Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata

I put off reading this book for a really long time because I thought it was going to be a “sad dog book”, but actually it was more of an action-packed adventure story! Willie’s uncle gave him the best dog ever, Cracker. Unfortunately, Willie’s family is not allowed to keep a dog in their apartment and they decide to give Cracker to the U.S. Army to serve in the Vietnam War as a bomb-sniffing dog.

In the Army Cracker is paired with her handler, Rick. Rick wants to do something more with his life than just run his family’s hardware store, so when he turns 17 he convinced his dad to sign for him to join the army to serve in the Vietnam War. Rick becomes a dog handler and quickly bonds with Cracker and knows that Cracker will be the best dog in Vietnam. You’ll be on the edge of your seat when you read about the amazing missions that Cracker and Rick are sent on. This is a must read for dog lovers and action lovers!

Alabama Moon by Watt Key

One of Mrs. Kicker’s favorite books is Alabama Moon by Watt Key, so I knew that I had to read it. This is the story of Moon Blake, a ten year-old who grew-up in the wilderness with his Pap until Moon was ten years old. Pap taught Moon how to live off the land – they planted and hunted their own food and made their own clothes. Pap was very distrustful of the government after returning from the Vietnam War and passed along his fear of the government to Moon. When Pap died of a broken leg because he refused to see a doctor, an acquaintance turned Moon over to authorities. You’ll be on the edge of your seat following Moon’s adventures escaping from the police and the boys’ home and finally figuring out where he belongs.