VVMBookBlog

Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac

Ned Begay is a Navajo Indian who leaves his home to go to school because his family thinks he should learn English. At school he and the other boys are not allowed to speak in their native tounge (Navajo). This is only interesting since the United States Marine Corps is looking for people who speak Navajo to help in WWII. Ned is only sixteen, but he really wants to join. Although his parents probably don’t think it’s the best idea, they let him sign up.

Ned joins the Marines and WWII. He is a “code talker.” The Japanese are not able to break the code (basically Navajo language), so the Navajo soldiers are important to the US. His story is told as he goes to different locations in the war such as Hawaii, Guam, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. This story gives a brief history of the war from the voice of a soldier experiencing the different conflicts. More importantly, it tells of the Navajo Code Breakers a part of history that isn’t necessarily always taught.