From the category archives:

Vietnam War Challenge 2010

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers

November 9, 2010

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers is a young adult novel for ages 9-12 or ages 12 and older depending upon maturity.  It touches upon the role and racism encountered by young African-American draftees and volunteers in the Vietnam War.  The coming-of-age novel was banned by certain school districts for its use of profanity, violence, [...]

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Playing Basketball With the Viet Cong by Kevin Bowen

October 29, 2010

Kevin Bowen‘s Playing Basketball With the Viet Cong is his first collection of poems and they focus on his memories of the Vietnam War.  Although there are moments of brutality and horrifying images, many of these poems intend to infuse the enemy with humanity — whether that enemy is a U.S. soldier or a member [...]

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What’s New at War Through the Generations?

October 21, 2010

First, I wanted to say thank you for all the support you’ve all given me since the passing of my grandfather.  It has helped. Second, you may have noticed that I’ve only read 8 of the 11 books I had hoped to read for the Vietnam War Challenge at War Through the Generations, and that [...]

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Final Week of the Paco’s Story Readalong

July 29, 2010

This is the final week of the Paco’s Story read-a-long, check out the discussion questions. If you missed the first round, second round, and third round of questions, check them out.  You also can check out my responses to section 1, section 2, and section 3. In the final chapters, the narrator takes us back [...]

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Paco’s Story by Larry Heinemann

July 28, 2010

Paco’s Story by Larry Heinemann chronicles the war experiences of Paco, the only surviving soldier of the Fire Base Harriette massacre from Alpha Company.  The narrative is unusual in that Paco does not tell his own story of his survival or his recovery and ultimate return to the United States from the Vietnam War.  Though [...]

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A Hundred Feet Over Hell by Jim Hooper

July 23, 2010

Jim Hooper‘s A Hundred Feet Over Hell is a true account of the 220th Reconnaissance Airplane Company, with which his brother Bill served as one of the Myth Makers flying single-engine Cessnas that were extremely vulnerable to artillery and other ground fire.  These men were charged with flying over hot zones and locating the enemy [...]

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Paco’s Story Readalong Week 3

July 21, 2010

This is week 3 of the Paco’s Story read-a-long, and the third set of discussion questions were posted on Wednesday, July 21 for Chapter 5. If you missed the first round and second round of questions, check them out.  You also can check out my previous post for section 1 and section 2. Paco’s Story [...]

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Dien Cai Dau by Yusef Komunyakaa

July 15, 2010

Yusef Komunyakaa‘s Dien Cai Dau is another collection of Vietnam War poetry.  The poet, who received the Bronze Star and edited The Southern Cross, dedicates this book to his brother Glenn, “who saw The Nam before” Komunyakaa did.  His poems put the reader in the soldiers’ shoes, allowing them to camouflage themselves and skulk around [...]

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Paco’s Story Readalong Week 2

July 14, 2010

This is week 2 of the Paco’s Story read-a-long, and the second set of  discussion questions were posted on Wednesday, July 14 for Chapters 3 and 4. If you missed the first round of questions, check them out.  You also can check out my previous post for section 1. Like the other chapters, readers only [...]

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Paco’s Story Readalong Week 1

July 9, 2010

This is week 1 of the Paco’s Story read-a-long, and the first discussion questions were posted on Wednesday, July 7 for Chapters 1 and 2. Paco’s Story is about the soul survivor of the Fire Base Harriette massacre where Alpha Company was obliterated.  Heinemann’s writing is raw and honest, and in the first Chapters we’re [...]

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Join the Paco’s Story Read-a-long

June 29, 2010

I’ll be participating in the War Through the Generations Vietnam War Reading Challenge read-a-long of Paco’s Story by Larry Heinemann in July. For those outside of the Vietnam War Reading Challenge who are interested in joining the Paco’s Story read-a-long, you are more than welcome to join us. How it will work: You read the [...]

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Challenges Completed! Others Not so Much!

June 18, 2010

I joined this challenge a bit late last year, but it ran from May 2009 through May 2010 (click on the image for more information).  I completed the deep end of the challenge, which required me to read and review 11-15 books of contemporary poetry and poetics. See the books I reviewed here. I joined [...]

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