The Navajo Code Talkers
The Navajo Code Talkers
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Library Binding ©2016--
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Hachette Children's
Annotation: Amidst a complicated history of mistreatment by and distrust of the American government, the Navajo people, especially bilingual code talkers, helped the Allies win World War II.
Genre: [World history]
 
Reviews: 5
Catalog Number: #126327
Format: Library Binding
Copyright Date: 2016
Edition Date: 2016 Release Date: 08/16/16
Illustrator: Kelley, Gary,
Pages: 32 pages
ISBN: 1-568-46295-6
ISBN 13: 978-1-568-46295-0
Dewey: 940.54
LCCN: 2015048108
Dimensions: 32m.
Language: English
Reviews:
Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Lewis and Kelley offer a third entry in their World War series, following And the Soldiers Sang and Harlem Hellfighters, this time focusing on the Navajo soldiers who served as code talkers in WWII. Initial pages recount the tribe's troubled history with the U.S. government, and a procession of defeated Navajo men, women, and children wends across the bottom of consecutive spreads to show the tribe's forced march to a reservation. Kelley's pastels, housed within individual panels for a graphic novel-like effect, use drab hues and dark, angular outlines to evoke a somber mood. The artwork also depicts realistic images of war: battle scenes include sword combat and a skull peering out from under an army helmet. Amid the fighting, code talkers use their native language to send and receive top-secret communications ("Apart from its beauty, the Navajo tongue is unique, enormously difficult, and unwritten.... the ultimate unbreakable wartime code"). It's a fine introduction to the ways that indigenous peoples aided the war effort, which doesn't sugarcoat the injustices they suffered, including the "depravity" of the Long Walk that removed the Navajo from their home. Ages 7-9. (Aug.)

School Library Journal (Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Gr 5 Up-In this follow-up to Lewis and Kelley's And the Soldiers Sang and Harlem Hellfighters , readers are introduced to the Navajo code talkers of World War II. Lewis's lyrical, enlightening text offers a broad outline of historical events, while Kelley's evocative illustrations add emotional weight to the narrative. Beginning with the traumatic Long Walk of the 1860s, when the U.S. government ordered the forced removal of the Navajo from their homeland, Lewis goes on to mention the boarding schools that banned the use of the Navajo language, and emphasizes the irony of the U.S. government relying on that same language for military advantage during World War II. Kelley's atmospheric pastel panels capture the landscape of the Navajo homeland in bright, sandy oranges and browns, while military scenes appear in a contrasting dull gray. Back matter citing the National Museum of the American Indian includes more detailed information on the historical events of World War II involving the code talkers, and a brief bibliography is also appended. However, no sources are provided for any of the material presented, including direct quotes from those involved and an artist's note that refers generally to the incorporation of "ceremonial" and "traditional" Navajo blanket designs. A few problematic textual choices, such as referring to the Navajo in the past tense when describing how they "called themselves Din&3;" and stating that, in 1940, "the 20th century had yet to catch up with the desert dwelling Navajo," unfortunately reinforce stereotypes of Native Americans as people of the past rather than the present. The striking illustrations will capture the attention of readers, but educators should be prepared to provide additional context and discussion. VERDICT Acceptable as an introduction to the subject, but best paired with supplemental resources. Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN

ALA Booklist (Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

The third slender, large-format volume in Lewis and Kelley's World War cycle, which includes And the Soldiers Sang (2011) and Harlem Hellfighters (2014), this book features the Navajo code talkers. First, it fills in some background information about the Navajo and their history, particularly the brutal, tragic Long Walk, when the U.S. government forced them to leave their tribal land during the 1860s. Eighty years later, Navajo soldiers made significant contributions to the nation as code talkers, using their unwritten language as the basis of coded messages that helped bring about the end of WWII. The text condenses a great deal of information and presents it with well-chosen details. On every page, readers will find themselves riveted by Kelley's powerful artwork. Created with pastels, these impressive images include strong portrayals of individuals, moving depictions of the Long Walk, and iconic images of Navajo words used in the "talking code" to represent concepts (battleship, tank) outside their traditional language. A handsome, visually dynamic book.

Reviewing Agencies: - Find Other Reviewed Titles
Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)
Kirkus Reviews
School Library Journal (Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)
ALA Booklist (Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Bibliography Index/Note: Includes bibliographical references (page 32) and index.
Word Count: 1,120
Reading Level: 6.3
Interest Level: 4-7
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 6.3 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 186479 / grade: Lower Grades
Lexile: 980L

Amidst a complicated history of mistreatment by and distrust of the American government, the Navajo people—especially bilingual code talkers—helped the Allies win World War II.


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