Reviewed by Carly Kendall for Readers' Favorite

After losing his wife and child, Fletcher decides to take up arms and join the war in Vietnam with the hopes of not making it out alive. The war rages around him, but after a chance encounter with a seriously wounded dog named Jack, Fletcher slowly realizes that life may be worth living with Jack by his side.

There were two things that I found appealing about this story. The first is the bond between Fletcher and Jack. I know very well how strong that bond can be, especially with a person (and a dog for that matter) who is broken. Gareth Crocker understands that bond and how strong it can be, and it shows in the pages of Finding Jack. There is tenderness and a sense of peace between Fletcher and Jack despite the horror of war going on around them. That aspect of the story was very well written.

The other aspect of the story I was drawn to was the fact that it takes place in the thick of the Vietnam War. Being the daughter of a Vietnam veteran, I have a great deal of respect and regard for all of those who serve. Gareth brings the reader right into the action and torment the soldiers experienced everyday in that war. It was intense and real, and at times, a little tough to take.

The one problem I did have with this book is the language. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that these men are soldiers and they are fighting an ugly war, but I felt that the bad language was overdone. A writer can still get a point across without being quite so vulgar. I think the book would have been more effective if the language had been cleaned up some. Having said that though, Finding Jack is well written (aside from the over-abundance of swear words and other dirty words). The story moves fast and does have a tender and sensitive side that resonated with me.

If you like a good dog-human bonding story and a good action/war story Finding Jack is pretty good. But if you have a problem with bad language, be prepared or pass on this one.