ALA Booklist

Freshman Cody LeBeau has moved around enough to know the role of doormat pretty well. Despite being picked on, he clings to his dream of becoming a ninja fighter e good, heroic kind. His luck turns when his previously unknown uncle John appears at the trailer Cody and his mom share. John not only shows a fascinated Cody many martial-arts skills but also tells him about the ways of their Native American ancestors, a combination John refers to as The Way. Soon Cody discovers that John is not the role model he thought he was; he's an all too real, flawed human being. By that time, however, Cody's training has helped him gain confidence. He's able to use his intelligence to thwart a school shooting, which helps him realize his dream of heroism in a different way than he imagined. A few loose ends notwithstanding, Bruchac successfully pulls together a winning mix of elements: an underdog character, a martial-arts angle, a Native American philosophy, and a contemporary setting.

Horn Book

Troubled by bullies at school, Cody gets some help when a hitherto undisclosed uncle comes to town and starts giving him lessons in "The Way," a rather ponderous program of martial arts training and Native American wisdom. Although the story is diffuse and predictable, it has a lot of boy-friendly elements and, in Cody, a likable portrait of a contemporary Indian kid.

Kirkus Reviews

Daydreaming Cody LeBeau from the Abenaki tribe naively imagines he needs ninja moves to be a hero, confident and popular. This disconnect is momentary, as bullies in his new junior high school push him around all day. Initially, he's an unconvincing character whose old-fashioned vocabulary and adult point of view don't fit a teen in the 21st century; many of his thoughts sound like a mother's. The first four chapters meander through Cody's nightmarish new school experience, until Uncle John appears and exemplifies a hero's path. Uncle, in town to fight in a prestigious competition, teaches Cody "The Way," a Native-American tradition of integrity and strength that empowers the mind and body. The slow start gets some impetus and then moves into high gear when Cody's new spiritual insight helps him to maintain his internal and physical balance and compels him humbly, yet with all his heart and strength, to diffuse a mass killing. This feat is what he imagines in the beginning, minus the foot-kicking and fist-punching. This subject needs a modern edge that is lacking in text that uses the "fresh as the proverbial daisy" metaphor and other cliched phrasing. Not one of Bruchac's better efforts. (Fiction. 10-12)

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-Cody LeBeau would like to see himself as a powerful ninja rather than a wimpy Abenaki teenager. He fantasizes about overpowering the bullies at his new high school, something he is unable to do outside his daydreams. The teen is hopeful that his dreams will be realized when his mysterious Uncle John appears to compete in a martial-arts event. Instead, he teaches his nephew-The Way. Though not what he expected, Cody begins to feel differently about himself, learning to deflect rather than engage the bullies. When some of his fellow "losers" decide to seek revenge in a Columbine-like massacre, Cody steps in to thwart their plans, not as a ninja hero, but as a whistle-blower. This story may appeal to fans of tae kwon do or karate. However, Bruchac's prose is heavy-handed, giving Cody unrealistic thoughts like "Fists of impotent fury clenched at my sides-" in the heat of the moment. Likewise, the boy's "loser" attitude is overplayed; there's more told than shown. The author seems more comfortable developing Uncle John's character but, unfortunately, the man comes across as didactic rather than wise. The Native American details that flavor most of Bruchac's other works appear stereotypical in this setting. The climactic Columbine subplot seems contrived; students will chafe under this artificial presentation of themselves.-H. H. Henderson, Heritage Middle School, Deltona, FL Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Voice of Youth Advocates (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Cody LeBeau, a high school freshman, lives with his mother in a trailer on his tribe's reservation. His father rarely visits. Cody, bullied at school, considers himself a "screw-up" and escapes into dreams of heroic achievement as a martial arts warrior. His life changes when his uncle shows up. Poor in material possessions but with a rich spiritual life as a follower of the Zen-like "Way," Uncle John, a martial arts master, has come for a ten-week visit to practice for a tournament. To thank Cody's mother for allowing him to pitch his tent beside the trailer, he helps out and teaches Cody martial arts. Cody, impatient at first, gradually comes to understand the "Way." His newly acquired skills boost his confidence and are reflected in his demeanor, so much so that he ceases to be a bullying target. His understanding of the "Way" also helps him to feel compassion for a former tormentor (who is abused at home) as well as for the school "loser," whom Cody discovers hangs out with the bully. When Cody finds the pair preparing to unleash a Columbine-type attack, he must use all his newfound confidence and skill to prevent a bloodbath. Bruchac's descriptions of martial arts' mental and physical practices have the ring of authenticity. They will appeal to young teens interested in the subject-or in modern Indian life as all characters are Native Americans-but the story line is apt to feel too simplistic and predictable for a sophisticated reader.-Mary E. Heslin.