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Vietnam #5
Walking Wounded
"The best Vietnam War novels yet for this age range." - KIRKUS REVIEWS
Morris, Rudi, Ivan, and Beck were best friends. So when one of them was drafted into the Vietnam War, the others signed up, too. They promised to watch out for one another. They pledged to come home together.
Now, that pledge has been broken. One of the four has been killed in action. And the remaining three are the only men alive who know the awful truth about their friend's death.
Each is left to deal with their secret in his own way. One of them will accompany his friend's body home to Boston. One of them will defy orders in an act of protest. And one of them will decide it's up to him to single-handedly win the war.
In the end, Vietnam may claim more than their lives. As the war grinds on, their very souls are at stake. And their shattered friendship will prove either their salvation . . . or their ruin.
Morris, Rudi, Ivan, and Beck were best friends. So when one of them was drafted into the Vietnam War, the others signed up, too. They promised to watch out for one another. They pledged to come home together.
Now, that pledge has been broken. One of the four has been killed in action. And the remaining three are the only men alive who know the awful truth about their friend's death.
Each is left to deal with their secret in his own way. One of them will accompany his friend's body home to Boston. One of them will defy orders in an act of protest. And one of them will decide it's up to him to single-handedly win the war.
In the end, Vietnam may claim more than their lives. As the war grinds on, their very souls are at stake. And their shattered friendship will prove either their salvation . . . or their ruin.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published October 21, 2014
28 people are currently reading
302 people want to read
About the author
Chris Lynch
62 books162 followersChris Lynch is the Printz Honor Award-winning author of several highly acclaimed young adult novels, including KILL SWITCH, ANGRY YOUNG MAN, and INEXCUSABLE, which was a National Book Award finalist and the recipient of six starred reviews. He is also the author of FREEWILL, GOLD DUST, ICEMAN, GYPSY DAVY, and SHADOWBOXER, all ALA Best Books for Young Adults; EXTREME ELVIN WHITECHURCH, and ALL THE OLD HAUNTS.
He holds an M.A. from the writing program at Emerson College. He mentors aspiring writers and continues to work on new literary projects. He lives in Boston and in Scotland.
He holds an M.A. from the writing program at Emerson College. He mentors aspiring writers and continues to work on new literary projects. He lives in Boston and in Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
November 12, 2014
I really enjoyed this series but i didn't enjoy the conclusion of this book with no final commentary on what happens to two of the main characters.
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May 20, 2019Personal Response
I really enjoyed this book and series, and I wish it had one more book. I really liked the characters, mostly Ivan, because they were all really great friends. I think this book did a good job telling what Vietnam was, like and it does it in a way with fictional characters and to me, it is really enjoyable.
Plot Summary
Rudi is dead. Shot by a sniper hiding somewhere in a bush. Beck and Morris now have to help get him back to base and ready for transport back home. Morris asks to be with Rudi on his trip back and gets accepted and one the multiple flights Morris talks to Rudi. He tells Rudi that it’s his fault that they are all in Vietnam and that his pledge got Rudi killed. Once back home Morris does not feel comfortable at home, in the city, with friends and family. Ivan is on an ammo transport that gets shot at by the Vietcong. The driver of his truck ends up dying and leaving Ivan to drive and that leads to his face getting shot and losing his eye. This injury is cause for Ivan to be sent home. Ivan is not ready to go home and ends up not going on his flight and taking a bus home. When Ivan arrives he is not the same and ends up going to the hunting cabin alone. Beck, who is the only one in Vietnam, is close to leaving and he is fed up with the missions he is doing. The missions are just shooting at nothing because there is nothing to do and the officers are just sending people to shoot at nothing. People at the base start defying and sometimes even kill their CO. Beck starts writing for the Grunts Press and Morris does not like his stories. Morris and Ivan’s brother Caesar go to the hunting cabin to get Ivan. When they are there Ivan starts shooting trees to scare them off. Ivan is suspected of killing Rudi because he is a sniper and he was not there when Rudi died, who died by a sniper, and Morris tells Ivan that he will be with him through everything that is gonna happen.
