Historical Fiction

The two books we read this book are both historical fiction and I enjoyed reading both of them.  I couldn't help thinking that they were both about a time in our American History that many people may or should feel embarrassed about. 

In Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson, Isabel is a slave during the start of the Revolutionary War.  She is a young girl that has lost both parents and then her caring master dies.  Isabel believes she will be freed but instead her and her sister are sold quickly to a mean couple that intend to work her hard in New York City.  They leave Rhode Island quickly and even more cruelty is endured on the ship.  They sleep in poor conditions, eat only what is  left-over, and have little time to themselves.  Isabel is lucky that she can read.  New York City seems to be in the middle of the Revolution and the colonies and the colonists are split by Loyalists (to King George) and the Rebels (those wanting to break away from England).  The family Isabel now finds herself with are Loyalists.  Isabel is unsure who she should side with.  She wants her own freedom and wonders which side is more likely to give it to her.  I get so mad at the stupidity of our country's forefathers and those that thought slavery was acceptable.  How horrible for young boys and girls to be taken away from mothers and fathers and for no one to take care of them.

In Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers, young boys just out of high school are drafted to the Vietnam War.  It's a war between the South Vietnamese and the North Vietnamese.  The US gets involved when the North cross over the border and start to conduct themselves in unethical ways.  The US wants to be protectors of the innocent and gets involved when many believe we shouldn't have been there.  Richard Perry didn't think he should be there either.  In fact he had a medical profile which should have kept him out of combat but a mess up in paperwork puts him right in the middle of it.  It's not until he has been there several months and been injured that his profile papers catch up to him.  Many of the soldiers that were there were young and not properly trained for what was needed for them to do.  The book tells of an episode of friendly fire.  Another horrific scene details a fire storm that ends with several American soldiers dead.  The Leuintant insists on taking tags and personal items off the fallen but then these items are left behind in the hut they set on fire.  The soldiers saw many things that were haunting.  Many lost their lives and many were permanently damaged.  Perry sees many horrific sights and loses several friends and fellow serviceman. Again, another book that makes me sad to see how people treat other people.