Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick

Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick

 

Arn, a boy of eleven years old, is living a regular life in Cambodia; he has a large family and loves to have fun with his siblings.  Without warning, though, his peaceful dwelling is overrun by an obscure military force.  These “Khmer Rogue” drag Arn away from his family and throw him into a secluded labor camp, where he and hundreds of other children are forced to dig ditches and plant rice for weeks on end.  Several die from disease, exhaustion, hunger, and torture, and there appears to be no end to the torment.  Throughout his time at the camp, Arn is forced to come up with new ways to survive and thrive long enough to be rescued by the Vietnamese.

Eventually, he is recruited into a band made up of children to play for the Khmer Rogue.  Despite having no prior knowledge of music, he manages to rise up above the others and become the best in the group.  After a while, the band begins traveling to other camps, and Arn gains a bit more freedom with each passing day.  When the Vietnamese finally arrive at the scene, he is abruptly thrown into the middle of the war as a child soldier.  Against all odds, Arn has to preserve his life from the new dangers and find a way to freedom all while battling his own self, plagued from his past experiences and actions.

I would give this book a 4.5 out of 5 star rating.  I believe this is a fantastic book because of the perfect pacing and suspenseful events.  The book manages to include countless memorable events while still keeping an easy to follow plot.  While it isn’t perfect, the cultural and moral significance seen near the end make it a must-read for everyone, especially for those who know about the Khmer Rouge group’s rule.  Overall, this is a great story for anyone who takes interest in the events the novel follows, and people who don’t know about the historical significance can still find enjoyment in it.

Genre:  Historical FictionReviewed by:  Shane Leigh
Teacher:  Mara Pufko