occasions when he would like to.

Richie suffers an injury and while recuperating at the hospital he remembers what it is like to live in relative comfort and safety. He does not want to return to his squad. When he does, his sergeant has been replaced with a racist who causes racial conflicts among squad members by placing black soldiers in the most dangerous circumstances. These differences become irrelevant as the squad bonds together. The racist sergeant eventually dies and is replaced with Corporal Brunner, one of the squad members.

Brunner leads a mission to attack some guerilla forces. Both Richie and his friend Peewee are injured on this mission. After recuperating in the hospital, Richie’s knee injury paperwork is finally processed and he is allowed to go home. Richie’s friend Peewee’s wounds are significant enough for him to be discharged. They both return home on a plane loaded with coffins containing the bodies of dead soldiers.

Richie questions his reasoning for enlisting in the armed forces throughout the novel. He also ponders the nature of war and the motivations of his supervising officers. As the novel ends, the overwhelming feeling Richie and Peewee seem to experience is relief to be leaving Vietnam alive. The omnipresent silver caskets being loaded onto the plane, as well as the news of Judy Duncan’s death, remind us that not all Vietnam War military personnel were so lucky.

I enjoyed this book because my father is a Vietnam veteran. Reading it helped me to better understand what he went through as a Marine.

I would recommend Fallen Angels for all classroom purposes for ages 13 and older.