Although much has been written about the Vietnam War and its aftermath, few books have been geared toward children or young adults. Here are three excellent titles for young people:

"Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam," by Cynthia Kadohata (Simon & Schuster, $17). An engaging human-animal bonding tale by the Newbery Award-winning author of "Kira-Kira," the story is creatively told from the point of view of Cracker, a bomb-sniffing German shepherd, and Rick Hanski, the young Army handler who grows to love her. (Endnotes reveals that some 4,000 sniffer dogs served during the war, saving about 10,000 lives.) Dramatic wartime action is sensitively handled in this fictional book for middle and high school students.

"When Heaven Fell," by Carolyn Marsen (Candlewick Press, $16). In modern Vietnam, 9-year-old Binh sells fruit to help support her family but longs to go to school. Aunt Di, a former war orphan now living in America, comes to Binh's village to rediscover her Vietnamese heritage. Together, niece and aunt gently confront their differences and discover that they have more in common than they'd ever imagined. Insightfully and beautifully told, the fiction book is for kids in third through fifth grade.

"Escape From Saigon: How a Vietnam War Orphan Became an American Boy," by Andrea Warren (FSG, $18). Poignant firsthand interviews and dramatic photos draw readers into the saga of 8-year-old Long in this nonfiction book for middle and high school students. Long is raised in wartime Saigon by his grandmother, left at an orphanage, then sent to America under Operation Babylift to live with a Midwestern family. The book received a starred review from Booklist.

AUTHOR APPEARANCES

The following authors will visit Mysteries to Die For, 2940 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 374-0084:

Margaret Coel 1 p.m. Friday. Will sign "Blood Memory."

Sheila Lowe 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Will sign "Written in Blood."

Gwen Freeman 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Will sign "Crazy Fool Kills Five."

Kelli Stanley 1 p.m. Saturday. Will sign "Knox Dormienda."

SPECIAL EVENTS

Poetry Reading 8 p.m. Monday. Village Jester Restaurant, 139 Ojai Ave., Ojai. 640-8001.

Writing Workshop 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Topic is "Plot, Story, Characters." Sponsored by California Literary Arts Society. Part of a series; $12-$20 per session. Bank of Books, 748 E. Main St., Ventura. 643-3385.

Train of Thought 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Poetry reading at 856 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura. 642-1146.

LIBRARY NEWS

Computer Workshop 10 a.m. Monday. Prueter Library, 510 Park Ave., Port Hueneme. 486-5460.

Read to Pepper the Dog 3 p.m. Monday. Blanchard Library, 119 N. Eighth St., Santa Paula. 525-3615.

Book Group Noon Wednesday. "Change of Heart" by Jodi Picoult. Westlake Village Library, 31220 Oak Crest Drive. 818-865-9230.

Drop-in Computer Help 2 p.m. Wednesday. Camarillo Library, 4101 Las Posas Road. 388-5222.

Preschool Stories 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Moorpark Library, 699 Moorpark Ave. 517-6370.

Writers Workshop 6 p.m. Thursday. Sponsored by Ojai Library. Twice-Sold Tales Bookstore, 122 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai. 646-1639.

Paws for Reading 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Wright Library, 57 Day Road, Ventura. 642-0337.

Bilingual Stories and Crafts 2 p.m. Saturday. Avenue Library, 606 N. Ventura Ave., Ventura. 643-6393.

— We'd like to announce your news about book/author events in Ventura County. Send items at least three weeks in advance to Jo Ellen Heil at P.O. Box 7083, Ventura, CA 93006; samheil@hotmail.com; or fax to 482-6167.