Characterization
The war has changed Morris and made him realize that he isn’t a kid anymore. He accepts that he has a responsibility to deliver the dead soldiers to their home. He feels that’s what he has to do and that he owes it to Rudi. He has grown up because of the war.
Recommendation
I recommend this book to anyone who has read this series. I think this book is good for anyone who likes war books. I recommend this to anyone 14 and up.
I really enjoyed this book and series, and I wish it had one more book. I really liked the characters, mostly Ivan, because they were all really great friends. I think this book did a good job telling what Vietnam was, like and it does it in a way with fictional characters and to me, it is really enjoyable.
Plot Summary
Rudi is dead. Shot by a sniper hiding somewhere in a bush. Beck and Morris now have to help get him back to base and ready for transport back home. Morris asks to be with Rudi on his trip back and gets accepted and one the multiple flights Morris talks to Rudi. He tells Rudi that it’s his fault that they are all in Vietnam and that his pledge got Rudi killed. Once back home Morris does not feel comfortable at home, in the city, with friends and family. Ivan is on an ammo transport that gets shot at by the Vietcong. The driver of his truck ends up dying and leaving Ivan to drive and that leads to his face getting shot and losing his eye. This injury is cause for Ivan to be sent home. Ivan is not ready to go home and ends up not going on his flight and taking a bus home. When Ivan arrives he is not the same and ends up going to the hunting cabin alone. Beck, who is the only one in Vietnam, is close to leaving and he is fed up with the missions he is doing. The missions are just shooting at nothing because there is nothing to do and the officers are just sending people to shoot at nothing. People at the base start defying and sometimes even kill their CO. Beck starts writing for the Grunts Press and Morris does not like his stories. Morris and Ivan’s brother Caesar go to the hunting cabin to get Ivan. When they are there Ivan starts shooting trees to scare them off. Ivan is suspected of killing Rudi because he is a sniper and he was not there when Rudi died, who died by a sniper, and Morris tells Ivan that he will be with him through everything that is gonna happen.
Characterization
The war has changed Morris and made him realize that he isn’t a kid anymore. He accepts that he has a responsibility to deliver the dead soldiers to their home. He feels that’s what he has to do and that he owes it to Rudi. He has grown up because of the war.
Recommendation
I recommend this book to anyone who has read this series. I think this book is good for anyone who likes war books. I recommend this to anyone 14 and up.
November 9, 2017
The historical fiction book Vietnam: Walking Wounded by Chris Lynch follows the story of four friends who enlisted into different branches of the military to fight in the Vietnam War. The book follows the characters from the first four books but puts them all into one. The story follows after Rudi one of the four friends, is killed in battle and the story starts as Beck carries him to base. When Beck delivers the body to base Morris, another one of the friends, takes the job of escorting him home. The rest of the story follows as he makes stops around the world to take other fallen soldiers back home.
The book was a 4/5 because it was a good conclusion to the series that tied up loose ends but overall had a slower less interesting pace. I liked the book because it was needed to finish the series and it delivered an ending that was acceptable. My favorite part of the book is in the beginning because it the book starts off running, right away you are watching Beck carry back Rudi through the rifle fire covered in his friend's blood. This part shows how bad the situation was but also how much Beck cares for Rudi. I disliked how long the stretch was of Morris just flying to countries to pick up others because it was long and slow and felt like filler material. I would recommend this book to people who like to read about the politics of war and what happens when the troops are not on the battle ground.
The book was a 4/5 because it was a good conclusion to the series that tied up loose ends but overall had a slower less interesting pace. I liked the book because it was needed to finish the series and it delivered an ending that was acceptable. My favorite part of the book is in the beginning because it the book starts off running, right away you are watching Beck carry back Rudi through the rifle fire covered in his friend's blood. This part shows how bad the situation was but also how much Beck cares for Rudi. I disliked how long the stretch was of Morris just flying to countries to pick up others because it was long and slow and felt like filler material. I would recommend this book to people who like to read about the politics of war and what happens when the troops are not on the battle ground.
January 4, 2015
Morris, Beck, Ivan and Rudi have been friends since forever, so when Rudi was drafted, Morris convinced the others join up and go to Vietnam together, thinking they could watch out for each other by joining a different branch of the Armed Forces. Each of the previous four books in the series focuses on one of the friends.
Now, in Walking Wounded, Rudi has been killed by friendly fire, apparently, the friendliest fire of all, and this novel follows each man's reaction to their friend's death.
Morris, whose idea it was for them to all join up, is feeling terrible guilt about having convinced them to do that. He immediately requests and is granted the job of escorting Rudi's body home. There is a lot of introspection during the trip. But once home, Morris has some difficulty being there, in part because he knows the truth about Rudi's death and in part because the adjustment to suddenly being in a civilian setting is difficult for combat soldiers. This was especially true for Vietnam soldiers, who had to face protesters, as Morris does while home, who held them responsible for the war that they were against. Morris is still in the Navy and, though he is now stateside for his remaining tour of duty, his request for how he would like to spend that time may surprise readers, but when I think about it, I realized it would be a healing process for him.
Beck, the smartest one of the bunch, joined the Air Force, flying a C-123 aircraft, defoliating the forests of Vietnam with Agent Orange. Beck is struggling to keep things together for himself, even as he is almost overwhelmed by the loss of his friend and by the realization that he is fighting a senseless war.
Ivan is an Army trained sharpshooter, who seems to just appear on different missions in this book, until he finally is shot in the face. Sent stateside, on a first class plane, Ivan decides to take off once he reaches the states and hitchhikes the rest of the way home. Despite winning medals, Ivan is having a great deal of difficulty with his Vietnam experience and with Rudi's death and takes off for the family's hunting cabin to be alone.
I have only read one other book by Chris Lynch, a WWII novel, but I will say that he does know how to write a war book for middle grade readers. There is enough fighting with the enemy and among the American soldiers themselves to make it feel realistic with being too graphic. The language is a little cleaner than I would have imagined it was in reality, but that's OK.
I don't usually read the fifth book in a series if I haven't read the previous four, but I did this time. I found I didn't have much problem figuring things out. The novel is narrated in the first person by all four of the friends in alternating chapters, so we get the full effect of their reaction to Rudi's death and to the war in general. I was a little taken aback by Lynch still giving Rudi a voice, but in the end, it worked.
I thought Lynch really captured the disorientation, confusion, and anger that accompanied so many Vietnam soldiers as they fought a war they didn't fully understand and returned to a hostile homeland. Morris and Ivan are clearly beginning to experience the emotion toll of the Vietnam war and the disenfranchised feeling so many felt after the war.
As war books go, that is books that actually take place in the midst of the fighting, this is an excellent novel. I remember feeling the same way about the first Chris Lynch book I read, The Right Fight.
Everyone thought that Book 4: Casualties of War was the last book in the series, but then Walking Wounded appeared. Is this the last book? Don't count on it. There are still too many lose ends, beginning with what happened to Beck.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This review was originally posted at The Children's War
Now, in Walking Wounded, Rudi has been killed by friendly fire, apparently, the friendliest fire of all, and this novel follows each man's reaction to their friend's death.
Morris, whose idea it was for them to all join up, is feeling terrible guilt about having convinced them to do that. He immediately requests and is granted the job of escorting Rudi's body home. There is a lot of introspection during the trip. But once home, Morris has some difficulty being there, in part because he knows the truth about Rudi's death and in part because the adjustment to suddenly being in a civilian setting is difficult for combat soldiers. This was especially true for Vietnam soldiers, who had to face protesters, as Morris does while home, who held them responsible for the war that they were against. Morris is still in the Navy and, though he is now stateside for his remaining tour of duty, his request for how he would like to spend that time may surprise readers, but when I think about it, I realized it would be a healing process for him.
Beck, the smartest one of the bunch, joined the Air Force, flying a C-123 aircraft, defoliating the forests of Vietnam with Agent Orange. Beck is struggling to keep things together for himself, even as he is almost overwhelmed by the loss of his friend and by the realization that he is fighting a senseless war.
Ivan is an Army trained sharpshooter, who seems to just appear on different missions in this book, until he finally is shot in the face. Sent stateside, on a first class plane, Ivan decides to take off once he reaches the states and hitchhikes the rest of the way home. Despite winning medals, Ivan is having a great deal of difficulty with his Vietnam experience and with Rudi's death and takes off for the family's hunting cabin to be alone.
I have only read one other book by Chris Lynch, a WWII novel, but I will say that he does know how to write a war book for middle grade readers. There is enough fighting with the enemy and among the American soldiers themselves to make it feel realistic with being too graphic. The language is a little cleaner than I would have imagined it was in reality, but that's OK.
I don't usually read the fifth book in a series if I haven't read the previous four, but I did this time. I found I didn't have much problem figuring things out. The novel is narrated in the first person by all four of the friends in alternating chapters, so we get the full effect of their reaction to Rudi's death and to the war in general. I was a little taken aback by Lynch still giving Rudi a voice, but in the end, it worked.
I thought Lynch really captured the disorientation, confusion, and anger that accompanied so many Vietnam soldiers as they fought a war they didn't fully understand and returned to a hostile homeland. Morris and Ivan are clearly beginning to experience the emotion toll of the Vietnam war and the disenfranchised feeling so many felt after the war.
As war books go, that is books that actually take place in the midst of the fighting, this is an excellent novel. I remember feeling the same way about the first Chris Lynch book I read, The Right Fight.
Everyone thought that Book 4: Casualties of War was the last book in the series, but then Walking Wounded appeared. Is this the last book? Don't count on it. There are still too many lose ends, beginning with what happened to Beck.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This review was originally posted at The Children's War
October 11, 2016
I really enjoyed this book it was one of the best books I have read and the best of the series to me. The one thing I didn't like was the ending to walking wounded it ended with just Morris seeing Ivan at the hunting grounds.
October 26, 2017
"If the Navy needs me to stick up for them I think they're in trouble"-Morris Pg. 151 Vietnam walking wounded follows a group of four friends who decided to go off to the war in Vietnam together. We open on Morris and Beck requesting to personally go with their best friend Rudy's body back home. Their captain says that Morris can and he will also be put on temporary leave and wait for his next orders. Morris gladly accepts his mission and is sent off with Rudy's body back home in Boston. When Morris gets there he feels empty inside, contradicting what he thought he wanted, which was to come back home from the war. He struggles to find anything that gives him purpose and he eventually tries to enlist for a Military Mortuary job, where he is told that he'll have to go back to Vietnam for six months, he hesitantly accepts this and awaits his leave. Their fourth and final friend Ivan comes home early because his eye was taken out, but he resents this and feels that he let down his fellow soldiers and that he is weak. He struggles to find out what to do with his life without the Navy. Morris claims that Ivan killed Rudy and Ivan seems to be aware that Morris might turn him in. Then the book ends. Disappointing, right? Nothing ever really happens in this book except people complaining about how bad their lives are. It just has no real plot and runs around these four characters like every page. The only redeeming factor of this story was the ideologies of how much our soldiers do to defend this country. Sorry about the rambling but I honestly didn't enjoy this book very much. I wouldn't recommend it to a friend for it would just be a waste of time. It didn't really use colorful language and it was really just a drag to read. One example of the few lines of figurative language was a simile: "The grenadier is spotting into the distance like a pro quarterback spotting the defense."
October 13, 2017
This book is about when four friends(Morris, Ivan, Rudi, and Beck) went to Vietnam war. And one of them was taken/drafted to war. So the others signed up too. They promised to look for one another until one of them as been killed in action. And when the other four friends found out the sad awful thing that happened. one of them had to accompany his friends body home to Boston. And one of them will decide it's up to him to single handedly win war. At the end they go to Vietnam war. And only one team wins at war.
I really enjoyed the book because it was interesting and it gets more and more intense. some were to the middle end its the most attracting part. And makes me want to read more and more. and I really like action so if you do to you should read this book if not you should still because its really interesting .So i suggest you should read this book.
