Code Talker: A Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two

Code Talker: A Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two. Joseph Bruchac. New York: Dial Books, 2005. 231 pages. $16.99 (Hardcover). ISBN 0-8037-2921-9. Grades 5-9.

Reminds Me Of…

Code Talker: A Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two is another historic fiction novel that covers an aspect of history that is often neglected in the classroom. No, I don’t mean World War II itself, since that catastrophe is always taught. I am referring to the Navajo Marines who developed and implemented the only unbreakable code the military has ever used. This book was unique in the sense that it is told from a WWII veteran’s point of view, as he explains his involvement in the war to his grandchildren. Readers learn aspects of Navajo language, about the struggles faced historically (including the Long Walk), Navajo customs, as well as the role these thousands of men played in World War II. In addition to learning about the roles of these people readers get to learn about different technologies and battles of the war itself. As I read this book I was reminded of other titles, however.

The first book Code Talker reminded me of was Mare’s War by Tanita S. Davis. This book features a grandmother also telling her war story with her grandchildren. This story gives the information about and the perspective of an African American woman during World War II. Like the Navajos, these women who risked their lives and left their homes are often omitted from the pages of history textbooks. In this novel Davis exposes readers to some of their tasks and trainings, as well as giving information about the war itself. The narration, time period, and minority aspects are the major similarities, but there was one specific scene in Code Talker that really reminded me of Mare’s War. It was right after Ned Begay returns home after the war and wants to buy a coke. He enters a bar where there is a sign that says “No Indians Served.” Although Ned was in his Marines uniform and just fought for America he was not allowed to get a soda and was physically removed from the building. This reminds me of how Mare and the other African American soldiers were treated after their return to America. There was still segregation and although one war was won, the war for civil rights had not yet began. 

I was also reminded of When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park. This book takes place in Korea when it was under Japanese rule. It also shows another side of the war. I was specifically reminded about the propaganda supplied by Japan, from brainwashing kids in school to training them to be part of their army. Suicide missions or kamikaze pilots play a significant role in this book, and the mention of them in Code Talker reminded me of that.

Ned, the narrator, also talked about how he and fellow soldiers realized that despite the fighting the Japanese were people too and it was hard to take victory when millions of people were dying. This reminded me to the picture book The Enemy: A Book about Peace by Davide Cali and Sergie Bloch. In this book we are introduced to a nameless soldier in his foxhole fighting an unknown enemy who he thinks is a monster, due to the propaganda he has read. He finally goes to make an attack only to realize that his enemy is another person just like him. Realizing this, he decides that war may not be the answer after all. I think it is an important message to point out and acknowledge the barbarity and cruelty of war, just like these books do.