Code Talker: A Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two

Gr 5 Up -In the measured tones of a Native American storyteller, Bruchac assumes the persona of a Navajo grandfather telling his grandchildren about his World War II experiences. Protagonist Ned Begay starts with his early schooling at an Anglo boarding school, where the Navajo language is forbidden, and continues through his Marine career as a "code talker," explaining his long silence until "de-classified" in 1969. Begay's lifelong journey honors the Navajos and other Native Americans in the military, and fosters respect for their culture. Bruchac's gentle prose presents a clear historical picture of young men in wartime, island hopping across the Pacific, waging war in the hells of Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and Iwo Jima. Nonsensational and accurate, Bruchac's tale is quietly inspiring, even for those who have seen "Windtalkers", or who have read such nonfiction works as Nathan Aaseng's "Navajo Code Talkers" (Walker, 1992), Kenji Kawano's "Warriors: Navajo Code Talkers" (Northland, 1990), or Deanne Durrett's "Unsung Heroes of World War II: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers" (Facts On File, 1998). For those who've read none of the above, this is an eye-opener." -Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY" Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"When WWII broke out, Navajos...were recruited by the Marine Corps to use their native language to create an unbreakable code....Telling his story to his grandchildren, Ned relates his experiences in school, military training, and across the Pacific....With its multicultural themes and well-told WWII history, this will appeal to a wide audience." Kirkus Reviews