Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
This is such an important story in American history! It made me cringe on how badly the Navajo were treated before and after the war, despite being so important to the war efforts in the pacific theater. The story gets a little clunky when the battles come in - more of a historical nonfiction than literary feel - but overall, it was enjoyable and an important tale.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
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:
N/A
I truly devoured this book! The character voice was so unique and drove the story forward that it opened the door for my to do my own research into the Code Talkers that were implemented in WWII. I found myself thinking about the rest of the story when I wasn't reading it and wanting to know what would come to the characters I felt so much for.
This is a compelling fictionalized account of a Navajo Marine code talker’s experience in the Pacific theatre of WWII. I wish I had read it when I was much younger so that I’d have had a better understanding of this aspect of WWII when I went on to study it in high school and college.
It’s such an important aspect of the war that is (shamefully) often overlooked in mainstream U.S. history education; I think I maybe read a paragraph or two about the Navajo code talkers in all of my formal high school and college instruction.
Despite my increasing distaste for military/warfare narratives, I’m really glad I read this one, if only to gain a partial picture of the code talkers’ experience. And I especially appreciated the “storytelling” narrative style the author employed. Such a fascinating subject about which I’d love to continue to learn more.
It’s such an important aspect of the war that is (shamefully) often overlooked in mainstream U.S. history education; I think I maybe read a paragraph or two about the Navajo code talkers in all of my formal high school and college instruction.
Despite my increasing distaste for military/warfare narratives, I’m really glad I read this one, if only to gain a partial picture of the code talkers’ experience. And I especially appreciated the “storytelling” narrative style the author employed. Such a fascinating subject about which I’d love to continue to learn more.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
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:
Yes
Interesting to learn about a piece of history I knew nothing about. Told through somewhat scattered recollections - not surprising given the age of the subject - but I found this made it hard sometimes to engage. Not a page-turner, but worthwhile.
informative
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Such beautiful historical fiction, it was quite memoirish but more well jointed. I so loved it, I really look forward to working through it with the my two older boys when they cover WWII in history (or else this summer, just because).
{I listened to the audio version because I have been ill, and reading is harder on me at the moment. I hate leaving such a brief and not so helpful review, but loved it too much not to go ahead and rate it now.}
{I listened to the audio version because I have been ill, and reading is harder on me at the moment. I hate leaving such a brief and not so helpful review, but loved it too much not to go ahead and rate it now.}
What an interesting story. This is historical fiction but the book gives a lot of insight into the work of the Navajo's and their amazing contributions. Definitely recommend this to anyone that likes history or war books. It is written for young adults so it is very easy to read but also informative.
Here I am, still reading books I normally wouldn't and still loving it. This story was touching & reminded me so much of my grandfather.
I am glad that this book exists. Too often we forget what an important role people of color have played in our country's history.
I was fascinated reading the beginning chapters of Ned's life and culture. I confess I didn't know much about the Navajo people before I picked up this book, but it felt very similar to what I know about other Native cultures, and also what I know about how those people were mistreated by white people in power.
I wish there had been more culture/social information in this story. I get that the author didn't want to bog down the narrative, but understanding the Navajo culture and Ned's feelings about his own place in the world are very important to me as a reader.
I also wish we would've had a little more about the Code Talkers themselves. It felt like this book just skimmed the surface. There was more emphasis on the battles and I wanted the emphasis to be on the people.
I didn't realize when I picked up this book that it was a fictional account. The main character, Ned Begay, doesn't exist. There are many characters mentioned in the story that did, in fact, exist, but we don't really get much of their story. It felt a little like the author was just inserting little bits here and there about them as an attempt to pay homage to them. I think I would've preferred this to be an actual non-fiction story, rather than a fictional story told in the style of a memoir.
All that said, I think that this could be a great resource for young people who are learning about Native American culture and the importance of preserving that culture. That message is very strong. The book is written in a style that I think would be very palatable to most young people. There are moments in here that are uncomfortable from a 21st century viewpoint, where characters display prejudiced views against the people they are fighting, but unfortunately I can't say that this kind of rhetoric wasn't authentic for the time. I would just say if you are a parent or teacher having young people read this book, it's important to have a real conversation with them about those aspects.
I saw on Overdrive another book written about these heroic men, and I believe it is actually non-fiction, so I think I'll definitely look into it next.
I was fascinated reading the beginning chapters of Ned's life and culture. I confess I didn't know much about the Navajo people before I picked up this book, but it felt very similar to what I know about other Native cultures, and also what I know about how those people were mistreated by white people in power.
I wish there had been more culture/social information in this story. I get that the author didn't want to bog down the narrative, but understanding the Navajo culture and Ned's feelings about his own place in the world are very important to me as a reader.
I also wish we would've had a little more about the Code Talkers themselves. It felt like this book just skimmed the surface. There was more emphasis on the battles and I wanted the emphasis to be on the people.
I didn't realize when I picked up this book that it was a fictional account. The main character, Ned Begay, doesn't exist. There are many characters mentioned in the story that did, in fact, exist, but we don't really get much of their story. It felt a little like the author was just inserting little bits here and there about them as an attempt to pay homage to them. I think I would've preferred this to be an actual non-fiction story, rather than a fictional story told in the style of a memoir.
All that said, I think that this could be a great resource for young people who are learning about Native American culture and the importance of preserving that culture. That message is very strong. The book is written in a style that I think would be very palatable to most young people. There are moments in here that are uncomfortable from a 21st century viewpoint, where characters display prejudiced views against the people they are fighting, but unfortunately I can't say that this kind of rhetoric wasn't authentic for the time. I would just say if you are a parent or teacher having young people read this book, it's important to have a real conversation with them about those aspects.
I saw on Overdrive another book written about these heroic men, and I believe it is actually non-fiction, so I think I'll definitely look into it next.