A Place Called Heartbreak A Story Of Vietnam Book Description Publication Date: June 1, 1993 | ISBN-10: 0811480771 | ISBN-13: 978-0811480772 | Edition: 1 Describes the ordeal of Major Fred Cherry, who was shot down in combat over Vietnam and spent seven-and-a-half years as a prisoner of war in Hanoi. Editorial Reviews From School Library Journal Grade 5-9-- In a book that reads more like a novel than nonfiction, Myers tells the story of Col. Fred V. Cherry, U.S.A.F. (Ret.), who was a prisoner of the North Vietnamese from Oct. 22, 1965-Feb. 12, 1973. He relates how Cherry, an African American, overcame obstacles during his youth to attend college and fulfill his boyhood dream of becoming an Air Force fighter pilot. It was on a mission from Thailand to North Vietnam that squadron leader Cherry was shot down, thus becoming the first black pilot to become a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. His experiences there, as well as some background information and his present feelings about the Vietnam War, are presented in well-organized hi/lo prose; this is accomplished without oversimplification or generalizations. Myers indicates in the notes that he had extensive interviews with his subject; it is likely that these were the source of the dialogue and his internal thoughts. In any event, they ring true and contribute greatly to holding readers' interest. Several well-rendered full-page line illustrations augment and illuminate the text. Unfortunately, there is no index. --David A. Lindsey, Lakewood Junior/Senior High School, WA Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. More About the Author › Visit Amazon's Walter Dean Myers Page Biography Walter Dean Myers is a New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed author who has garnered much respect and admiration for his fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for young people. Winner of the first Michael L. Printz Award, he is considered one of the preeminent writers for children. He lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, with his family.