Newbery Medal winning author Cynthia Kadohata offers this action-packed story that is a glimpse into the Vietnam War through the eyes of a dog and her handler. Rick MacBride is headed to Vietnam. He's going to prove his toughness to his dad, his brother and everyone else who thought he couldn't handle the war. But sometimes Rick wonders if he is tough enough. Maybe his family is right about him. Cracker is one of the United States Army's most valuable weapons--a German Shepherd trained to sniff out bombs, traps, and the enemy. The fate of entire platoons rests on Cracker's keen sense of smell. She's important and she likes it that way. Then Cracker is paired with Rick and she isn't so sure he is as tough as he seems. Cracker demands that Rick prove himself to her before she proves her skills to him. But in the end, they need to be friends before they can be a team and they must be a team if they want to get home alive.