“…she’d felt something out there in the bush today….She felt like she was herself. That was strange, because ‘herself’ really loved lying in a soft bed. But out there, searching for something she knew was important to Rick, and somehow also important to her, she was herself.” p. 122 in print version
Reader's Annotation
Why has she been taken from Willie, where is she now, and what is it that this guy who keeps coming to her kennel and calling himself “Rick” wants? Cracker doesn’t know the answer to any of these questions, but she’s sure of one thing: Rick’s got to prove himself before she will do anything for him.
About the Author
Cynthia Kadohata was born in Chicago in 1956. Her family then moved to Georgia, then Arkansas, where they lived until Kadohata was nine years old. She earned her B.A. in journalism from the University of Southern California and has completed graduate coursework. The first story she ever wrote, still unpublished, was about a planet inhabited by one-legged ducks. She has now written seven novels, including 2005 Newbery-winner Kira-Kira. She lives in Los Angeles with her son and her Doberman, and loves road trips across the U.S., feeling that this is an important source of inspiration for her writing.
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Listening Level/Interest Age
12-14 years
Plot Summary
Cracker, a German shepherd, had a rough time early in life, but when caring 11-year-old Willie and his family adopted her, she learned to trust again. Unfortunately, Willie’s family soon has to move into a new building that does now allow dogs. So, based on an advertisement that Willie saw in the newspaper, it is decided that Cracker will become a scout dog for the U.S. Army in Vietnam. Once in military training, it takes Cracker some time to decide whether she likes Rick Hanski, the seventeen-year-old new guy who has been assigned to be her handler. She’s got to be sure that he is someone worthy of her respect, and more importantly, her trust. For his part, Rick, labeled as a “generalist” by a teacher at school, feels a keen desire to prove himself and excel at something. The thought of taking over the family hardware store does not appeal to him, and so he decides to join the army, where he plans to “whip the world”. It’s not easy at first in training, as Cracker does not initially feel like doing this stranger Rick’s bidding. But as she senses his growing love and commitment to her, she experiences a dramatic change. She increasingly finds that she loves to please him and also to be “important” with him as a team more than anything else. Rick and Cracker become one of the best dog and handler teams in training. But Vietnam is another thing entirely. There, Cracker and Rick are going to have to work as one, as the lives of the hundreds of men which the two will lead “on point” on various missions -- sniffing out bombs, booby traps, and the enemy – will depend on it. Are they up to the challenge?
Critical Evaluation
This is a thoroughly enjoyable novel that I cannot recommend highly enough, told as it is through the viewpoints of both Rick and his dog, Cracker. Although I do not have any knowledge of dog psychology or biology, I had a dog once myself -- and Cracker’s feelings and motivations appear so true-to-life, reflecting dogs’ innate instincts, along with their desire to please their humans and receive praise and affection from them. Cracker is an extremely likeable character, but she is not romanticized. Rick is a character with whom many will identify, with his great and confident plans of huge achievement balanced by a little self-doubt. While Kadohata keeps the action moving along, she allows us inside Rick’s head and we are privy to his honest thoughts. Although the novel’s vocabulary level is appropriate for 9-11 year olds, the necessary inclusion of serious subjects such as armed warfare and death make the story more meaningful for 12-14+ year-olds. Kimberly Farr’s reading of this audio version is superb and expressive, perfectly paced so that you don’t miss a word or any nuances of meaning. She verbally echoes the distinct personalities of Rick and Cracker that Kadohata has created. Kadohata conducted extensive research for this novel, interviewing many who served the military in Vietnam and having them later check her manuscript for accuracy: several dog handlers, a veterinary technician, and Special Forces and medical personnel. This novel is a must-read for so many reasons: those literary and historical, as well as for the insight it provides into the military wartime experience.
Booktalking Ideas
• Give a character booktalk as Cracker, as she meets Rick for the first time.
• Give a character booktalk as Rick, as he arrives in Vietnam.
Curriculum Ideas
• History: U.S. military dogs are thought to have saved at least 10,000 lives in Vietnam. Students can research the history of these dogs and their handlers, or other instances in which animals have served alongside people in military or other missions, and present short oral reports to the class.
• History: Students interview a local veteran about their military service, and create a multimedia electronic report, possibly including interview video clips, photos of the military service, etc.
Potential Challenge Issue & Defense
Warfare violence, smoking:
• Become familiar enough with the book’s content to promote its literary merits.
• Refer to library’s collection development policy.
• Refer to book reviews from authoritative sources such as ALA, School Library Journal, etc.
• Obtain book reviews from tweens who have read it.
Why I Chose This Book
I loved the idea of a story being told from both a dog and his human’s points of view.
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