Book Review: Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac

“Never think that war is a good thing, grandchildren. Though it may be necessary at times to defend our people, war is a sickness that must be cured. War is a time out of balance. When it is truly over, we must work to restore peace and sacred harmony once again.”

Joseph Bruchac, Code Talker

Review:

I’ve had this book sitting on my shelf since I read Chester Nez’s memoir Code Talker. Joseph Bruchac’s Code Talker is similar in the sense that the main character in this book lives a similar experience as Cheater Nez, however, this is a fictional account, and aside from the general Navajo experience during this time period, there is no connection.

Ned Begay is a Navajo who, like other kids, was forced to live in a boarding school growing up. He’s been beaten for using his native tongue. He’s been told the Navajo language will serve no purpose in the future. When World War II breaks out and America gets involved, Ned is eager to enlist. To his shock, his mission is to help construct a code rooted in the Navajo language that no enemy will be able to decipher. 

I enjoyed this book because I find the Code Talkers’ story a fascinating piece of history, but I do wish it had been longer and more fleshed out. Everything happened so quickly and I feel like there could have been more time spent in the beginning about the Navajos’ history. If I hadn’t come in with previously acquired knowledge, I would have had to look up a lot of the brief references or have remained in the dark. Even so, I would consider this a standout work of historical fiction, as even today, there isn’t a whole lot of focus on the Native Americans who served in World War II. 

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• Portrays a lesser discussed element of World War II.
• Great characters.

What I didn’t like:

• Very fast, missing the opportunity for a deeper exploration of history.

Afterthoughts:

I’ve had this book for so long that I’ve lost track of my copy… thank goodness for Libby!

Where to buy the book: