"January 1970 - Just over a week ago James Peterson was a high school freshman whose biggest worry was passing his Geometry class. Now he's in South Vietnam impersonating a army paratrooper.

He's not there for glory but to make up for his cowardice and solve a mystery. But can a fifteen year old boy survive without any military training? Can he find the answers he seeks? Or will someone see that he's shut down permanently?"

I was hooked when I read the description of this book, and I wasn't at all disappointed! The main character was realistic and absolutely believable as a fish out of water over in Vietnam. The horrors of the war were on display in the book, and this fact alone kept the suspense ratcheted up. The book started out slowly, giving you the chance to get to know the Peterson family, before the action really started. The pacing was well done, the secondary characters were well developed, and the setting was well written - so 3 for 3 there! The conclusion was satisfying, as well. This was a quick read for me for all of these reasons.

In summary, I enjoyed this book very much and give it my highest recommendation.

5 out of 5 stars.

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and Philp Derrick for the opportunity to read and review this book. ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed reading, "Facing the Dragon" by Philip Derrick. The author is extremely gifted at bringing the readers into the story and making us feel like we are standing right there with the characters in that particular scene. The protagonist is a 15-year old high-school student who is mischievous and continuously rebels against school authorities and their rules which results in his suspension. It's becoming so bad, his father isn't even speaking to him anymore. Yet, they all embark on a family vacation to Disneyland. En route, they pick-up a military hitchhiker and stop to tour the caverns in Arizona where the youngster witnesses a mass murder. This sets up the storyline for the protagonist to follow the murderer, a US soldier who is on his way to Vietnam, seeking vengeance and making him pay for what he did.

The teenager impersonates a soldier and successfully makes his way to Vietnam. The new "cherry" is then assigned to the 101st Airborne as an infantry soldier, readers follow him during all his trials and tribulations in seeking out the enemy in the jungles and hills of Vietnam and through his personal obstacles that he must overcome. Although he has absolutely no military training, he is able to keep up with the best of them. The dilemma's he faces during his tour are no different than what battle-hardened soldiers experienced during their wartime. This young soldier grows before our eyes, is awarded medals for bravery, a purple heart, and achieves the rank of sergeant before the end of his year. There are two different stories actually taking place - the other is at the end of World War II when the American soldiers liberate the German concentration camp at Dakau; the author does a wonderful job and brings them both together at the end.

"Nickels" loses colleagues along the way, the battles and jungle experience descriptions are spot on where only actual experience guided the author's pen as there was very little "make-believe". The concept of a 15-year old making it all the way to Vietnam is not far-fetched and actually happened; a 15-year old forged a document and made it through Marine training and into the war - he ended up being the youngest soldier killed during that war.

I found no errors in punctuation or text and very little profanity which is a sign of good editing...something that many self-published authors fail to do to save money - and it shows in their writing. This story is a real page-turner and extremely difficult to put down once you get into it.

Hats off to Philip Derrick! Well done! Thank you for your service and sacrifice and Welcome Home! I highly recommend this 'mystery' story to all - VN veteran or not. ( )