Never Fall Down

( 31 )

Overview

When soldiers arrive at his hometown in Cambodia, Arn is just a kid, dancing to rock 'n' roll, hustling for spare change, and selling ice cream with his brother. But after the soldiers march the entire population into the countryside, his life is changed forever. Arn is separated from his family and assigned to a labor camp: working in the rice paddies under a blazing sun, he sees the other children, weak from hunger, malaria, or sheer exhaustion, dying before his eyes. He sees prisoners marched to a nearby mango...
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Never Fall Down

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More About This Book

Overview

When soldiers arrive at his hometown in Cambodia, Arn is just a kid, dancing to rock 'n' roll, hustling for spare change, and selling ice cream with his brother. But after the soldiers march the entire population into the countryside, his life is changed forever. Arn is separated from his family and assigned to a labor camp: working in the rice paddies under a blazing sun, he sees the other children, weak from hunger, malaria, or sheer exhaustion, dying before his eyes. He sees prisoners marched to a nearby mango grove, never to return. And he learns to be invisible to the sadistic Khmer Rouge, who can give or take away life on a whim.

One day, the soldiers ask if any of the kids can play an instrument. Arn's never played a note in his life, but he volunteers. In order to survive, he must quickly master the strange revolutionary songs the soldiers demand—and steal food to keep the other kids alive. This decision will save his life, but it will pull him into the very center of what we know today as the Killing Fields. And just as the country is about to be liberated from the Khmer Rouge, Arn is handed a gun and forced to become a soldier. He lives by the simple credo: Over and over I tell myself one thing: never fall down.

Based on the true story of Arn Chorn-Pond, this is an achingly raw and powerful novel about a child of war who becomes a man of peace, from National Book Award finalist Patricia McCormick.

2012 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature

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  • Never Fall Down
    Never Fall Down  

