Cracker

Cynthia Kadohata’s Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam is a work of historical fiction that centers around a dog, Cracker, and her handler, Rick Hanski, during their deployment in Vietnam. It is aimed at an audience of middle-grade readers but is also an enjoyable and educational read for adults. Told from the perspective of both the canine and human main characters, Kadohata reveals the vitally important work conducted by military dogs and their handlers during the Vietnam War. In doing so, she also explores the triumphs and tragedies of American soldiers deployed in this contentious war. Kadohata’s historical fiction touches on the themes of Companionship and Loyalty, Ambition for Greatness, and War and Conflict.

This guide utilizes the hardcover 2007 Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division edition of Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam.

Content Warning: The source material and this guide contain descriptions of wartime violence.

Plot Summary

Cracker and her beloved owner, 10-year-old Willie, play in the streets around Willie’s apartment, as they do every day after Willie has finished school. Cracker senses that her young owner is unhappy but does not know the cause of his unhappiness.