I really enjoyed the book because it was interesting and it gets more and more intense. some were to the middle end its the most attracting part. And makes me want to read more and more. and I really like action so if you do to you should read this book if not you should still because its really interesting .So i suggest you should read this book.
March 3, 2019
I read WALKING WOUNDED by Chris Lynch. The setting is between camp and the escort location. Characters are Morris, Rudi, Ivan, and Beck.
One of the four friends were sent off to the Vietnam war. Which was later killed. The other three signed up and made a pledge to keep each other alive. So when they found out they have lost one. One of them took his body, while another one defys orders in the act of an protest, while the last guy has to go in alone to win the war.
I liked the book. I found this book for I wanna go to a special force and it looked very interesting. I feel as if you like war related subjects or want to hear stories as of how it is. And what to expect Chris Lynchs books will be for you.
One of the four friends were sent off to the Vietnam war. Which was later killed. The other three signed up and made a pledge to keep each other alive. So when they found out they have lost one. One of them took his body, while another one defys orders in the act of an protest, while the last guy has to go in alone to win the war.
I liked the book. I found this book for I wanna go to a special force and it looked very interesting. I feel as if you like war related subjects or want to hear stories as of how it is. And what to expect Chris Lynchs books will be for you.
September 19, 2018
Walking wounded was a book about 4 friend s and 1 of then get drafted so they all decided to go in but as rudi get shot in the head by his own friendly fire they all got to keep it a secret.morris is the own that stays by rudi's dead body all the why back home but he doesnt have the guts to tell anyone what really happen as Ivan, and beck are still over in nam fight a pointless war that cost so many men and boys there own lives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2018
Scary and Not what I expected but it will make ONE THINK
August 15, 2019
This was a very intense book. You really have to think deeply about it, and even then it’s still hard to comprehend.
March 8, 2020
Great book
Absolutely awesome.I read all 5 books in 36 hrs. I loved the end. I would recommend this book absolutely. Thank you.
Absolutely awesome.I read all 5 books in 36 hrs. I loved the end. I would recommend this book absolutely. Thank you.
June 11, 2021
The best one of the series!
August 4, 2021
Loved the other 4 books. This one was a bit weird for me.
August 24, 2022
Was a great book and a real tearjerker. But really never found out what happened to two of the boys.
May 24, 2024
I hate this book. Does that make me unpatriotic? I know I’m unpatriotic. I’m not the target demographic. I’m also incredibly squeamish about eye injuries.
March 20, 2017
The novel was about a group of friends who are out to avenge the death of their friend in the Vietnam war. I gave the book 4 stars because It was good and interesting but there were times when it was boring and I didn't want to read. I think historical fiction readers like myself would enjoy this book very much.
March 18, 2021
I really liked this book i though it was a good concluding book i like how the charters actions concluded the story and how is happened.Morris, Beck, Ivan and Rudi have been friends since forever. The setting is between camp and the escort location.
November 3, 2014
I received a copy of this book from Scholastic via Net Galley in exchange for a fair review.
This is the fifth book in the series, and it is the first one I have read. I still have some questions about what precisely went down at the end of the 4th book, but I was able to read and enjoy the book as a standalone. The book begins seconds after the death of one of four young men who made a pact to stick together through The Vietnam War. It covers the fallout from that death for the remaining three men. This book reminded me of The Outsiders because the characters seem very real and are carrying very adult concerns and responsibilities on their shoulders. There is the same dismissive attitude towards the authority figures in their lives, and that, too, rings true for young adults. The book was well written and well paced. It balanced action with character development and gave a pretty clear picture of how the war damaged people differently. Underlying themes of loyalty, friendship and duty keep this from driving the reader into depression, but it is a dark chapter in history and that is clearly conveyed. The language and situations manage to present the horror of Vietnam in a way appropriate for teen readers. I have a host of high school boys who enjoy books about war, and I can't wait to recommend this title to them. The cover looks younger than the actual content, so I don't expect a high school reader to pick it up without encouragement, but I think they will be hooked after just a couple of chapters. I will add this to my classroom library wish list. I know our high school library carries the series, and I will start recommending it tomorrow. As an adult reader, I was very engaged, and I plan to pick up the others in the series asap. If you enjoyed Band of Brothers, Unbroken, or The Things They Carried, you will probably enjoy this book as well.
