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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
Interesting story, but dull writing. Although it's based on true accounts this feels like a very fictionalized (and frankly hard to believe) story.
Code Talker was super informative and there were moments I was really touched by the struggle and sacrifice of these Navajo Marines. They weren’t treated well before or after the war, but their code saved thousands of lives. So inspiring. That said, the writing itself was kind of bland. So 4 stars for the story, 2 for the prose, averages out to 3 stars.
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a Booktalk.
Have you ever wanted to go to a boarding school. Like Harry Potter where you stay at the school and you leave your parents at home. Sounds kinda fun. In the early part of the 20th century the United States actually forced Native Americans to go to boarding schools. The idea was that the white people felt they could educate the "Native American" out of the kids. They would not allow them to talk about their own culture and they did not allow them to speak their own language. This novel Code Talker, by Joseph Bruchac is the story of one boy who went to a school like this when he is six years old. He took on the Americanized name they gave him Ned and he learned how to be American. Then America went into World War II and it turns out the Ned and the other Navajo young men happen to have a secret weapon that will help the US defeat the Japanese. That weapon is their language. The Navajo language is one of the most complex languages and until recently it was not even written down. The marines realized that it could be used to create a virtually unbreakable code. So Ned and his Navajo friends go to war. They fight a war for a country that has no respect for their own nation. While not a true story it is based on truth. The Navajo language code was one of the only codes that the Japanese never broke.
Have you ever wanted to go to a boarding school. Like Harry Potter where you stay at the school and you leave your parents at home. Sounds kinda fun. In the early part of the 20th century the United States actually forced Native Americans to go to boarding schools. The idea was that the white people felt they could educate the "Native American" out of the kids. They would not allow them to talk about their own culture and they did not allow them to speak their own language. This novel Code Talker, by Joseph Bruchac is the story of one boy who went to a school like this when he is six years old. He took on the Americanized name they gave him Ned and he learned how to be American. Then America went into World War II and it turns out the Ned and the other Navajo young men happen to have a secret weapon that will help the US defeat the Japanese. That weapon is their language. The Navajo language is one of the most complex languages and until recently it was not even written down. The marines realized that it could be used to create a virtually unbreakable code. So Ned and his Navajo friends go to war. They fight a war for a country that has no respect for their own nation. While not a true story it is based on truth. The Navajo language code was one of the only codes that the Japanese never broke.
A great novelized approach to an important piece of WWII history. Written by a Native author, well-researched, and written in a voice that feels very authentic. The audiobook version is outstanding -- narrated by a Navajo journalist. I'd almost recommend that over reading the book because in the audiobook you get to hear the Navajo words spoken properly.
This is just so well done, I read a few chapters before I made the decision to switch to the audio version and I am so glad I did. I enthusiastically recommend the audio version for the times Navajo is spoken. Regardless of how this is read, the seamless blending of history and fiction is well done and I'm so glad this was recommended to me.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeooooooooooooooooo!
This books was great!
I really like to learn things while reading a lovely story so this book is perfect!
This book told me all about the Navajo Indians and how they were a major and forgotten part of WWII in the Pacific. It's a great story and seriously I learned so much!
It also made me really want to read a story about the atomic bombs dropping on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, so now I'm on the look out for those.
I say this all the time, but whenever I read about the atomic bomb I remember the "debate" we had in Honors U.S. History Class. We got to chose our side. Pro dropping and Against dropping. Me and literally one other person were on the against dropping the bomb side... and we won. IN YOUR FACE! NO NUKES NO NUKES!
This books was great!
I really like to learn things while reading a lovely story so this book is perfect!
This book told me all about the Navajo Indians and how they were a major and forgotten part of WWII in the Pacific. It's a great story and seriously I learned so much!
It also made me really want to read a story about the atomic bombs dropping on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, so now I'm on the look out for those.
I say this all the time, but whenever I read about the atomic bomb I remember the "debate" we had in Honors U.S. History Class. We got to chose our side. Pro dropping and Against dropping. Me and literally one other person were on the against dropping the bomb side... and we won. IN YOUR FACE! NO NUKES NO NUKES!
Though a novel, this reads like a memoir. Quite enlightening about how Native Americans were treated in the early 20th century. It was very interesting learning about how the Navajo language was used to develop a code that was used in World War II. I never realized it was also used in Korea and Vietnam. Though I understand the need for to keep it top-secret, it is a shame those brave Native Americans were not recognized until the late 1960's.
It was my in-class independent reading book and I just didn't get to enough of it. But it was really fascinating in terms of history.