CRACKER IS ONE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY'S MOST VALUABLE WEAPONS:
a German shepherd trained to sniff out... read full description
reviews
Jan 28, 2011
Valerie
rated it: 
Cracker! has a value all its own. I read this book in 2 days but only because I had to sleep and I fell asleep thinking about it. I was that enthralled. I adore Cracker, and Rick is a great owner. I can relate to Rick's frustration in the beginning of the book with both Cracker and himself.
I like that you get the perspective of Cracker, Cracker's previous owner Willie, and Rick; it makes the book more interesting. Rick and Cracker don't just make a team, but a relationship. They have More...
I like that you get the perspective of Cracker, Cracker's previous owner Willie, and Rick; it makes the book more interesting. Rick and Cracker don't just make a team, but a relationship. They have More...
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May 03, 2008
Jennifer
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Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readinngjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
This book tells the story of a Vietnam hero. It's not your usual run-of-the-mill war story because it's told from two points of view. A young soldier named Rick Hanski and a German shepherd he trained for the military share the spotlight as they recount their adventures from training camp to active duty in the jungles of Vietnam.
Cracker and Rick are paired together in training to sniff out bombs, More...
This book tells the story of a Vietnam hero. It's not your usual run-of-the-mill war story because it's told from two points of view. A young soldier named Rick Hanski and a German shepherd he trained for the military share the spotlight as they recount their adventures from training camp to active duty in the jungles of Vietnam.
Cracker and Rick are paired together in training to sniff out bombs, More...
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(3 people liked it)
Sep 24, 2007
Cracker the best dog in vietnam is a book about a dog that is taken from her home in chicago to be trained as a military dog that has a hard time adjusting to the life swap. when she recived a new trainer Rick he would stay with her for the rest of the story...mostly. At first they go through training and meet some new people. When they get to nam they don't see alot of action but later in the story they go on a misson with the special forces wich dos't contibute to the stoy much. the next misso
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 16, 2008
Teaha
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Cracker1 the best dog in vietnam was pretty good, well when Rick Hanski wants to whip the world in some way and show his family that he has what it takes to be a soldier in the vietnam war. Cracker is a German shepherd who is shipped out to war to snip out bombs, drugs, traps, and the enemy but when Rick and Cracker has to team up together they also have to work up a friendship and manage to get out of war alive. with their team work and effort and a dog who just maybe thev best dog in vietnam
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Jan 09, 2012
Diego
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Here is a book about the best dog in Vietnam. This book is bases on a true story about a real dog that left to vietnam. If you don't like sad and suspenseful stories then this is not the book for you.
This story is about a regular dog(German Shepherd) that lived with a family. Willie ,who was Cracker's owner, were best friends. Then Willie and his family had to move to a different apartment that didn't allow dogs. So they sent to volunteer in the military. Willie didn't want her to More...
This story is about a regular dog(German Shepherd) that lived with a family. Willie ,who was Cracker's owner, were best friends. Then Willie and his family had to move to a different apartment that didn't allow dogs. So they sent to volunteer in the military. Willie didn't want her to More...
May 18, 2011
Mary
rated it: 
People who like dog stories and enjoy relating to dogs as characters will be the best audience for this book. It is told in three points of view: Willie, a child in Chicago who has to give up his dog; Rick Hanski from Wisconsin, who becomes an army dog handler during the Vietnam War; and Cracker, the German Shepherd who goes from Willie's family pet to Rick's partner, trained to sniff out explosives, gun powder and enemy humans. Quite a bit of the story is devoted to the development of the relat
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Oct 28, 2010
Julia
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I read the book Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthis Kaduhata. This books genre it fiction. Cracker! is about a kid named Willie who is forced to move into a new apartment building that doesn't allow dogs. Since the new building doesn't allow dogs he is forced to give up his dog Cracker. Willie could not find anyone who wanted Cracker so he had no other choice but to give it to the military for the Vietnam War. Before Cracker was actually sent into a battle he was sent to training a
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Aug 24, 2010
Heidi
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Sep 19, 2009
A&E
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This book tells the story of a Vietnam War hero...well, two actually and one isn't human. It's told from two points of view. A young soldier named Rick Hanski and a German shepard named Cracker.
