A.J. Ward

A.J. Ward
Sunrise Over Fallujah
Walter Dean Myers
Realistic Fiction
Just Right
162

1. Right now Robin "Birdy" Perry, the main character, is the main character is about to invade Iraq. The book takes place in 2003. Robin decided after 9/11 that he was going to enlist in the army. 2 years later that is where he is, just crossing the Kuwait/Iraq border. Birdy like the rest of his Civilian affairs team are scared, but ready. They are traveling in a line of Humvee and tanks that is very long. So far three United States soldiers have already been captured.

2. So far I feel good about this book. It takes a little while to get going, but once I got into it I couldn't put the book down. The book follows a U.S.A. civilian affairs group, but there is more action than you would think. I also really like the author's writing style, one of the reasons I picked this book was because I have read other books by this author and I like the way he writes.

3. A theme that I have noticed so far in the book is friendship. This is not the kind of friendship you see in most books it reminds me of the between George and Lennie in Of Mice and Men because the soldiers are always looking out for each other. Especially Birdy and Jonesy, since the two guys met each other back at basic training, they decided they would look out for each other. That is the strongest theme I have noticed in the book.

4. My favorite character is Jonesy. Jonesy is Birdy's best, and only real, friend. He is this kind-of laid back guy who plays the blues all the time on his guitar. Although he is kind-of odd Jonesy is a really nice guy and you get to know him much better than any of the other supporting characters. I would definitely want to be friends with Jonesy if I was in the army because I know that he would have my back. That is why I like Jonesy.

5. My least favorite character is Major Sessions. She is the head of most of the units in Birdy's company. She is always very mean. I understand that it is the army and that she has to be stirct and give orders, but I feel like she goes over-the-top. I also don't trust her, if this book is about some kind of betrayal she would definitley be the betrayer.

6. I predict that Birdy's Company will enter Iraq and then something will go wrong. Because something usually goes wrong in war books. Then I predict that Jonesy will save the day because he is so cool.