What can I say about this book other than it's so well done, in both the story and the art. First, the art is layered, but it's done in a way that almost too obvious and "simple" but it works. It's a bit of a daze to look at because of that. Second, the story is great. The refrain "the enemy" over and over again really does a good job of driving the point home. The last page about writing a letter to someone he loves, and wondering about his enemy, was the emotional punch that the story needed.

For some time, my struggling readers (especially boys) have been drawn to this book, and I've encouraged it because I know that Walter Dean Myers is a great writer. Now that I've finally read it myself, I think the art is just as powerful as the verse. Myer's words vividly describe jungles, tension, fear, and guilt, but Ann Grifalconi's collages ratchet up each feeling several notches. They mingle the beauty of the natural world with the horrifying images of firefights and raids on civilians. When the soldier says "I'm so very tired of war", we need only look at her collage to know it's true. And there is no hope on the horizon--just a blood-red sky.

Patrol: An American Soldier in Vietnam
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Publisher: Harper Collins 2005
Genre: Verse Poetry; Historic Fiction 40pgs
Levels: 2 & 3 / Themes: Realities of War

Overview: A young man shares the realities of war. It thoughtfully takes readers through the fears of being bombed, shot at, and even the possibility of having to kill the enemy. This book is truthful and attentive in its discussion of war with young readers. I admire the author's portrayal of the enemy as a similar individual who too has loved ones, has fears, and most likely does not really want to be fighting either. It exposes the sad realities of War without glorifying or censoring it. War is an aspect of life that young children hear about but may not know much about. I remember as a child having difficulty grasping why in the context of War it was not a crime to kill an enemy. The illustrations tastefully express the different moods and feelings the author is trying to convey about war.

Application: This book could be used to inform about the Vietnam War and harsh realities of war in general. It is important to be sensitive to the age and group of children this book is shared with. While it is appropriately written for younger readers learning about the realities of War it may be hit close to home for some children especially if they currently have a family member that’s served or has served. Remember to be informative but also sensitive to individual’s situations.

In this narrative, an American solider is telling of his experience during the Vietnam War. He is frighten, and all he is wishing for is that he makes it out alive. He writes that at one point he is trying to shoot the enemy, but that perhaps, he is the enemy. He comes face to face with the enemy, but when he realizes how young the man is, he doe not have the heart to shoot him. He places himself in the other soldier's shoes. That's when he begins to question himself about the enemy. The war does eventually end and he makes it home safe. He begins to wonder if the 'enemy' makes it home safe as well. I would use this book in a social studies class. I may ask them to write about they might feel as a solider at war. For grades 3-6 ( )

I like this book. The main reason I like this book is because of the end pages. They are camouflage and it really sets the tone for the story.

Another reason I like this book is the descriptive language that is used. For example on one page it says, "birds twitter nervously." The language adds more to the story, when I was reading I could imagine most of what was being written.

The main idea of this story is to describe what it was like for soldiers during Vietnam. ( )