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In 2003, in the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom, young Robin Perry already wonders about "an enemy we can't identify and friends we're not sure about." Myers dedicates this novel to the men and women who serve in the United States Armed Services and to their families, and he offers a powerful study of the strange war they have been sent to fight, where confusion and randomness rule. Why are they fighting? Whom are they fighting? When will they be hit next? Narrated by Robin, nephew of Richie Perry, the main character of the landmark Fallen Angels (1988), this companion expertly evokes the beauty of Iraq and the ugliness of war. Given the paucity of works on this war, this is an important volume, covering much ground and offering much insight. Robin's eventual understanding that his experience was not about winning or losing the war but about "reaching for the highest idea of life" makes this a worthy successor to Myers's Coretta Scott King Award-winning classic. (map, glossary) (Fiction. 12+) --Kirkus

Robin's parents aspire for him to go to college, but following September 11, he feels compelled to join the Army instead. By early 2003, Robin has completed Basic Training and is deployed to Iraq where he becomes part of a Civil Affairs Unit charged with building the trust of the Iraqi people to minimize fighting. Civil Affairs soldiers are often put into deadly situations to test the waters, and Robin finds that the people in his unit, who nickname him "Birdy," are the only ones he can trust. Robin quickly learns that the situation in Iraq will not be resolved easily and that much of what is happening there will never make the news. Facing the horrors of war, Robin tries to remain hopeful and comforting in his letters to his family, never showing his fear or the danger he actually faces. The story of teenagers going to war today is an important one, and it is not told often enough. Myers writes an important book to have in any collection to recognize that many teens will choose to join the military instead of, or before, going on to college. Robin is only eighteen, and it is difficult to watch his innocence erased as war leaves its mark on him, but it is the reality for many young men and women. This fine book could be included with a unit on current events and is a good choice for boys. Reviewer: Stephanie Petruso
April 2008 (Vol. 31, No. 1) --Voya

About the Author
WALTER DEAN MYERS has been writing critically acclaimed novels for children and young adults for nearly forty years. His many awards include two Newbery Honors, five Coretta Scott King Awards, and the Michael L. Printz Award. He lives in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Customer Reviews

jack witmore
The Sunrise over Fallujah is mostly about Robin Birdy Perry, a new army recruit, from Harlem. He is not sure why he joined the army. He goes with his unit in there melatary basic training. So some of the charters are Marla, the witty gunner, Captain Coles, the ever cool career man, Jones, the funny guitar- picking blues player, victor, and a exgangbanger and captain miller, and a thoughtful and understanding doctor.

The people on the other side of these is calling it operation Iraqi freedom but the men and woman at the basic that there in it is called war. Then Robin learns about the cities culture but he still does not understand and he learners winning just becomes surviving are great nation and not just saying he is a hero he is a hero. They go back to there families, and friends and shows off his metals. Then he goes back to war, and serves his year in the army.

I wood recommend this book to all 11 and 12 year olds or older because, there are so many hard words in this book that if your not a great reader your will get lost. You would not get the concept of this very good book. I think they should have a sequel because, the book leaves you wanting more, and it ends in away that you want to make your own ending or what's going to happen. I pick this book because of it's had action and humor.

IF YOU HAVENT READ THIS BOOK YOU'RE CRAZY
Sunrise over Fallujah is a really really good book. It is a definite 5 stars. It is realistic fiction and from my uncles stories it follows the war pretty good. I can really connect the main character "Birdy" to my uncle who was in the war. The antagonists were the Iraqis. The protagonists, Birdy and his friends were from America in the Iraq war. I read the book Fallen Angels but this book is still better than it.
Robin,or Birdy as his friends call him, writes letters to his uncle who was in the Vietnam War. Birdy is faced with challenges of the war. He watched a civilian die, his friend get shot and he was shot at. Walter Dean Myers really makes the book show a little of how the war is really happening over there.
This book is more for teenagers but even my dad read it so it could be for anyone. I hope Walter Dean Myers makes another book about the end of the Iraq war with Birdy reunited with his uncle and starts his own family.

Great book for "Fallen Angles" fans!
If you like "Fallen Angles" or just all around War/History books then you should get this. It's about Robin "Birdy" Perry who is the nephew of Richard Perry (the main character in "Fallen Angles"). Robin joins the Iraq War and realizes what his uncle went though in Vietnam. In the end he sees what really goes on in wars.