Male Monday: Sunrise Over Fallujah

Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers 2008
Scholastic

Rating: 2.5/5

IQ "From a distance, say the eight feet between eyes and television screen, or perhaps at the silent impact of a long-range missile hitting a newly framed target, combat seemed so simple. There was good and there was bad and the clear distances between the two held their own comforts. But as those distances narrowed, as they came within the range of smell and the feeling of warmth as a shell hit a target or the gentle shaking of the ground beneath you that stirred the constant fear within, the clarity disappeared." Birdy pg. 117

Robin "Birdy" Perry is the nephew of Richie Perry (the hero of another Myers novel, Fallen Angels) and he writes to his Uncle Richie from time-to-time as he tries to work out the complexities of war. His uncle will understand he reasons because he served in Vietnam. Birdy's father did not want him to join the Army and has not contacted him, his mother worries daily about his safety in Iraq. Birdy is part of the Civilian Affairs Battalion and his job along with that of his fellow soldiers is to help stabilize and rebuild Iraq and gain the trust of the Iraqi people. Birdy has no idea why he joined the army, but he does know that war is a lot harder and more complicated than it looks especially the Iraq war in 2003.

There is little camaraderie in this novel. Birdy talks about the members of his battalion but I never got the impression that he was that chummy with anyone, except Jonesy. Jonesy was a well-developed character but everyone else mentioned (Captain Miller, Major Sessions, Ahmed, Marla) remained one dimensional. I wanted more interaction between characters and to get a grasp for their personalities. They all remained very closed-off and I don't think everyone in the army is tight-lipped, there has to be more than one fun-loving Blues man like Jonesy in a battalion. It was also really hard keeping everyone's rank straight but that's not the author's fault, it's my own slow brain. The story did seem a bit predictable to me concerning the death of a character, obviously a character is going to die and I thought who it was going to be was clear. I also didn't like the one-sided letters. Birdy told us what his mom said in emails but we only read his letters. I think it would have been interesting to read his uncle's responses to his letters, especially as a war veteran. Furthermore I wanted to know more about his father who was against Birdy entering the army. This is odd because it's a novel about war but I found it dull at parts which was unfortunate.

The story is exciting though even when no action is occurring. It's exciting and saddening to read Birdy's thoughts on war, exciting because he never really THOUGHT about what being in a war meant so it's nice to see him try and sort out his many different feelings but it's sad because it's WAR. Birdy asks good questions "When I was a kid, maybe eight or nine I wondered why God mad the insides of people. Why not just make solid people that could do the same things we did instead of all the little parts, veins, arteries, hearts and things that could go so wrong. Why didn't God just keep it simple?" (pg. 117), ones that I don't believe answers exist. The author does an excellent job of explaining what was going on in the early, tumultuous days of the Iraq War through the ideas of CA soldiers (well I think it's accurate but I wasn't there). This is vital for teen readers because most of us are too young to understand and remember the beginning of the United States' invasion of Iraq.

Sunrise Over Fallujah offers look at a war that has only recently ended (and some may argue is still going on) in a thoughtful, intriguing manner. The author remains satisfyingly neutral, simply reporting the facts, representing various perspectives through the group of soldiers we (briefly) meet. The only message the author has is that soldiers are courageous and deserve the utmost respect which no one would argue against. I also appreciated that the author shows how quick the enemy can change, it's not always obvious who/what is the enemy as much as the two sides going to war want to make it seem clear-cut. The story didn't always hold my interest, especially at the beginning and the ending wasn't that great either but the middle kept a steady pace that held my attention. I would have liked (well I don't think I could like a book about war) to better understand the backgrounds and motives of the characters, even the main character was a mystery which isn't interesting. Overall I just had a meh reaction to this book and it's hard for me to explain why, and for that I apologize.

