Fallen Angels - Millbury Public Schools Community Portal

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9. The letters that Richie, Lieutenant Carroll, and others write home rarely reflect the reality of Vietnam. Why is it so difficult for Richie to write home? Why does his mother send her message of love through a letter to Peewee? (Chapter 11) 10. Captain Stewart asks Richie to rewrite Lieutenant Gearhart's letter telling Turner's family of his death. Why? (Chapter 14) 11. Captain Stewart routinely inflates the numbers of enemy killed. Why? How does this affect the men in the squad? How does it affect the people following the war at home? 12. Why was Richie, rather than Peewee Gates, or Monaco, chosen to narrate this story? How would it be different if told by Peewee or Monaco? Fallen Angels: Ideas for Reports and Papers 1. Myers has created a world and populated it with characters from a variety of places and backgrounds. Even though this world is different from yours, how does Myers make the story probable or possible? 2. Myers has created a seemingly realistic picture of the last years of the Vietnam War. Find an article, news account, or essay about the war. Compare this account with an incident or description from the novel. Does Myers's portrayal stand up to the comparison? 3. In her review of Fallen Angels, Ethel L. Heins states that "the dialogue . . . is steeped in natural vulgarity. . . ," and that this aspect of the novel contributes to the authenticity and credibility of the plot and the characters. Do you agree? Why or why not? 4. In Chapter 15, Richie tries to write a letter to his little brother, Kenny. He wants to tell him about the war and killing a Viet Cong, but finds that he cannot put the experience into words. How does he explain what the war means and his reason for being there in a non-glorifying and honest way? Fallen Angels: Related Titles / Adaptations Myers's fiction focuses on the experiences of young African Americans in society. His characters live in large cities where many of the choices they make concern basic family and economic survival. Some readers will find their experiences accurately represented in his books. Others may see a world much different than their own, and still relate to the common problems surrounding adolescence and young adulthood. Myers's books, such as It Ain't All for Nothin' (1978) and Scorpions (1988) deal with the harsh realities of life in the inner city. Myers also details strong and loving ties between the family members and friends that populate his books. In turn, his characters "reflect pride in their individuality and in their decisions to be themselves." The cost of making hard choices, facing up to reality, and doing the right thing given a particular time and circumstance, are problems Richie faces in Fallen Angels. These same issues emerge in Scorpions. In this Newbery Honor Book, young Jamal reluctantly becomes involved in gang activity. His fascination with a gun—a symbol of power and identity in a world where he often feels weak and small—reveals a side of himself he is not sure how to handle. He knows the gun only brings trouble, yet he cannot bring himself to give it up. This inner conflict is played out in Jamal's attempts to make sense of the world and the choices it presents him. Like Richie, Jamal discovers that growing up and finding his place in the world is a difficult and ambiguous process. Fallen Angels: Topics for Discussion 6
Readers can gain a deeper understanding of the African-American experience through Myers's nonfiction work, Now is Your Time! The African-American Struggle for Freedom (1991). Myers wrote this history to provide readers with a way to identify with historical figures as well as with his fictional characters. Written from a black perspective, the text recounts the African-American fight for freedom and civil rights in the United States. Myers researched archives, conducted interviews, and recorded oral histories of people whose families he declares "are so vital a part of American history." In his introduction Myers writes that: The African-American experience . . . is a living experience, ever changing, ever growing, ever becoming richer. Events of the past cannot change, but they can change in our perception of them, and in our understanding of what they mean to us today. What we understand of our history is what we understand of ourselves. These words best represent the contributions Myers has made to young adult literature. His substantial and respected body of writing reflects a clear and informed understanding of both the past and present. Myers indeed shows the value of young African-American lives. In the process, readers come to know and better understand their own and others' experiences. Fallen Angels: For Further Reference "Celebrating Literacy: The Language of Freedom." Reading Today 9 (1992): 1. This article provides an account of Myers's talk to the general assembly at the 1992 International Reading Association Conference. Heins, Ethel L. Review. Horn Book 64 (July/August 1988): 503-504. Heins acknowledges the "dearth" of literature about Vietnam for young adults, and notes that "Fortunately, [Myers] is a writer of skill, maturity, and judgement." Heins compares this novel to Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage in its depiction of "the chaos and carnage of war." Norton, Donna E., ed. Through the Eyes of a Child: An Introduction to Children's Literature. New York: Merrill (Macmillan), 1991. This reference text provides descriptions of Myers's novels and picture books. The works are discussed within both genre and elements of literature frameworks. Review. English Journal 77 (December 1988): 70. This brief review ranks Fallen Angels with other quality literature about Vietnam such as Tim O'Brien's Going after Cacciato. The advantage of Myers's text, according to this reviewer, is "its accessibility to junior and senior-high school students." Salvadore, Maria B. Review. School Library Journal 35 (June/July 1988): 118. Salvadore highlights the attention to detail and authenticity that characterizes Myers's novel of war and recommends it for both young adults and adults. She notes that "other difficult issues—such as race and the condition of the Vietnamese people, are sensitively and realistically" portrayed. Sutherland, Zena. Review. Bulletin from the Center of Children's Books 41 (April 1988): 163. This brief review describes Myers's novel as "an indictment of all war . . . . A tough book, a vivid story." Watkins, Mel. Review. New York Times Book Review (January 22, 1989): 29. Watkins's review emphasizes the strong and original characters that Myers has created in this novel. He gives this novel high marks for being "a candid young adult novel that engages the Vietnam experience squarely . . . . It is a tale that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining, touching, and, on occasion, humorous." Fallen Angels: Related Titles / Adaptations 7
Page 1 and 2: Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
Page 3 and 4: Fallen Angels: Themes and Character
Page 5: in the army has backfired. What he

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