Bibliographic Data: Bruchac, Joseph. 2005. CODE TALKER. New York: Dial Books. ISBN: 0803729219.
Plot Summary:
At six-years old, Kii Yazhi (later renamed Ned Begay) is sent to a school where the “white man” will teach him. He learns quickly that his native language and customs are taboo, and he adapts to the way of his peers. Ironically, once he becomes an adult he becomes a “code talker” for the Marines, where he utilizes his Navajo and English language skills to interpret coded messages being passed in World War II. The very language he was forced to leave behind in his schooling helped him to save many lives.
Critical Analysis:
The research Joseph Bruchac conducted to weave together this novel must have been expansive and arduous. From the way in which he sets the story- told by the main character fifty-years after the fact to his grandchildren, to the importance and weight he puts on the fact that the code talkers were a classified organization, it is evident he thought carefully about how to bring this story alive.
He speaks of the Navajo culture with respect and admiration, telling of their beautiful brown skin, and shiny dark hair (which they are forced to cut for war- a huge deal), all while avoiding making them sound like a caricature or parody of the typical Americanized image of an “Indian”. He teaches the reader the importance of ceremony in the Navajo culture, paying special attention to the “Blessingway” or protection ceremony, which Ned thinks back to during the war for strength. He refers to the names the other marines call him and his fellow Navajo friends, like “Chief”, and talks about how much it bothers him. Instead of telling the reader, “these native American men were treated poorly” he SHOWS the reader, which is so important. It is incredible that he is able to do without fan-fair, fluff, or added embellishment in his story-telling, yet is still able to give a thorough and meaningful look into the lives of these Navajos during the war.
I especially like the underlying message; despite being abused for being Navajo, these code-talkers persevere and ultimately provide an invaluable service.
Reviews:
Library Media Connection -"Six-year-old Navajo Ned Begay promises to learn the language of the white people as he leaves home for the mission school. His family realizes that to protect the Navajo, they will need to work within the legal system of the government including having leaders who can communicate in English. Ironically, while the mission school tries to extinguish everything Navajo about the children, it is their native language that becomes valuable. While still in high school, Ned enlists in the Marines during World War II and becomes a part of history that neither he nor the other involved Navajos could mention for many years-code talkers… Told from the perspective of a grandfather telling the history to his grandchildren, Bruchac's voice as a master storyteller weaves stories, characters, and research into a compelling story of war, sacrifice, and personal journey. Heavily researched, this is a novel of still little known part of history within a culture and the larger United States that will leave readers with a different perspective of World War II. Highly Recommended." Melissa Bergin, Library Media Specialist/National Board Certified Teacher, Niskayuna (New York) High School
Horn Book -"Unconvincingly framed as reminiscence that a WWII veteran shares with his grandchildren, this novel is larded with military history, information about the Navajo code-talkers, and awkwardly set passages about the beauty and natural wisdom of Navajo life. There is no plot, characterization is generic, and while real people are part of the story, their dialogue is fictionalized and unlikely."
Connections:
There are many other novels by Bruchac referencing Native American culture such as:
Plot Summary:
At six-years old, Kii Yazhi (later renamed Ned Begay) is sent to a school where the “white man” will teach him. He learns quickly that his native language and customs are taboo, and he adapts to the way of his peers. Ironically, once he becomes an adult he becomes a “code talker” for the Marines, where he utilizes his Navajo and English language skills to interpret coded messages being passed in World War II. The very language he was forced to leave behind in his schooling helped him to save many lives.
Critical Analysis:
The research Joseph Bruchac conducted to weave together this novel must have been expansive and arduous. From the way in which he sets the story- told by the main character fifty-years after the fact to his grandchildren, to the importance and weight he puts on the fact that the code talkers were a classified organization, it is evident he thought carefully about how to bring this story alive.
He speaks of the Navajo culture with respect and admiration, telling of their beautiful brown skin, and shiny dark hair (which they are forced to cut for war- a huge deal), all while avoiding making them sound like a caricature or parody of the typical Americanized image of an “Indian”. He teaches the reader the importance of ceremony in the Navajo culture, paying special attention to the “Blessingway” or protection ceremony, which Ned thinks back to during the war for strength. He refers to the names the other marines call him and his fellow Navajo friends, like “Chief”, and talks about how much it bothers him. Instead of telling the reader, “these native American men were treated poorly” he SHOWS the reader, which is so important. It is incredible that he is able to do without fan-fair, fluff, or added embellishment in his story-telling, yet is still able to give a thorough and meaningful look into the lives of these Navajos during the war.
I especially like the underlying message; despite being abused for being Navajo, these code-talkers persevere and ultimately provide an invaluable service.
Reviews:
Library Media Connection -"Six-year-old Navajo Ned Begay promises to learn the language of the white people as he leaves home for the mission school. His family realizes that to protect the Navajo, they will need to work within the legal system of the government including having leaders who can communicate in English. Ironically, while the mission school tries to extinguish everything Navajo about the children, it is their native language that becomes valuable. While still in high school, Ned enlists in the Marines during World War II and becomes a part of history that neither he nor the other involved Navajos could mention for many years-code talkers… Told from the perspective of a grandfather telling the history to his grandchildren, Bruchac's voice as a master storyteller weaves stories, characters, and research into a compelling story of war, sacrifice, and personal journey. Heavily researched, this is a novel of still little known part of history within a culture and the larger United States that will leave readers with a different perspective of World War II. Highly Recommended." Melissa Bergin, Library Media Specialist/National Board Certified Teacher, Niskayuna (New York) High School
Horn Book -"Unconvincingly framed as reminiscence that a WWII veteran shares with his grandchildren, this novel is larded with military history, information about the Navajo code-talkers, and awkwardly set passages about the beauty and natural wisdom of Navajo life. There is no plot, characterization is generic, and while real people are part of the story, their dialogue is fictionalized and unlikely."
Connections:
There are many other novels by Bruchac referencing Native American culture such as:
- Bruchac, James and Bruchac, Joseph Ph.D. THE GIRL WHO HELPED THUNDER AND OTHER NATIVE AMERICAN FOLKTALES. 2007. New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Inc. -ISBN 9781402732638
- Bruchac, Joseph. 1993. FOX SONG. Putnam Juvenile. New York-ISBN-10: 0698115619 ISBN-13: 978-0698115613
- Bruchac, Joseph. 1993. THE FIRST STRAWBERRIES, A CHEROKEE STORY. Ill. by Anna Vojtech. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 080371331