Disclosure: Purchased

Picture Book: We Are America

We Are America: A Tribute From the Heart by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Christopher Myers 2011
HarperCollins

IQ "I found an endless land, Its promise flowering in lush fields, Purple mountains etching their majesty in the pure air, Flat plains that absorbed the warm summer rains, Canyons that swallowed the imagination, And freedom Freedom like water on the tongues of thirsting men, Freedom as sweet as young love"

*Note: My ARC fell apart and doesn't have page numbers

This is my first picture book review and probably my second-to-last so please don't take this as a sign that I now review picture books. I'm not going to rate picture books, especially since I have no idea what to talk about. Most artwork looks completely fine to me so I can't distinguish...

We Are America covers American history starting from before America was discovered to the 21st century. There are illustrations and quotations from some of the most well-known Americans to lesser well-known but important Americans (Emma Lazarus, Barbara Jordan, Tecumseh, Abraham Lincoln and more) as well as quotes from vital documents. This is the Myers' ode to America, free-verse poetry and mural-like paintings, a celebration of America and a chronicle of the ups and downs of our history.

While I had my little disclaimer above stating that I'm not an expert at judging artwork, but I did notice something particularly cool about the paintings in this book. The paintings resemble murals and they merge into each other. There's one picture with a Black man surfing and then another Black man standing with his arms spread out which merges into a picture of Amelia Earhart. I would say that this book should have been more specific about who was in each picture because like in the example I used, I have no idea who the Black guy is. Some of the pictures aren't meant to depict only famous Americans but just Americans of all different colors and backgrounds living their lives but it's unclear when it's famous people or when it's 'ordinary' people.

The poetry works so well with this story, I think it might actually be one of the best ways to show pride in your country because poetry seems to be so personal. Each phrase seems to have been chosen with care, presenting a vivid picture of the various sides of America. The quotes all tie in well with the pictures and verses, the pictures are diverse. This is not just White America or Black America or Latino America or Asian America, it's the salad America where so many wonderful shades and cultures are represented and respected.

Disclosure: Received from publisher for review. Thank you

Male Monday: Harlem Summer

Harlem Summer by Walter Dean Myers 2007
Scholastic

Rating: 3.5/5

IQ "Mark, you are a young black man. Sometimes, living here in Harlem, we walk on the sunny side of the street and sometimes we walk on the shady side. I know that because I've been black a whole lot longer than you. Anything you've seen-I've lived. But I also know that you got to be careful on both sides of the street." Daddy pg. 130


It's summer in Harlem in the year 1925. It's hot and exciting. Mark Purvis is sixteen and looking forward to his summer, as long as he doesn't have to work at his uncle's funeral parlor. Mark ends up getting a job working for The Crisis where he meets the "New Negro". He could care less about being a "New Negro", he doesn't even know what that means. He does know that he wants to play his saxophone with Fats Waller. Before Fats hears him play, he offers Mark a chance to earn some quick cash. Except it goes horribly wrong and now gangsters are after Mark and his friends. They want their money or they want Mark and co. dead. It's sure to be an amazing summer.

By now I think most of you know that the Harlem Renaissance is my favorite time period in American history so I was really excited to read this novel. I didn't really have any expectations of the story, I just wanted to get a better idea of what Harlem was like during the 1920s and on that front this book did not disappoint. I could feel the heat rising off the sidewalk and imagine all the nightclubs and aspiring musicians lining up to perform in the clubs. One of the most fascinating things about this book (for me anyway) was the characterization of DuBois. Many of you may know that there was a huge rift between W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington. Basically Washington wanted Black Americans to focus on being teachers, farmers, etc. He didn't really have a problem with segregation either. DuBois wanted Black Americans to enter politics, business and higher fields of education. He abhorred segregation. Both Washington and DuBois believed in education, they just wanted to sue the power of education differently. Anyway, I'm firmly on DuBois' side but this book portrays him in a mostly unflattering light. Everyone was terrified of him and he's seen as demanding and cold. I thought it was very interesting but I still love him for his ideas and starting The Crisis (one of the main Black newspapers of the time).

The story is funny, Mark tends to exaggerate and he doesn't always realize how grave a situation he's in. I did find it annoying how his luck always seemed to be good. Everything worked out for him, but the book could have been really sad if that wasn't the case. However I didn't mind it too much since I'm not in the mood for sad reads right now. Each chapter has a engaging title that makes you want to keep reading to figure out what it means. My personal favorite was "I Am Taken To Jail Like A Common Thug, Given The Third Degree, But Am Saved By My Reputation As An International Gangster, Bad Man, And The New Breed of Criminal." (pg. 134) The characters aren't as well developed as I would have liked. It very much seems to be written for young readers as an introduction to Harlem during the '20s, Mark meets some of the most famous people of the time. He also visits famous places, reads famous newspaper, etc. I just wish we learned more about the characters, instead they are simply commented upon as they pass by.

Harlem Summer is a lively story about a little known period of American history, the Harlem Renaissance. The fact that it reads like an introduction to the Harlem Renaissance both helps and hurts it. Older readers may roll their eyes at Mark's convenient connections to everyone famous in Harlem, but it's a great way to whet readers appetite for more. I wish the novel was longer so I could have learned more about Queenie (a Black female gangsta), Countee Cullen, Dubois, etc. I also wanted to know more about mark's family, his father is hilarious but his brother Matt remains a shadowy figure. I did like that Mark's mother and father both played a prominent (often amusing) role in his life. Prepare to visit Harlem and meet a character who has the best luck and gets in the wackiest scrapes.

Disclosure: My family bought it with their own money.

*I will be out of town until Saturday July 17. I will have limited computer access so I can reply to your emails and comments. All my posts are scheduled. Have a great week :)

Riot

Riot by Walter Dean Myers 2009

Rating: 3.5/5

IQ "But I wonder if there will be a new bondage. Will we be trapped in our skins, forever held to be different because we are not white? And what wars will free us from that distinction?[...] Before those three terrible days, I looked beyond skin and saw people. But it was our skin that made us targets, not our hearts." pg.153

Riot is set in Brooklyn during the 1863 Draft Riots. It's about Claire Johnson who is bi-racial (mom is Irish, father is African American). The draft riots were a result of Pres. Lincoln instituting a draft and rich men being excused if they paid $300. This infuriated the poor, especially the Irish. The Irish were upset because many of them were poor and they saw the war as a fight for African Americans and they had no desire to help them out (more free African Americans meant less jobs for them). On July 11 at the first draft drawing, a riot broke out. African American men, women and children were beaten by Irish men, women and even children. Claire is torn as to which side she should be on and as to why all the violence is occurring in the first place.

What makes Riot so compelling is how it's written as a screenplay. There's a cast of characters, camera angles, descriptions of scenery and side notes (exits and entrances). I think the screenplay both helped and hurt the story. It hurt the story by making it confusing at times. The camera/story pans from scene to scene and it's not always clear as to what's going. Also we don't get to know the character's innermost thoughts since we only see what the cameras and other character's see. The result was that I felt a bit detached from the whole thing. At the same time, we are allowed to see more characters and their actions which helps provide a multitude of interesting perspectives. It would have been nice to learn a bit more about the characters' situation and their stories before the riots started. As it is, the readers are almost immediately thrown into the mix.

Claire is one of the most intriguing characters. We witnessed her struggle to determine what side she should be on (black or white) and her loss of innocence in that people will hurt other people simply for being different. Claire could pass as white, but she is proud that she is Black. Another great character is Liam, who is engaged (although we suspect, along with his fiancee that he has a thing for Claire) and a member of an Irish gang, the Dead Rabbits. I also liked the cameos throughout the book (like Walt Whitman). Another fresh perspective is that of Private Joshua Lancaster. He's a Union soldier and he is ultimately forced to fire on civilians. Watching his moral struggle (these people are innocent civilians and yet they are attacking Union soldiers and other innocent people) is fascinating.

