The Dog Tags series from Scholastic is perfect for kids aged 10 and up who love dogs and have an interest in war stories, or perhaps have family members in the military.
Dog Tags #1: Semper Fido (5/5 stars, currently priced at $4.61)
Man’s best friend goes to war.
When Gus Dempsey joins the US Marine Corps, he knows without a doubt that he will make a great dog handler. He’s always been good with dogs. In fact, he’s often better with dogs than he is with people.
But Loki is not the dog that Gus was expecting. Fun-loving and playful, Loki acts more like a pet than the well-trained, bomb-sniffing Marine that he’s supposed to be.
When Gus and Loki deploy to Afghanistan, though, they have no choice but to learn to work together. Because in war, getting along is a matter of life and death.
Dog Tags #2: Strays (5/5 stars, currently priced at $4.61)
Chuck and Ajax are partners, and they’re good at their job. Chuck leads Ajax through the jungles of Vietnam, and Ajax sniffs out hidden, deadly traps before they can hurt US soldiers.
The war is almost over now, and the Army is grateful for Chuck’s service. They want to give him a medal. But their plans for Ajax are less noble.
Suddenly, Chuck is forced to answer two impossible questions: Is his loyalty to Ajax or to the US Army? And just how far is he willing to go to protect his partner?
DOG TAGS is a series of stand-alone books, each exploring the bond between soldier and dog in times of war.
Dog Tags #3: Prisoners of War (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $4.61)
Two enemy soldiers. One uneasy alliance.
Miguel is a medic in the US Army. Stationed in a remote Belgian forest during World War II, he’s expecting a quiet tour of duty. But the Nazis have other ideas. They launch a surprise attack . . . one that separates Miguel from his entire division.
Alone and lost in enemy territory, Miguel discovers an abandoned dog, left behind by German forces. The dog could be just the ally Miguel needs to get out of the forest alive. There’s a catch, though. The dog has been trained by the Nazis to see Miguel as the enemy. Can a young soldier teach an old dog new tricks?
Dog Tags #4: Divided We Fall (4/5 stars, currently priced at $4.61)
LOYALTY ABOVE ALL ELSE.
Andrew believes in the importance of loyalty. He is loyal to his family. He is loyal to his hound dog, Dash. And he is loyal to his country, the Confederate States of America.
Although he’s too young to join the Confederate Army, Andrew is welcomed into the Home Guard, a group of men who track down deserters and runaways. He and Dash make a great team. But hunting people is very different from hunting raccoons. And soon Andrew’s loyalty will be tested like never before.
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