Code Talker (Bruchac)

Bruchac, Joseph. Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two. New York: Dial Books, 2005. ISBN 0803729219

PLOT SUMMARY

Ned Begay is just a young child when he is sent away from his family and Navajo reservation in order to attend a boarding school. There he is expected to learn the ways of white men in order to protect his people and reassure others that the Navajo will “always be friends of the United States.” While at boarding school, Ned faces harsh prejudice, but still manages to excel in his studies. Once World War II begins, however, Ned begins a new journey. He joins the marines and enters the war where his Navajo customs and language are no longer ridiculed, but praised and much needed. This historical novel uses the fictitious character, Ned Begay, to tell the story of how courageous Navajo marines fought for the United States while staying true to the traditions and values of the Navajo.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In Code Talker, Ned Begay orally narrates his story with the reader. He brings the reader into his life, referring to the reader as one of the “grandchildren” and often reminding the reader of what and how “we Navajo” see and do things. The tale provides vivid, sometimes brutal, but always accurate descriptions of his life and World War II. When he is first sent to boarding school he describes having his hair cut off as feeling “naked and ashamed.” Later, he describes the experience of war and is honest about how some struggled with coping. Begay explains how “war is a sickness that must be cured” and “is a time out of balance.” 

Many Navajo traditions are introduced through the natural course of the story, such as placing pollen on one’s tongue in the mornings and Blessingway Ceremonies. The meshing of Catholic and traditional Navajo religious beliefs are explored by Ned Begay, as are differences in experiences for Navajo during Ned Begay’s youth and for the Navajo youth of today. 

The complex and beautiful Navajo language is presented throughout the novel. Ned Begay recounts the harsh punishments by his teachers for speaking in Navajo. Later, Ned explores the joy, healing, and pride that slowly returns to him as he is encouraged and praised for using his primary language in order to pass secret codes through the American armed forces. The reader learns how not everything can be directly translated from English into Navajo and vice versa. The reader also learns how Navajo is a complex language, and how Navajo men and women from different regions have different dialects, making the work of code talkers even more difficult. As Ned Begay narrates he provides translations for words like “Nihima” (our mother) and “Na’ats’oosi” (mouse) without ever patronizing the reader.

Code Talker is a fictional, war time book that provides factual history on the contributions of Navajo marines in World War Two and on Navajo culture while entertaining readers with its captivating storytelling.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Booklist: “Readers who choose the book for the attraction of Navajo code talking and the heat of battle will come away with more than they ever expected to find.”

Kirkus Reviews: “With its multicultural themes and well-told WWII history, this will appeal to a wide audience.”

School Library Journal: “Bruchac's tale is quietly inspiring.”

CONNECTIONS

Learn more about Navajo Code Talkers through a collection of photography.

Kawano, Kenji. Warriors: Navajo Code Talkers. ISBN 9780873585132

Learn about World War II through the eyes of Japenese Americans.

Mochizuki, Ken. Baseball Saved Us. ISBN 9781880000199

Uchida, Yoshiko. The Bracelet. ISBN 9780698113909

Read other books for young adults written by Joseph Bruchac.

Bruchac, Joseph. Hidden Roots. ISBN 9780557711680

Bruchac, Joseph. The Heart of a Chief. ISBN 9780141312361

Bruchac, Joseph. Skeleton Man. ISBN 9780064408882

Bruchac, Joseph. The Return of Skeleton Man. ISBN 9780060580926