Rick was a small town man who was going to inherit his father's hardware store but that didn't interest him. Instead he enlisted in the military and ends up as a dog-handler but is paired up with the meanest dog in the division.
That would be Cracker who has a sad back-story. Origin More...
Rick was a small town man who was going to inherit his father's hardware store but that didn't interest him. Instead he enlisted in the military and ends up as a dog-handler but is paired up with the meanest dog in the division.
That would be Cracker who has a sad back-story. Origin More...
Sep 19, 2009
W.H.
rated it:
Cracker starts out life as a championship show dog, but then a broken leg sends her to twelve-year-old Willie and his family as a pet. But when Willie can’t keep her, she becomes a U. S. Army dog, assigned to newly-enlisted teenager, Rick Hanski. And there, they bond so tightly that they both end up surviving the horrors of the Vietnam War.
Mr. E (10) and I loved this book, although I think it was for very different reasons. It was a hard sell for me at first. The style it’s written i More...
Mr. E (10) and I loved this book, although I think it was for very different reasons. It was a hard sell for me at first. The style it’s written i More...
Feb 11, 2012
Bryan
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Cracker is about a German Shepherd named cracker. Her owner's dad had lost his job and they had to move in to a smaller apartment. Which didn't allow dogs he was very sad overall. They saw these ads about the us. military going to Vietnam and needing German Sheppard war dogs. So they opptied to send her there. When they came to get her she was biteing and scowling not wanting to go with them. They said she was the meanest dog they've ever met. Which she wasn't but just mad that she had to leave.
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Jul 12, 2009
Robyn
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Okay I really didn't think this would be a book for me. I'm not a fan of animal stories, because authors make animals too human. I felt Kadohata kept true to an animal's nature, or as true as I can tell.
Rick is a small town boy who is the younger brother of an MIT math genious sister. He's not expected to do much in life but run the family owned hardware store. He has other plans. He joins the army at 17 and is trained as a dog handler. He is then shipped off to Vietnam.
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Rick is a small town boy who is the younger brother of an MIT math genious sister. He's not expected to do much in life but run the family owned hardware store. He has other plans. He joins the army at 17 and is trained as a dog handler. He is then shipped off to Vietnam.
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Aug 23, 2011
Peacegal
rated it:
Good dog. Great book! Cracker! is an exciting story that will appeal to canine lovers of all ages. It’s also a good humane ed reading list choice for middle school-aged boys, who are so often reluctant readers.
Cracker the German shepherd must leaver her stateside family—and her beloved boy Willie--when the military puts out a call for trainable service dogs. Over the course of the book Cracker goes from a heartbroken and confused pup to a tough military scout dog, fiercely devoted t More...
Cracker the German shepherd must leaver her stateside family—and her beloved boy Willie--when the military puts out a call for trainable service dogs. Over the course of the book Cracker goes from a heartbroken and confused pup to a tough military scout dog, fiercely devoted t More...
Mar 02, 2009
Brandon
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The book cracker was very action packed. The author captured the setting of Vietnam and stuff around that time. You could tell that Cynthia knew a lot about the war and life in and around the war. The dog was German Sheppard, and his name was cracker, that’s a weird name for a dog in my opinion.
Cracker was a kind and respectful get to work kind of dog. One of his jobs was to help and remove injured soldiers in and off of the battlefield. Another one was his use of being an S.D. that More...
Feb 21, 2010
Thomas
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More like a 3.5 stars. Cracker is used to the pampered life as a family dog, but that's about to change. Her owner is a young boy named Willie, but he has to give her up. So he sends her off to become a trained military scout dog in the Vietnam war. There, she is paired up with Rick Hanski. Rick wants to whip the world and prove to everybody that he is capable of serving in the army. While undergoing training, they slowly begin to trust each other - because if they don't then it could cost both
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(3 people liked it)
Aug 08, 2010
Brandy
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I cried a few time while reading this book about an intelligent dog taken from his young owner and sent to Vietnam. The story is based on true events and I was horrified to learn that the govt. considered these noble dogs as equipment and left them when we pulled out. These dogs detected hidden enemies, booby traps, and ammunition. They saved countless lives and then were left. There are actual pictures from Vietnam of dogs and their handlers. These pairs formed incredibly deep bonds and the
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Jun 14, 2009
Heather
rated it:
Some spoilers - read with caution!
