Noting that the literature of the Vietnam War can have a powerful impact on students, this paper discusses why such literature should be taught, what types of literature should be taught, and how teachers might go about teaching some of the literature. The paper begins by presenting numerous student responses to various novels on the Vietnam War, and considers what these responses by high school and college students reveal. The paper then discusses the four main types of young adult literature that have emerged in response to the Vietnam War: the combat narrative, the war at home, novels dealing with the refugee experiences, and works that focus on the legacies of the war. Next, the paper suggests ways to teach this literature, including: a variety of follow-up writing assignments; "opinionnaires" completed by students that serve as the basis for class discussions on attitudes about the Vietnam War and about homelessness; and discussion and writing assignments following the viewing of a documentary film about the war. The paper concludes that teaching the literature of the Vietnam War can encourage student response, show students the value of literature, and help them make connections to literature that will enrich their lives long after they leave the classroom. Thirty-eight references, a 30-item selected and annotated bibliography of literature on the Vietnam War; writing assignments, discussion questions, and opinionnaires on homelessness and on thinking about the Vietnam War are attached. (RS)