Kii Yazhi was only six years old when he was sent away to a government-run boarding school, where he and his fellow Navajo classmates were given Anglicized names and only allowed to speak English. Kii Yazhi became Ned Begay, a conscientious student with an interest in geography, who never let go of his Navajo language and culture, despite the efforts of his teachers to "kill the Indian, and save the man." However, once World War II escalated, the U.S. government enlisted the help of young men like Ned, who was fluent in both Navajo and English, to join the Marines. Ned enthusiastically enlisted and served as a code talker, sending and receiving confidential and extremely important information as part of a program that remained secret and classified until 1968. Code Talker is a novel based on the rich history of the Navajo Code Talkers who were so essential to the U.S. military, and who were overlooked and the victims of discrimination for decades.
The characters of Ned Begay, Smitty, and Georgia Boy are fictional, and the others are real people. The events experienced by all characters were thoroughly researched. Bruchac clearly did his homework and ensured his careful handling of such a heavy topic. He is of Native American descent himself, and obviously has great reverence for the culture.
The settings are based on places of historical significance for these Navajo characters. Bruchac describes in great detail life at the boarding school. He then depicts Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and other locations, making the reader feel the hunger, the heat, the rain, the stench, and the mosquito bites. Including the interactions between white Marines and Navajos, along with a lot of historical information, the setting is rich and dynamic.
The theme of Code Talker, according to Bruchac's own words in the author's note, is the importance of understanding and respect of other cultures and languages. The U.S. government's complete shift from attempting to eliminate the Navajo culture to benefitting from it so dearly should cause the reader to turn a critical eye to history and to confront examples of racism and discrimination. The injustice for those Navajo Code Talkers who were unable to discuss their pivotal role in the war, and could not benefit from sharing their skills and experiences after leaving the service, is a travesty. The history of these brave Navajo Code Talkers must be studied and appreciated.
There are a few allusions to stereotypes and how the character of Ned Begay dealt with discrimination. For instance, he comments that most Navajos in the Marines were nicknamed "Chief." Ned replies to a white friend by calling him "President" to make a point. The character laughs off the nickname, emphasizing the deep friendships he formed during the war years. After the war, however, back in civilian society, he explains the challenges he and others faced, not being able to take advantage of the G.I. Bill perks that white men could, and being kicked out of a bar, even while wearing his military uniform. Throughout the book, Bruchac includes references to Native American spirituality, ceremonies for luck, a mention of rain dancing, and the belief of the worth of all beings. Because of Bruchac's own Native American background and the respect with which he discusses these topics, it allows the reader to feel a connection to a little-known culture. I don't believe any of these details in the book would be considered as stereotyping or offensive to a Native American person, and Bruchac's treatment of the topic seemed to be well done.
The author's note, bibliography, selected reading, and acknowledgements demonstrate Bruchac's great care. He has written a number of books about Native American subjects, including A Boy Called Slow, which I also reviewed.
The Navajo language was employed throughout the text in italics. In addition to having a hard copy of the book, I also listened to an audio version, and really enjoyed hearing the language spoken by the narrator. The words sounded so rich, and the difficulty for a non-Navajo to learn the language explains why it was so valuable in creating the code. Listening to the prayers and code words in the Navajo language added an extra level of depth to my experience with the text. The inclusion of Navajo words and their English meanings was seamlessly explained. The book is narrated from the perspective of an elderly Ned, who is retelling his life story to his grandchildren upon their discovery of a medal he had earned. The oral tradition is so essential to Native American culture that this format for the relaying of the story is especially meaningful.
Code Talker was named one of the Best Books of 2006 by ALA and earned a starred review from Kirkus. The book is interesting and an engaging read, with relateable characters and exciting tales from the war. The history included in the book is well-researched and informative. Because the topic of Navajo Code Talkers is often overlooked, this book is particularly important in its highlighting of an exceptional story of the contributions of these Navajo Marines.
As a lesson to accompany the reading of Code Talker, children should research the history behind the book. Each student could focus on a particular battle or site, like Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Hiroshima, or Nagasaki. Upon gathering information regarding the dates, events, and significance of these places, the students could present on their findings. As an extension, students could attempt to create their own code to send a message, or could be provided a coded message that they would have to try to break.
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