I Pledge Allegiance by Chris Lynch - ESSENTIAL

Lynch, Chris I Pledge Allegiance (Vietnam, Book 1), 192 p. Scholastic, NOVEMBER 2011.  $16.99.  Language: G (one swear), Violence: PG (You know it happens, but it doesn’t detail); Mature Content: G.  Ever since the 4^th grade, when Morris, Ivan and Beck rescued Rudi from some bullies, the foursome have done everything together.  So when Rudi’s number comes up in the selective service, the boys decide it is time to enlist – so all of them will head out to the jungles of Vietnam.  While Rudi ends up in the Marines, Beck enlists in the Air Force, Ivan goes into the Army and Morris takes the Navy.  His personal mission is to keep tabs on his boys and keep them safe, but he doesn’t realize that it may be struggle just keeping himself alive.  Lynch manages to convey the gritty, dirty, scary war without becoming graphic and sensational.  I don’t know if the rest of the books will follow others in the group, but it doesn’t matter to me.  I will read them all any way they come.  EL, MS – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher