Code Talker

Bibliographic Information: Bruchac, John (2005). Code Talker. Penguin Group, Inc., 224 pp.

Genre: Historical Fiction.

Awards. ALA Best Book for Young Adults.

Synopsis: Ned Begay is a Navajo Indian who was sent away to an American boarding school at the age of 6. He learns the English language and American ways. He is taught that anything Navajo is bad and the Navajo language is the worst. After suffering through the harshness of the school, he is recruited by the Marine Corps to serve in WWII and use his native language to create a code the Japanese could not break. Telling his story to his grandchildren, Ned relates his experiences in school, military training, and service in the Marine Corps during WWII.

Evaluative statement: Throughout World War II, in the conflict fought against Japan, Navajo code talkers were a crucial part of the U.S. war effort, sending messages back and forth in an unbreakable code that used their native language. They braved some of the heaviest fighting of the war, and with their code, they saved countless American lives. Joseph Bruchac brings their stories to life for young adults through the fascinating fictional tale of Ned Begay, a sixteen-year-old Navajo boy who becomes a code talker. His exhausting journey is eye-opening and inspiring. The book presents a clear historical picture of young men in wartime, island hopping across the Pacific through Hawaii, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Guam, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
Possible classroom uses for the book: All Class Read. With multicultural themes and well-told WWII history, this book should appeal to a wide audience.

Appropriate age range: 12-16

My Personal Reaction: This book should be highly recommended to English language learners who are struggling to learn a new language, and at the same time not forget their native language and their heritage.