All in all, I was a bit disappointed in this novel. I would recommend it to those who are a bit more familiar with the draft riots as this is not the book to start with since it isn't very explanatory. At the same time, the book is good and provides a fresh, new perspective on the draft riots in allowing you to follow various characters who play different roles in the riots. I love Walter Dean Myers and I highly encourage you to check out his other books and keep your eyes peeled for Lockdown which is coming in Feb. 2010 (read my review)

Be sure to read another fantastic book set during the Brooklyn 1863 Draft Riots, A Wish After Midnight. Read my review here

Disclosure: This is an ARC, but I got it from my sister who attended the ALA conference in Chicago this past summer.

Male Monday: Lockdown

Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers Feb. 2, 2010
Thanks Jana from HarperTeen for this great book!

Rating: 4/5

IQ "One time when my pops wasn't being too stupid he said the streets were like quicksand covered with whip cream. You knew when they were slowing your ass down, but it always came as a surprise when you got sucked under." Reese pg. 99

So I know almost nothing about the streets, but based on what I've read/seen/heard the above quote sounds pretty accurate. it's probably really hard to be about something, trying to get an education and go far in life when you're surrounded by bad influences. It's definitely easier to just go with the flow, do what everyone else is doing whether you live in the ghetto or the suburbs.

This was my first guy book by Walter Dean Myers (I've read Crystal, which will eventually be reviewed here) and I think it was a great book to introduce me to him. I can't wait to read more by him!

Lockdown explores an unlikely friendship between fourteen-year-old Progress inmate Reese and a man he meets through his work program at a local senior citizens’ home. When Mr. Hooft is finally able to open up about his harrowing past, he gives Reese a way to reenvision his own future.

My favorite character is Icy, short for Isis. Icy is Reese's 9 year old sister. She's only 9, but she already knows what she wants to do with her life. She wants to be president of the United States and feed all the hungry people. "So my campaign is that you give everybody free food for four years.... Then they would be fed for four years, we couldn't afford to pay for a war, and people could turn their attention to doing stuff for themselves and be happy." She sounds really cute and very smart. She basically becomes the woman/runner of the house because her mom is a drug addict, her oldest brother (Willis) is trying to be a 'thug' (the book's words, not mine!) and her other brother Reese is in jail. She cooks and gets to school on her own. I don't know if I would have done that when I was her age and I don't think my little brother or sister would ever go to school on their own either (well maybe my sister).

Reese really grows in the story. He makes mistakes and doesn't always learn from them. I really like this fact, because in life as much as we try, we make mistakes. But we don't always learn from them, often we ignore them and then repeat the same or a similar mistake. In many books that I read, people make a mistake and then they learn from it, this is good but also frustrating because life doesn't always work that way. Watching Reese's character development is fascinating and the writing is done so well, that you feel you are right there with him, rooting him on.

I also loved the whole 'criminal gets mentored by elderly guy' element but Mr. Myers gives it a nice twist. Reese doesn't want to work at the nursing home and Mr. Hooft doesn't want Reese in his room, helping him. Their arguments were not just entertaining, but they also had some really enlightening discussions.

All in all, I really liked this book and I learned from it. It especially gives you a glimpse into the life of juvenile delinquents "what all the guys knew was that there was a world on the outside and we didn't belong in it. Maybe we could get over once in a while, but we really didn't fit in." I've always been a believer in rights of inmates. I think they should be allowed to vote and (depending on the crime) once released there should be more programs that will help them get employed and more employers willing to hire an ex-convict (it does depend on the crime, I don't expect someone to hire a murderer or rapist unless they've been proved innocent, which seems to be happening quite a bit lately). In short, we should help them adjust better to life back in main-stream society. This book got me more interested in learning about prison reform (I live in Chicago and it's well known that the Cook County Juvenile Facility is a terrible place so I'm curious as to how it could be bettered, along with other juvenile halls/jails around the country).

I highly recommend this book, short book (247 pages), but a very good read. Not a lot of humor, but not very depressing either. 14 and up