This is the fifth book in the series, and it is the first one I have read. I still have some questions about what precisely went down at the end of the 4th book, but I was able to read and enjoy the book as a standalone. The book begins seconds after the death of one of four young men who made a pact to stick together through The Vietnam War. It covers the fallout from that death for the remaining three men. This book reminded me of The Outsiders because the characters seem very real and are carrying very adult concerns and responsibilities on their shoulders. There is the same dismissive attitude towards the authority figures in their lives, and that, too, rings true for young adults. The book was well written and well paced. It balanced action with character development and gave a pretty clear picture of how the war damaged people differently. Underlying themes of loyalty, friendship and duty keep this from driving the reader into depression, but it is a dark chapter in history and that is clearly conveyed. The language and situations manage to present the horror of Vietnam in a way appropriate for teen readers. I have a host of high school boys who enjoy books about war, and I can't wait to recommend this title to them. The cover looks younger than the actual content, so I don't expect a high school reader to pick it up without encouragement, but I think they will be hooked after just a couple of chapters. I will add this to my classroom library wish list. I know our high school library carries the series, and I will start recommending it tomorrow. As an adult reader, I was very engaged, and I plan to pick up the others in the series asap. If you enjoyed Band of Brothers, Unbroken, or The Things They Carried, you will probably enjoy this book as well.
December 30, 2014
Readers will want to read the books that precede this title in the Vietnam series since doing so will help them understand the characters better. Even without reading the earlier titles, though, it's clear that four young men from Boston have been changed forever by their experiences in the Vietnam War. When one of the four--lifetime buddies--is drafted, the rest of them enlist and promise to take care of one another, easier said than done during the war. But this title starts off with Rudi dead, killed by a sniper--it appears to be Ivan who was the sniper--and the friends are devastated. While Morris escorts the body home, Beck struggles to keep things on an even keel while the war grows more and more senseless. Meanwhile, Ivan disappears and pops up on various missions. Although some essential background is missing without the previous four books in the series, readers will still relate to the disorientation Morris feels upon returning home, and to Ivan's confusion about what to do with himself. The emotional toll of war on its survivors and their friends and family are described vividly here as each of the four friends takes a turn at narrating the story. The author even includes scenes of the war protests outside recruitment centers and describes how orders were ignored as things grew messier in Vietnam. It's almost as though he was right there in the thick of things.
April 6, 2015
This fifth and final installment in the Vietnam series picks up with the aftermath of Rudi’s death and the aptly titled “walking wounded” he left behind. Narrated from each character’s point of view, including ghost Rudi, the friends try to come to grips with their guilt over Rudi’s death and the absurdity and futility of a war they little understand. Morris accompanies his friend’s body home and must decide how best to serve Rudi’s memory once his tour is over. Ivan, having been horribly wounded and decorated for bravery, is sent home but cannot face the world because of his demons. And Beck, seeing the absurdity of his “combat” missions, incurs a dishonorable discharge and begins writing articles about the war experience in an anti-“Stars and Stripes” magazine. Readers will see firsthand the dissension the Vietnam War caused, the meaning of the pervasive “friendly fire” catch-all phrase, the effects of PTSD and the horrific emotional toll the war took on fighting boys/men. Violence and gore are here, but they do not overpower the grit of friendship and brotherhood. There is no satisfying ending to this series because the subject is war, and an unpopular one to boot; we know the haunted and unsettling feelings of the characters will last a lifetime. The series is a solid addition to any library and a cautionary tale for hawks and doves alike.
March 22, 2017
I don't know where this book came from. One day it appeared in my mailbox at school. I waited for someone to claim it -- sometimes lost books are returned to me -- but no one did. Several people know that I'm looking for titles to add to my "war" shelf of the classroom library. Maybe someone gave it to me as a gift; maybe someone thought I'd forgotten to label a book. After six months, I decided to claim it for my classroom library.
