Sharpshooter (Vietnam, book 2)

Lynch, Chris      Sharpshooter (Vietnam, book 2)      Scholastic/Grolier/Childrens Press/Watts  2012  187p  $16.99  978-0-545-27026-7  ms/hs      Historical fiction      VG

Ivan’s father and grandfather were outstanding soldiers in previous wars. Ivan cannot imagine any other future than volunteering for the army, and he looks forward to the glory of war that his relatives talked about.  He realizes that the easy camaraderie within his group of four high-school buddies will soon be forever changed.  Ivan excels at boot camp, and during his deployment he is selected for an elite sharpshooter group.  

The realities of war in the humid jungles of Vietnam are in stark contrast to his former life in Boston.  Based on a navy ship, he learns about being a member of a team, the harsh conditions under which he will use his sniper skills, and what it feels like to be constantly urged to "up his kill quotient".  Underlying the narrative is the question of who America is fighting for and who the enemy really is.  Ivan’s Native American heritage is ever present, and he feels a connection to the "mountain people" of Vietnam who sometimes help the American fighters.

For readers looking for a novel with plenty of war action, this is not that novel.  For those looking for the emotional impact of war on the people who fight and the emotional aftereffects of killing for their country, this book will resonate.  The use of camouflage design at the start of each chapter and the dog tag containing the ISBN on the back cover extend the military theme. This is a hi/lo for high school.           

VG    Lois McNicol      Vietnam War