I really liked this story told by the Newbery Award winning author of Kira-Kira. In this novel, Rick Hanski trains to be a dog handler before going to Vietnam. Cracker is his dog, and Rick always calls him "the best dog in Vietnam." The story unfolds as Rick and Cracker develop a friendship and a bond that helps them to become one unit in the field. Cracker is a fast learner, and she saves many men's lives in Vietnam, including the life of Ri More...
I really liked this story told by the Newbery Award winning author of Kira-Kira. In this novel, Rick Hanski trains to be a dog handler before going to Vietnam. Cracker is his dog, and Rick always calls him "the best dog in Vietnam." The story unfolds as Rick and Cracker develop a friendship and a bond that helps them to become one unit in the field. Cracker is a fast learner, and she saves many men's lives in Vietnam, including the life of Ri More...
Feb 26, 2009
Destinee
rated it:
the best most awsome most saspensful most eye-tearing book ever!!!!!
it's about this dog named cracker. she's a bit of a trouble maker, but is one of the smartest dogs out there. her boy willie and his parents are haveing a tought time because willie's dad just lost his job forceing the whole family to move to an apartment were they arn't aloud to have large dogs. being a full grown unusuly large germen sheperd, the land lord has given the family 1 month to get rid of her or be throw out of More...
it's about this dog named cracker. she's a bit of a trouble maker, but is one of the smartest dogs out there. her boy willie and his parents are haveing a tought time because willie's dad just lost his job forceing the whole family to move to an apartment were they arn't aloud to have large dogs. being a full grown unusuly large germen sheperd, the land lord has given the family 1 month to get rid of her or be throw out of More...
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Apr 14, 2011
Sam
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Braun was a German shepherd destined for greatness until a broken leg took her into the arms of a boy named Willie. Reminded of the owner's no-pet policy, the heartbroken boy answers a newspaper ad and Venus, now "Cracker," is accepted into a military canine unit to help soldiers sniff out booby traps in Vietnam. She and her handler, Rick Hanski, quickly bond and head to the front lines. Cracker and Rick's successful missions lead to more dangerous operations and they are ultimately se
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Dec 27, 2010
Kristen
rated it:
Cracker – Best Dog in Vietnam…
Honestly, I felt blind sided when I read this. Another teacher told me this was a true story. I made the mistake to believe this person. I had no reason not to believe this teacher – I figured if she said it was true then it was true… no. The book is fabricated. I think it’s really disheartening to know that teachers don’t always fully understand a book before the hand it off to students. If you haven’t’ read the entire book, at least be honest about it. More...
Honestly, I felt blind sided when I read this. Another teacher told me this was a true story. I made the mistake to believe this person. I had no reason not to believe this teacher – I figured if she said it was true then it was true… no. The book is fabricated. I think it’s really disheartening to know that teachers don’t always fully understand a book before the hand it off to students. If you haven’t’ read the entire book, at least be honest about it. More...
Sep 23, 2010
Holly
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Cracker Book Review
Cracker was a wonderful book by Cynthia Kadohata about a German Shepherd and her handler Rick Hanski. I would say on a scale of 1 to 10, I would give this book a 9. I would give it a 9 because although it was really good I didn’t like it when the dogs either died or got sent away. I think this book is great for people of all ages who like animals or war stories. When I started this book I couldn’t stop reading it. At night when I was reading it I would keep telli More...
Cracker was a wonderful book by Cynthia Kadohata about a German Shepherd and her handler Rick Hanski. I would say on a scale of 1 to 10, I would give this book a 9. I would give it a 9 because although it was really good I didn’t like it when the dogs either died or got sent away. I think this book is great for people of all ages who like animals or war stories. When I started this book I couldn’t stop reading it. At night when I was reading it I would keep telli More...
