Bruchac, Joseph. Code talker; a novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two.BRUCHAC, Joseph. Code talker “Codetalkers” redirects here. For the band, see The Codetalkers. Code talkers, (also sometimes known as "Wind Talkers") were Native American Marines serving in the United States Armed Forces who primarily transmitted secret tactical messages. ; a novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two. Penguin, Dial. 240p. bibliog. c2005. 0-8037-2971-9. $16.99. JS Ned Begay leaves his sheepherding Navajo family at age six for a strict mission school, where his mouth is washed out with soap for speaking his native language and he is told to forget about his heritage. Years later he is delighted when the Marines come to specifically recruit Navajos for "special duty" in WW II and Ned discovers, on enlisting at age 16, that it is their unique language the Marines prize. He joins the all-Navajo 297th Platoon platoon Principal subdivision of a military company, battery, or troop. Usually commanded by a lieutenant, it consists of 25–50 soldiers organized into two or more squads led by noncommissioned officers. and is sent to a special code school, where he learns an unbreakable top-secret code based on Navajo: a code so secret that the government only declassified de·clas·si·fy tr.v. de·clas·si·fied, de·clas·si·fy·ing, de·clas·si·fies To remove official security classification from (a document). de·clas the story in 1969 (they had thought they might use the code again). The Navajo "code talkers" saw action in the Pacific, transmitting codes the Japanese could not break. Ned goes from the dry sands of his native lands to the steamy jungles of Guadalcanal, Bougainville Island For other uses of "Bougainville", see Bougainville. Bougainville is part of Papua New Guinea and is the largest island of the Solomon Islands group. Bougainville, the adjacent island of Buka, and assorted outlying islands including the Carterets are sometimes known as , and Iwo Jima Iwo Jima (ē`wō jē`mə, ē`wô), Jap. Io-jima, volcanic island, c.8 sq mi (21 sq km), W Pacific, largest and most important of the Volcano Islands. Mt. . Other Marines are assigned to keep him safe, but nevertheless he is wounded in Guam. Ned's terrible experiences in battle change him, but as he relates this story to his grandchildren GRANDCHILDREN, domestic relations. The children of one's children. Sometimes these may claim bequests given in a will to children, though in general they can make no such claim. 6 Co. 16. , he conveys his pride in the vital contribution he and his fellow Navajos made to win the war. Bruchac, who is of Abenaki heritage, has written many books for young readers. This one is close to his heart, as an author's note at the end makes clear, and it tells an important story. The novel is somewhat research-heavy, with many dates and statistics, but there are dramatic moments, too, and readers unfamiliar with the fascinating story of the code talkers will come away impressed with their achievements. Paula RohrIick, KLIATT J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescent and their teachers. S--Recommended for senior high school students. |
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