The Vietnam War: An Interactive Modern History Adventure
by Michael Burgan and Marc Leepson It's the 1960s, and the Vietnam War is raging. You find yourself in the midst of the turmoil. Will you: - Enlist in the Marines and volunteer to go to war? - Join your fellow young Americans eager to protest the war? - Be a young Vietnamese man forced to choose between the communist North and the capitalist South? Everything in this book happened to real people. And YOU CHOOSE what you do next. The choices you make could lead you to jail, to the jungles of Vietnam, or even to death. Lexile – 710 |
All the Broken Pieces
by Ann E. Burg An award-winning debut novel from a stellar new voice in middle grade fiction. Matt Pin would like to forget: war torn Vietnam, bombs that fell like dead crows, and the terrible secret he left behind. But now that he is living with a caring adoptive family in the United States, he finds himself forced to confront his past. And that means choosing between silence and candor, blame and forgiveness, fear and freedom. By turns harrowing, dreamlike, sad, and triumphant, this searing debut novel, written in lucid verse, reveals an unforgettable perspective on the lasting impact of war and the healing power of love. Lexile – 680 |
Cracker! : The Best Dog in Vietnam
by Cynthia Kadohata 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 her keen sense of smell. She's a Big Deal, and she likes it that way. Sometimes Cracker remembers when she was younger, and her previous owner would feed her hot dogs and let her sleep in his bed. That was nice, too. Rick Hanski is headed to Vietnam. There, he's going to whip the world and prove to his family and his sergeant -- and everyone else who didn't think he was cut out for war -- wrong. But sometimes Rick can't help but wonder that maybe everyone else is right. Maybe he should have just stayed at home and worked in his dad's hardware store. When Cracker is paired with Rick, she isn't so sure about this new owner. He's going to have to prove himself to her before she's going to prove herself to him. They need to be friends before they can be a team, and they have to be a team if they want to get home alive. Told in part through the uncanny point of view of a German shepherd, Cracker is an action-packed glimpse into the Vietnam War as seen through the eyes of a dog and her handler. It's an utterly unique powerhouse of a book by the Newbery Medal-winning author of Kira-Kira. Lexile – 730 |
Letters from Wolfie
by Patti Sherlock Mark's dog Wolfie is part malamute, part German shepherd, and all heart. Mark can hardly imagine life without his big, loving canine companion. But in 1969, the Vietnam War is still raging, and when Mark learns that the army needs scout dogs, he decides to send Wolfie. As his dad says, a smart dog like Wolfie could save a lot of soldiers--soldiers like Mark's brother, Danny. Besides, it seems like the patriotic thing to do. Inspired by real events, this is a heartbreaking story about sacrifice, loyalty, and the complex meanings of patriotism. Lexile – 760 |
John McCain : An American Hero
by John Perritano "Young readers will be moved by this biography of Arizona senator John McCain." --Booklist Known for his willingness to stand up to his own party, Senator John McCain has sometimes been called a "maverick." This fascinating biography covers McCain's life, from growing up as the son of a four-star admiral to his own time at the Naval Academy, his service as a pilot, and his experience as a prisoner of war. It explores McCain's 30 years as a senator, as well as his two bids for the presidency. Filled with photographs, and written in an engaging voice, John McCain will appeal to a generation of kids ages 8 and up eager to understand more about one of our nation's most iconic political forces. Lexile - 1000 |