Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam

It has been a while since I read this book but my boyfriend recommended it to me at the time and I am not disappointed in this purchase at all, I absolutely loved it!

Some books the reader opens and drags through a few pages, still uninspired. "Grrr! For I am the all-powerful Cracker!" First sentence in "Cracker: The Best Dog in Vietnam" hooks older children. This German Shepherd is flipping a dead bird in the air, abandons it when she sees a live mouse! Then Willie calls her and she bounds home.It's an enticing beginning for children, 9-12, but also suitable to draw in adults who work with children and want to find good books for them or adults who have children and want to know what quality of books they are reading. This "Cracker" is a good one: It was nominated for the Louisiana Young Readers Choice in 2010 for Best Book in the grades 6-8 category, although I find it suitable for mature 4th and 5th grade readers.It's a simple story to start: Boy wants Dog, Boy finds Dog, Boy must give up Dog. Now what happens to dog placed in the local pound? It's Vietnam time and the army needs military dogs to sniff out hidden landmines, bombs, and Viet Cong. Some dogs are one-man (or -boy) dogs and resist any new owner. However, the young recruit just out of high school is special, though he is told he is not special by his counselor. His brilliant older sister is "a specialist"--Rick is described as a "generalist." It's a label he fights throughout his duty tour in Nam.He does become Cracker's "owner" by winning her respect. They become as one by the time they are sent to Vietnam, along with the other units in his squad. Rick wants Cracker to be "the best dog in Vietnam." You know in books like this that, if she doesn't become the best dog, then she will one of the best. I'll not spoil it for you.So, that's a short summary of the story, but it's not the story that sold me on this novel. It is the brilliant talent of the author, Cynthia Kadohata, for her uncanny ability to get into that dog's head and convince the reader that she is truly giving Cracker's thoughts and emotions. The one scene in which Cracker is separated from the unit and is lost in the jungle and seemingly cannot find her way back had me sobbing with her dismay and panic and desperation.Not only does Kadohata provide insight into the dog but into Rick and the entire concept of training a dog to become one with the handler and then that team with the other soldiers in the unit. I was so amazed at this incredible sense of being right there in the story with men and dogs. It's this kind of rare story telling that must be put into the hands of children to keep them reading. As a librarian for children ages 3-13, I can tell you that reading desire begins to taper about age 11 and practically dies by grade 7. Only a handful of seventh and eighth graders are still interested in reading. Yes, I know, children that age become part of hives and swarm as one unit and exclude all else from their habitation.Actually, this book is better directed at grades 4 and 5 and maybe 6 instead of 6-8. I think it was placed in 6-8 because of war content. There is a bit of bloody battle carnage, but it's not a Scorcese type of carnage, more Spielburg--mild and tolerable for children.Frankly, I felt joy in reading this book because of the man/dog relationship and the wonderful sensitivity the writer shows in revealing Cracker's feelings. The thought that continued to run in my mind was how Kadohata was able to make Cracker's feelings so authentic? I didn't find a single thing that Cracker did untrue to the nature of a dog, or, in fact, any details about Vietnam. This is how she did it: hours and hours of interviews, both in person, by email, by telephone, with Vietnam veterans, with dog handlers, both military and civilian, and especially with the handler on whom she based this story. I was duly impressed!In addition to providing authenticity, her research also revealed this history of military dogs. In wars through Vietnam, dogs were thought of as equipment and just left in that country or given to the native population. Today they are commissioned out of service just like their handlers!Now, which book won in 2010 for Grades 6-8 in the LYRC? Wouldn't you just know that "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" did!?And that book is read by the younger children, not so much by that middle school crowd. Go figure.

My elementary school-aged boys both lived this book. They have listened to the audiobook repeatedly, and have read it several times. I finally decided to go ahead and read it myself, just to see what they were so worked up about. I was surprised that I found it not just mildly entertaining, but very enjoyable. The plot is not complicated, but the story is told convincingly from the point of view of different characters, whether a young man just coming into adulthood, or a little boy who has to give up his beloved dog, or the dog herself. The story is gripping in places, and entertaining throughout.

When picking out a book for my English project in school I wanted something to read that I could really relate to and being a person who appreciates dogs and the military, I picked this book. Originally I thought that it would be cheesy like most war fiction seems to be, but I soon realized that this was an inspiring and heartwarming book. The plot of the book is about Cracker, a German Shepherd, who was taken away from his home, where he was the pet of a young boy named Willie who loved him very much, to go fight in the Vietnam war with his new handler Rick Hanski. The book is written in the perspective of both Rick and Cracker. The book follows the two from basic training and the battles in which Cracker saves the platoon numerous times to when they get separated during a battle. Cracker gets lost in the wild of Vietnam but he refuses to give up looking for Rick and Rick refuses to give up on Cracker. This is what I believe the theme of the book is about. Never giving up no matter what the consequences. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is into dogs, military, or someone who is just looking for a great, heartwarming book. I am very glad that I picked out this book for my project and it has changed my perception of dogs in warfare.Just like the soldiers, they too are true heroes and it has inspired me to want to adopt an ex military, retired military working dog.Tommy

Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam is an engaging read, and is especially recommended for young adults. Author Cynthia Kadohata covers a lesser known part of the Vietnam War history, i.e. that of the use of dogs in military maneuvers during the Vietnam War. Cracker is a pedigreed German Shepherd show dog which has been retired from showing because of its' damaged foot. Willie is the young boy who takes care of Cracker but when the new apartment Willie's family moves to has a strict no-pets policy, Willie is forced to give up his beloved pet dog.Next, viewers are introduced to Rick Hanski, a 17-year-old soldier who joins a military unit where soldiers are taught how to train and handle dogs to sniff out booby traps and enemies. The story mainly centers on Rick's growing bond with Cracker and how the pair go on exciting yet dangerous missions in Vietnam.The story is unique in that it contains three points of view - the dog Cracker; its trainer Rick Hanski; and, the young boy Willie who comes to the gradual realization that Cracker is no longer his pet but is Rick's dog. This heartwarming, gritty, and engaging story will appeal to both male and female YA readers because though the subject matter deals with the Vietnam War and aspects of jungle warfare, the main theme explored here is that of the close bond between dog and human, and this is a theme which will resonate with many young adults.

This was on my grandaughters school curriculum to read so bought it for her. She loved it and was able to read it at home when she had spare time. I have read it myself now!

good condition book.

superb story

I liked it because it was all about dogs and I like dogs. Cracker was by far the best dog in vietnam