Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers is a startlingly realistic novel of the Vietnam War. It tells the story of Richie Perry, a young seventeen-year-old from Harlem who is unable to afford college. Thinking he needs to find an alternative he volunteers for the army where is sent to Vietnam. While there he finds himself making friends with his fellow platoon mates- Peewee, Lobel, Johnson, and Brunner- as well as discovering the actual realities of war. Shortly after he arrives another soldier dies right in front of him leaving Perry rather disturbed by the event. Nighttime patrols through the nearby jungle leave him wondering where exactly the Vietcong actually are and how many of them there are as they get attacked by seemingly invisible assailants. Pacification attempts with nearby villages rarely go as planned leaving them to wonder why they do them. Though Perry writes letters to his younger brother back home he finds himself unable to tell the truth about what the war is really like and instead passes on information about his platoon. Over time he learns to survive but he also finds himself haunted by certain things such as the idea of claymores and the sight of bodybags.
I will admit that even knowing this book was about the Vietnam War did not adequately prepare me for actually reading it. I say that because this book is realistic and vivid in its depiction of everyday life for the young soldiers who served. Honestly, I was mildly disturbed just by reading it and found myself happy that I never enrolled even as I gained greater respect for those who did. The characters in the book seem to be fairly stereotypical young men who are essentially thrust into a situation beyond their understanding though they also show a remarkable ability to cope with that situation. The main character, Perry, was especially relatable because he was a boy who was mostly just wanting to help out his family by providing an income and by setting a good example for his younger brother. I imagine that is part of why he edited his letters so much before actually sending them. What I was intrigued by was the plot since in many ways it was extremely simple. The plot followed Perry as he transformed from an innocent and naive young man into a haunted and jaded adult, an adult who will never be able to forget what he had seen. I think that simplicity is what highlights the realism of the depiction of the war. There is no overarching plan or assault or anything similar taking place which helps highlight just how confusing and meaningless the war feels to the actual soldiers who are fighting it. I honestly don’t think I have ever seen such a realistic depiction of modern warfare. This book gets a full 5 stars from me.
I am not really sure how to classify this one because it could almost be classified as contemporary fiction considering when it was published but I would say it would now best be classed as historical fiction. Either way it would be considered young adult fiction considering the age range of the protagonist. Despite the graphic and dark content of the book I would agree with that. This book is definitely aimed at older teens and young adults, especially those who are thinking about joining the military. I would recommend only readers above the age of about fifteen, depending on the reader. Something to keep in mind before trying this though is that it is a disturbingly realistic depiction of the everyday life of a soldier during the Vietnam War. It is not an easy read because of that. However, I would still recommend that you try it and feel free to share your thoughts about it in the comments.