In Sunrise over Fallujah, Walter Dean Myers' riveting and compelling writing is shown through every adventure Robin “Birdy” Perry experiences during his deployment in Iraq. His detailed depictions of the hardships and horrors of Operation Iraqi Freedom create vivid images in the reader's mind. From the harsh deserts of Kuwait to the city of Baghdad, where car bombings and gunfire are a daily occurrence, Myers paints a portrait for the reader. His gruesome descriptions of dead bodies and homes riddled with bullets allow us to step into the boots of a young soldier in Iraq. Robin and his companions in the Civil Affairs Unit are no strangers to the loss of friends, innocent civilians, and enemy soldiers as they try to remain sane in this harsh environment.

Being a teenager in a war zone is a stressful and eye-opening experience. Myers' depiction of war shows the unpublicized side to twenty-first century warfare and provides an accurate comparison to today's global conflicts.

As any young soldier could describe, the fear of fighting an enemy who blends in with the civilian population and the fear of dying are present every second of deployment. Myers, along with providing the reader with a clear picture of the beauty of Iraq, also creates an accurate reflection of guerrilla-type warfare. Guerrilla warfare is a common tactic that Robin and the CA unit face on a day-to-day basis in their missions and work with the civilians of Iraq. The suspense and intrigue that Myers creates keep the reader turning the pages and reading deeper and deeper into Robin's character. They create a story that will appeal to many.