Apparently, this is the fifth book in a series about friend who got to fight in the Vietnam War. This is a strong book. It's graphic without being unnecessarily violent. It covers how the war affects everyone differently. It covers the horrors of war. It covers the way our Vietnam veterans were treated on their return. It's an unromantic and realistic portrayal of war.
I'm seriously thinking about getting the rest of the series. It's that good and gripping and realistic. My students need this book on war.
Apparently, this is the fifth book in a series about friend who got to fight in the Vietnam War. This is a strong book. It's graphic without being unnecessarily violent. It covers how the war affects everyone differently. It covers the horrors of war. It covers the way our Vietnam veterans were treated on their return. It's an unromantic and realistic portrayal of war.
I'm seriously thinking about getting the rest of the series. It's that good and gripping and realistic. My students need this book on war.
October 17, 2016
I had never read one of the first four books in this series. But it is clear to me what the message of this book is. In Walking Wounded, four best friends are in the Vietnam War, when one of them gets killed, by what seems to be friendly fire. One of the three remaining best friends has to take him home. There are then two of them left in Vietnam. Then, one of the two remaining, gets wounded, and is told to go home. There is then one lonely friend, alone in Vietnam. It seems like this friendship is breaking up. One of them may have killed one of their best friends. The four of them don't see each other for a while, but then two of them meet up, and it is like everything is back to normal. This story proves that friendship will always stay together, no matter how much they go through together. This was one of the best books I read that taught a good lesson.
June 12, 2015
Four best friends enlist into the military during the Vietnam War and promise to look after each other. But what happens when one of the is killed in action and another lone is left to bear the guilt of his actions?How will each soldier deal with the consequences and will it tear them apart or bring them closer together.
This is definitely a book for the young adult reader. The Vietnam War was never a popular war and this novel brings that aspect to light. The writing is raw and gritty and the emotions are left on the table to dissect bit. This is not for the elementary reader but junior high level and up will take away a lot form this fifth volume of the series. Not Recommended for elementary levels. Grades 6 and up.
This is definitely a book for the young adult reader. The Vietnam War was never a popular war and this novel brings that aspect to light. The writing is raw and gritty and the emotions are left on the table to dissect bit. This is not for the elementary reader but junior high level and up will take away a lot form this fifth volume of the series. Not Recommended for elementary levels. Grades 6 and up.
October 5, 2014
When I completed #4 of the Vietnam series, I was worried that the author would leave the series hanging. I was happy to see Walking Wounded and not one bit disappointed. This book follows Morris as he brings Rudi's body home. Ivan returns to the war and his destiny. Beck tries to adjust to all that has occurred. Each is trying to not only dal with Rudi's death, but his own thoughts and fears of returning home and facing each other and family. Could their friendship survive? This book left me wanting a little more. Sure hope there is another book to come.
January 23, 2015
Heartbroken. This series just gutted me. I did have quite the unpleasant surprise at a revelation at the beginning which prompted me to go back and reread the ending of book #4, Casualties of War. Am I the only once who missed this? I did read the ending through tons of tears but I totally missed it. I read most of the beginning of Walking Wounded through tears as well. Because the POV shifts between all four friends I found myself feeling like I missed something and did a fair amount of rereading.
May 4, 2015
Memorable characters and great storyline make this book a must read. I shared this with my son once I was done reading it and he enjoyed it as much as I did. The author demonstrates a great ability to connect characters with the readers.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.
May 16, 2015
It's so sad how Rudy dies. But once again Chris Lynch writes another great book. I hate how Ivan runs off. I wonder how sad that would've been to see that. I like how they flip back and forth between characters. It can verify pretty confusing with all the twist but I like them. I think that would be so hard not to tell anyone what happened.
December 2, 2014
I have loved every book in this series. It's the most complete (and completely accessible) glimpse into the Vietnam experience that is available to today's young people.
January 30, 2015
over all the book was amazing. some parts are a little graphic but not that much
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews