Great short biography of Chester Nez -- really excellent short explanation of both the damage and hostility of the boarding school experience and the value and enduring beauty of tribal life. Also a great short history of the role of code talkers during WWII. ( )

#ownvoices
The story of a Navajo code talker written by indigenous author Joseph Bruchac gives authority and voice to the history of native people in the United States. Unflinching in the truth of Chester Nez's life, there is lovely and gentle delivery all with a strong current of identity. Written in a timeline format, readers are able to track his character development over his life's events. Illustrator Liz Amini-Holmes is able to convey the deep emotion and sense of injustice of Chester Nez's story as it unfolds. Ultimately there is triumph. The skill of the code talkers and how Chester Nez lived his life will leave a lasting impression.

Good story - easy to understand, and an important story. ( )