Jan 17, 2010
Talia
rated it:
Cracker is a German Shepherd working for the US Army during the Vietnam War, sniffing out bombs and enemy troops. Rick Hanski is his handler, a young boy from Minnesota, ready to “whip the world”. When they both get to Vietnam, they cling to the familiar in a time of unrest and become best friends as they save each other’s lives. But Rick wonders what happens after the war is over…since these dogs are property of the US Army, will Cracker be able to come home with him?
This book was f More...
This book was f More...
Jul 15, 2009
Sam
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Another book about the pros and cons of a relationship between man and dog - this time in the Vietnam War...
First of all, the characters are well put and thought of. The book clearly depicts the rugged world of dog handlers.
Cracker is a nice dog name, I was just wondering. Anyway, I was a bit disappointed that there was hardly a huge conflict in the story. I mean, hardly anyone significant had died in the end (except Cracker's owner's friend's dog). The plots can be quite More...
First of all, the characters are well put and thought of. The book clearly depicts the rugged world of dog handlers.
Cracker is a nice dog name, I was just wondering. Anyway, I was a bit disappointed that there was hardly a huge conflict in the story. I mean, hardly anyone significant had died in the end (except Cracker's owner's friend's dog). The plots can be quite More...
Sep 22, 2010
Zak
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Without these dogs many American Soldiers lived through the Vietnam War and the best dog in Vietnam was Cracker! Cracker was a german sheperd that was sent to Vietnam to sniff out booby traps and enemy troops. Without her hunderds of American Soldiers would have died. But will she and her trainer Rick survive gun fights, booby traps, kidknappings, and killer animals?
This was a amazing book. I liked the adventure of the book and the attachment that Rick and Cracker shared. It's interi More...
This was a amazing book. I liked the adventure of the book and the attachment that Rick and Cracker shared. It's interi More...
Jan 27, 2012
Jimmy
rated it:
Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata, is a book about the dog, Cracker. After her family moves into an apartment that does not allow dogs, she is shipped off to Vietnam as an army dog to help the troops who are in the war. There, she is partnered with Rick, a young soldier trying to make a name for himself. Cracker does not obey Rick when they first meet, making Rick the camp's laughing stock. However, Cracker and Rick start to work together, until they're in the combat zone and
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Sep 05, 2009
Cheryl
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Canine units have been used by the United States in wartime since World War I. This book portrays in a sensitive and moving way, the close relationship between the dog and the handler. Set during the Vietnam War, Cracker is sent to Vietnman to help detect booby traps, bombs, and ambushes. She is devoted to Rick, her handler. Will they survive their military assignment there? Action packed, emotionally charged, and suspenseful, this novel realistically portrays the authentic and gritty details of
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Oct 27, 2010
Gabi
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This book was sooo good. So much description and drama. It really showed this deep connection between a dog and a human. Cracker realized in the book that holding a grudge againist Rick for something he didnt do, was not fair. As Cracker moved on and bonded more with Rick, you could really tell that they had this special bond between each other. It wasnt like a owner/dog relationship, there was much more to the connection and bonding. In alot of ways, i feel that Cracker was portrayed as a dog,
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Dec 22, 2010
Laine
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I would recommend this book to people that LOVE dogs because that is what Cracker is all about. Willie's dad loses his job and they move into an apartment that can't have animals. Willie puts Cracker into a Vietnam program. Rick comes to get her. She goes to Vietnam, Rick loses her in battle. So, Rick goes home without Cracker and three weeks later he gets a call from his buddy. His buddy says that Cracker is on her way over. Rick goes to the airport and gets her, but before that he called Willi
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Oct 19, 2010
Eric
rated it:
this is a very good book about a young man who wants to join the army and whip the world .while he is in basic training he decides to also become a dog handler. when they get to Vietnam he and his dog Cracker scout ahead of platoons to search for booby traps and enemies. Through the war they become so famous that they go on special forces missions. when the war is over the dogs are considered equipment so they are put down but crackers owner Rick mails letters to as many people as he knows so th
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