This young adult novel tells the story of a fictional codetalker and how he came to be one. The codetalkers were essential to the Battle of Iwo Jima and successful in changing the lives of several men of Navajo origin. This is a very moving book designed to tell a story of how soldiers and minorities can make a difference in warfare. A simple, straightforward and moving book.

I found Code Talker to be an excellent read. The struggles face by Kii Yahzi/ Ned Begay (the main character, emphasis on THE) are captivating, particularly the racism he faces in boarding school. While it is at times bloody, the audience for the narrator (his Navajo grandchildren) gives Bruchac an excuse to avoid most of the violence. It still manages to vividly recreate other hardships the soldiers face, especially the harsh environments the marines were forced to fight in. The writing style is fairly easy to understand, so it's not a difficult read. Nice if you want a chance to relax with your brain mostly in park.

Not having the time to sit and read many hard copy books, I listen to audio books while I do my work around the house and garden. Like those who read the book of this title who said they couldn't put it down, I found that I hated to have to turn off the cassette recorder! I do think that I perhaps got more out of the story by listening to it, because I was able to hear the Navajo language spoken as it should be, rather than just reading the unfamiliar words and not knowing how they would actually sound. The Navajo language is both beautiful and seemingly impossible for a non-Navajo to pronounce! No wonder it made a perfect method for coding information! I recommend this to everyone, young and adult.

This is a great book. Not much else to say. 5 stars!! especially if you are into fictional stories based on real historical events!

Bruchac has created a terrific historic novel that has enough action for young male adults and enough history and research to appeal to an adult audience. Bruchac does a wonderful job of giving a sense of the complexities of growing up on a Navajo reservation in the first half of the book. The irony of a nation trying to wipe out the Navajo language but using it as a crucial means of communication during 20th century wars should not be lost on the reader while reading the second half of the book. Bruchac's narrator tells this tale in an even-keeled, even-tempered manner. The reader is allowed to gain his own sense of injustice our nation has inflicted upon its Native American population. Bruchac's description of the progression of America's involvement in World War II's Pacific campaign is well laid-out and dramatically presented. Highly recommended.

We read this book aloud while on a driving vacation through Navajo country in New Mexico and Arizona. My children (girl 10, boy 8 and girl 5) were completely enthralled with both the story and the insight into the Navajo people. Although a work of fiction, the book reads very convincingly as a memoir. The author succeeds admirably in relating the cultural challenges faced by patriotic Native Americans serving in the military as well a giving a non-romanticized portrayal of the realities faced by the soldiers who waged battle in the Pacific. We particularly appreciated the lighter moments -- one tale of boot-camp swimming "lessons" had the kids screaming with laughter. A great read pure and simple, but also one with good lessons to be learned.