The M. Judson 2023 Reading Challenge category for October is a BOOK ABOUT A TIME IN HISTORY THAT YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT….I’m a social studies teacher, so this was a hard one for me. I finally settled on Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers on Operation Iraqi Freedom, which I haven’t read much historical fiction about. 

Here’s the setup

From Walter Dean Myers comes a powerful and timely novel about the heroics and horror of war—a gripping companion to FALLEN ANGELS.Robin “Birdy” Perry, a new army recruit from Harlem, isn’t quite sure why he joined the army, but he’s sure where he’s headed: Iraq. Birdy and the others in the Civilian Affairs Battalion are supposed to help secure and stabilize the country and successfully interact with the Iraqi people. Officially, the code name for their maneuvers is Operation Iraqi Freedom. But the young men and women in the CA unit have a simpler name for it:WAR

Review

This Young Adult historical fiction book is action-packed, which makes it a great option for someone who struggles or isn’t interested in reading. 

It brings up questions such as- did the Iraqi citizens really want the Americans’ help?

One older Iraqi in the book answered, 

“If you cut off the head of the camel, the body doesn’t know what to do”

What do you think this means?

Age Recommendation

High school and up- this is too graphic for middle school.

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