Cracker, short for Firecracker, didn't start out life intending to be a war dog. She is from a fine line of German shepherds and as a puppy won Best Puppy in Match three times before getting her leg caught in the chain link of her dog kennel and breaking it. She feels she is meant to be the companion of Willie, the eleven year old boy she was given to after her leg healed. Unfortunately, Willie's dad has lost his job and the apartment they must now live in doesn't allow dogs, so Cracker has been donated to the military to serve in Vietnam. Cracker is 110 pounds of angry upset dog at being taken away from Willie and some of the dog handlers are betting against her successfully transitioning to her new life. Rick Hanski is betting his life on Cracker. As the human half of this new team, he knows that teaching Cracker to trust him is a matter of life or death. This is a California Young Reader Medal nominee for 2010.