Editorial Reviews

The New York Times Book Review
…a journey into the horror of those years, told with the ingenuous directness of youth and employing [McCormick's] subject's rough-and-ready patois…As the story unfolds from atrocity to anguish it gains momentum until, in its final chapters, it becomes a gripping account of the inner turmoil of a child soldier.
—Seth Mydans
The Washington Post
To authentically convey the boy's experience, former journalist Patricia McCormick interviewed Arn, now grown and the founder of Cambodian Living Arts, and fellow survivors over a two-year period. This historical novel is every bit as powerful as McCormick's Sold…
—Mary Quattlebaum
Publishers Weekly
McCormick (Purple Heart) again tackles a horrifying subject with grace while unsentimentally portraying the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge and Cambodia’s killing fields. Not unlike Linda Sue Park’s A Long Walk to Water, this novel is based on a real person, Arn Chorn Pond, who was 11 years old at the time of the country’s Communist revolution. Arn’s narration balances a palpable and constant sense of fear, starvation, and humiliation with his will to survive. Doing so involves great moral compromises, bravery, and a capacity for love and friendship despite the nightmarish circumstances. McCormick divides the narrative into five periods: life before the revolution; in the camps, where Arn learns to play the music (which is used to disguise the noise of regular executions); his induction into the Khmer Rouge; his time in a refugee camp; and, finally, his transition to America. On how to survive, Arn observes, “You show you care, you die. You show fear, you die. You show nothing, maybe you live.” While never shying from the ugliness and brutality of this genocide, McCormick crafts a powerful tribute to the human spirit. Ages 14–up. (May)
ALA Booklist
Praise for PURPLE HEART: “Gripping details of existence in a war zone bring this to life.”
Booklist (starred review)
“Powerfully, hauntingly unforgettable.”
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)
“This compelling chronicle deserves to be widely read, discussed, and reflected upon by a generation of young people who may be largely unaware of this dark chapter in world history.”
Children's Literature
The only way to truly survive is to "never fall down." Arn learns this lesson at the age of eleven when his village in Cambodia is invaded by Khmer Rouge troops. The entire population is marched into the countryside and forced to live in labor camps. Arn finds ways to use his "smarts" and some luck to escape the worst problems. He manages to make friends, learns to play an instrument, protects others and survives against all odds. But he has plenty of struggles after the regime is conquered as he deals with his horrific memories, the guilt of many of his actions, and adjusting to a new life in America. Despite being teased and having difficulty learning English he again rises above his circumstances to become an advocate for his homeland and his people. An author's note gives some additional background about the war and the difficulties in fictionalizing and relating a living person's true experiences. McCormick employs a fragmented vernacular that captures the childlike perspective and keeps it from becoming too heavy. Though there are still plenty of instances of violence, rape, and murder the worst takes place off-page or is handled deftly conveying the horrors without dwelling on them. Well-written and heart-breaking, this is an important and enlightening story for any teen collection. Reviewer: Amy McMillan
VOYA
Following the pattern of excellence McCormick began with her novel SOLD (Hyperion, 2006/VOYA December 2006), she has created another amazing story through skilled and patient research. This time she brings us Arn Chorn Pond, one of the thousands of children who fled with their families after the Khmer Rouge terrorized Cambodia in the late 1970s. Gathering bits of stories from Arn and several other sources, this carefully woven work of fiction could not be more real. In April 1975, Arn Chorn Pond, his family, and everyone in his village joined thousands of his people as the Khmer Rouge led them into the countryside saying, "The Americans are coming!" Over time and distance, many people died from starvation and dehydration—the Khmer Rouge's first step to shrink the masses. Next, they targeted the educated. During the next several years, Arn is separated from his family, then from all adults, and then from females. He worked in rice fields nearly around the clock; watched people kneel in a line and have their heads bashed, then pushed those bodies into a pit as ordered; learned to play music to honor the Khmer Rouge; became a soldier for them; and finally ran away. Told in brutal honesty this book honors Arn and those who managed to survive Cambodia's Communist leader, Pol Pot, and his war to take over this small country. Reviewer: C.J. Bott
Kirkus Reviews
A harrowing tale of survival in the Killing Fields. The childhood of Arn Chorn-Pond has been captured for young readers before, in Michelle Lord and Shino Arihara's picture book, A Song for Cambodia (2008). McCormick, known for issue-oriented realism, offers a fictionalized retelling of Chorn-Pond's youth for older readers. McCormick's version begins when the Khmer Rouge marches into 11-year-old Arn's Cambodian neighborhood and forces everyone into the country. Arn doesn't understand what the Khmer Rouge stands for; he only knows that over the next several years he and the other children shrink away on a handful of rice a day, while the corpses of adults pile ever higher in the mango grove. Arn does what he must to survive--and, wherever possible, to protect a small pocket of children and adults around him. Arn's chilling history pulls no punches, trusting its readers to cope with the reality of children forced to participate in murder, torture, sexual exploitation and genocide. This gut-wrenching tale is marred only by the author's choice to use broken English for both dialogue and description. Chorn-Pond, in real life, has spoken eloquently (and fluently) on the influence he's gained by learning English; this prose diminishes both his struggle and his story. Though it lacks references or suggestions for further reading, Arn's agonizing story is compelling enough that many readers will seek out the history themselves. (preface, author's note) (Historical fiction. 12-15)
New York Times Book Review
"A gripping account of the inner turmoil of a child soldier."
The Horn Book
"McCormick’s novel is one that needs to be read."
Booklist
"Powerfully, hauntingly unforgettable."
The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books
“This compelling chronicle deserves to be widely read, discussed, and reflected upon by a generation of young people who may be largely unaware of this dark chapter in world history.”
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"This compelling chronicle deserves to be widely read, discussed, and reflected upon by a generation of young people who may be largely unaware of this dark chapter in world history."
Archbishop
"One of the most inspiring and powerful books I’ve ever read. Never Fall Down can teach us all about finding the courage to speak our truth and change the world."
Loung Ung
"Arn Chorn Pond is a fast-talking dynamo with endless energy and zest for life. In Never Fall Down, Patricia McCormick captures brilliantly the man, his heart, and his passion to make Cambodia and our world a better place for all. Arn’s against-all-odds survival story and McCormick’s crisp prose gripped me from the first page to the very end."
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780061730931
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
  • Publication date: 5/8/2012
  • Pages: 224
  • Sales rank: 22676
  • Age range: 14 - 17 Years
  • Product dimensions: 5.82 (w) x 8.34 (h) x 0.84 (d)

Meet the Author

Patricia McCormick is a former journalist who has won much acclaim for her compassionate approach to hard-hitting subjects. Her most recent book, Purple Heart, was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2009, and her book Sold was a National Book Award finalist. Other seminal books she has written are Cut and My Brother's Keeper. Patty lives in New York with her family.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 31 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(19)

4 Star

(6)

3 Star

(3)

2 Star

(2)

1 Star

(1)
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 31 Customer Reviews

  • Posted Thu Oct 25 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    I Also Recommend:

    Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution
    The Giver

    I agree with all the other reviewers- this book was simply amazi

    I agree with all the other reviewers- this book was simply amazing! I could not put it down at all. I thought this book would be just another boring survival story, but the author writes fabulously, and the character's story is inspiring. Before I read this book, the only evacuations of certain races/ethnic groups/social classes I knew of was of the Cherokee Indians, the Jews, and the Gypsies. I had no clue what the Khmer Rouge was, but I found them to be even more terrifying than the Nazi. In this book, a young boy named Arn's life was forever changed when his family was evacuated from their home in Cambodia due to the Khmer Rouge, a Communist party that attempted to enforce social equality by getting rid of everyone's belongings and killing upper-class people. Other things the Khmer Rouge did was kill people, even babies, with axes, kill their own members, rape the women of the community, and basically kill anyone for anything. Arn himself lost his mother, two of his sisters, and his baby brother. He was raped, threatened, forced to bury dead bodies of campers, to abandon his dying little sister, and to join the Khmer Rouge army, where he witnessed a woman cut in half, a girl having her leg blown off by a bomb, and much more. As time went on, Arn changed from a innocent young boy into a confused, heartless monster. He accepted his sister's death, broke out in violent fights, killed people, and killed monkeys. There was definitely a loss of innocence. Two things that affected me about this book was 1: it was a true story about someone named Arn Chorn-Pond, and two, that this was allowed to happen. Usually the U.S. finds a way to get involved in this kind of stuff (Holocaust, Vietnam War, Berlin Wall, etc). I'm wondering if it was because were unaware, didn't know how to find these prisoner camps, or just didn't care.

    5 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Nov 04 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    Moving

    This is a beautiful story. Very sad, very raw, and very important.

    3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Aug 12 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    Okay

    Weve got some sensitives in the room...

    3 out of 30 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sun Jul 29 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    This book is by far the best book I have ever read. I could not

    This book is by far the best book I have ever read. I could not put it down. I won't spoil the story for you, but I would recommend this to anyone- teenagers, pre teens, adults, everyone- in a heartbeat! You will not be disappointed by this inspirational recap about the life of Arn Chorn-Pond. Please read this book. Everyone.

    3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Dec 16 00:00:00 EST 2012

    Excellent read.

    Shocking, graphic, and a statement about the resiliant human spirit.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sun Jun 24 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    It will broaden your perspective.

    Through the eyes and memories of an older child/adolescent, we gain a view of daily life in Cambodia decades ago and grippingly, into the unfolding drama of that life taken over by the Khmer Rouge. The author hypes nothing. Rather, retaining an immigrant's pattern of broken, spoken English which adds a sense a validity throughout, she allows the character to walk us through the drama. We encounter each situation, each decision with Arn, without the benefit of anything more than he would have known. Progressing from childhood to young adulthood is always complicated, but navigating that passage within in this tumult grabs both the heart and imagination. Most surprising to this reviewer were his encounters with western culture. I teach many newly-immigrated adolescents. All of them came to my mind as I pondered how difficult the transition may have been for them. I have not stopped recommending this book since I purchased it a few months ago.

    2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Amazing Book!

    I just finished this book yesterday and it was incredible. Not only did it teach me about something I have never heard of before, it also made me appreciate the life I have been given. It is such a well told story and you feel like you know the characters.

    She is such an amazing author and this young man tells an incredibly moving story. All together it is an amazing and powerful book that will change your outlook on life.

    Easily 5 Stars.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2013

    Excellent

    A disturbing yet important account of life in Cambodia

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Nov 12 00:00:00 EST 2012

    I remember

    When the genocide was in the news and I wondered why we went to war in Vietnam but did not stop the Kmer rouge. I still have no answer and no answer as to why but my faith in the ability of ordinary humans to love and even triumph in the face of such astounding adversity has been restored. Written with the voice of Arn this book whispers to your heart. At the end you will understand what it means to have a tiger growling in your chest. I challenge you to read this.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Nov 04 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    Luvvvvv

    Luv this book

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Apr 27 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Excellent book

    Excellent book

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Apr 07 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    A definite page turner.

    I knew what had happened, but this gave it a very personal perspective! It made me wonder if I would have been that smart, as well as lucky.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Apr 02 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Highly recommended

    Difficult book to read because of the content but a book that is hard to put down.
    I must have been to young to realize what was happening in Cambodia, I was concerned about our service men and women getting home.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Mar 17 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    ?.........

    I read what its about and it sounds amazing but have not read yet so 3 stars

    0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Mar 17 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Gfd

    I read the sample, and i was hooked, but them i purchased the book and it stays a sample. i still have to pay for it. :( I only gave it five stars because i didnt want to give to book a lower rating.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Mar 14 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Good book

    Very good

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed Mar 06 00:00:00 EST 2013

    hewittwhite5star@aol.com

    Nook friend?

    0 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Wed Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    "Never Fall Down" is a book that is exceptionally writ

    "Never Fall Down" is a book that is exceptionally written in
    the young, melodious voice of Arn Chorn-Pond as he relates growing up
    under and surviving the rule of the Khmer Rouge. In parts, the horrors
    he had to endure make the story impossible to read yet even more
    impossible to stop reading. This is a tale that must be told, must be
    heard. It is a beautiful story of self-redemption and hope.

    0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2013

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Oct 21 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    No text was provided for this review.

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