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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A Young Adult novel about the Navajo Code Talkers of WWII - tells the story of a young man from his experiences at a boarding school (like Canadian residential schools in a lot of ways) to enlistment in the Marines and his experiences in the Pacific fighting against the Japanese.
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An informative historical fiction book that shows the life and hardships of a young Navajo man as grows up and joins the Marines to become a Codetalker during WWII. It's written as if it's the main character telling his decendents his story, almost like a fictional memoir. It's a great story, but is only rated as a 3 star for me due to the long passages deeply describing war tactics and other military jargon, which isn't as interesting to me as the rest of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, War
Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Violence, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Alcohol
Written like an autobiography but it's a novel. It is fascinating the dedication these men demonstrated to a country that had tried so hard to remove their culture from them and then asked them to use those same skills in her service. So thankful for their sacrifice. I think that books that show the individual human side of war are so important.
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I don’t generally like war books, but this one was written from an interesting perspective and very well researched.
I kept getting distracted and having to go read about the history that he describes!
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Read this for a Small Group Independent Reading for my English sophomores and quite enjoyed it. The pacing is solid and wastes no time involving you in the action of war but also gives you enough grounding background of our amalgamated main character that you never feel lacking.
I would say the writing is approachable but bordering on a bit on the immature side? Like, I think the group reading it will be fine but some if the sentence structures just felt too simple. I found myself wanting just a few more descriptions and such but nothing crazy.
It is also worth noting that there are other more first hand accounts of this part of history but it serves the purpose here that it needs to and that is to introduce Code Talkers to those new to the concept and peak their interest.
I would say the writing is approachable but bordering on a bit on the immature side? Like, I think the group reading it will be fine but some if the sentence structures just felt too simple. I found myself wanting just a few more descriptions and such but nothing crazy.
It is also worth noting that there are other more first hand accounts of this part of history but it serves the purpose here that it needs to and that is to introduce Code Talkers to those new to the concept and peak their interest.