Caesar the War Dog: Operation Black Shark

Gr 4–6—Sgt. Ben Fulton has taken his son, daughter, and mother on a Caribbean cruise. He is on leave because of an injury and hopes the rest and relaxation will bring him back up to speed. The first days of the cruise are filled with fun and sightseeing. The cruise takes a turn for the worst when the ship is hijacked. Ben may have been looking for rest, but he is now prepared to do everything he can to end this situation peacefully. Fortunately, help is coming his way, including Ben's best "teammate," the explosive-detection dog, Caesar. Despite the exciting premise, this novel drags from start to finish. The story is filled with military acronyms and terms that slow the pacing considerably. An appended list of definitions provides some help. The characters are unappealing, and Caesar makes rare appearances in the story. Adult characters propel the action and leave a hole in the story line for a child protagonist to emerge and capture the interest of the intended audience. Additionally, this Australian import uses words such as fossicked that may be unfamiliar to some U.S. readers.