Review: NAVAJO CODE TALKERS by Andrew Santella

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Santella, Andrew. 2004. Navajo Code Talkers. Captstone Press. ISBN-13: 9780756510206

2. PLOT SUMMARY

During WWII, the Allied forces needed to find a way to communicate quickly, accurately and secretly in order to get the victory. Although radio was efficient for this communication, the Japanese could also listen in on conversations and find out what the Allied forces knew. Secret codes were quickly broken, requiring more and more complicated codes to be devised. Thanks to Philip Johnston, a Los Angeles Engineer who had grown up among the Navajos, they found a solution. The Navajo language was very intricate and difficult even for other Native American Peoples to understand, so Johnston proposed that a code based upon the Navajo language be created. The government recruited 29 Navajos to develop the code and serve as communicators. These “Code Talkers” served on the front lines, reporting on progress, enemy plans, and requesting reinforcement as needed.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Navajo Code Talkers by Andrew Santella is part of the “We the People” series from Compass Point Books. In this book, Santella brings to light the secret contributions the Navajo recruits made to the success of World War II. The authenticity of Santella’s information is supported by various direct quotes such as this statement by Marine Major Howard Connor who said that “were it not for the Navajo, the Marines would have never taken Iwo Jima” and the battle report from Marine Captain Ralph Stuckey that “the code talkers were the simplest, fastest, and most reliable means available to send secret orders.”The list of content advisors on the book’s title page also bears credence to the accuracy of the information provided.  

Santella did not ignore the Navajo culture in this book. He devoted several pages to the history of the Navajo people, their mistreatment and relocation by the United States Government. At the beginning of the book, Santella tells the reader that the Native American students at government-run schools were forbidden to speak their native language, and would get their mouths washed out with soap for doing so. The author includes pictures of Navajos herding sheep on the reservation, the Navajo leader Manuelito, Shiprock, (a spiritual symbol of the Navajo Nation), and a photo of a Navajo woman with a baby on her back to help the reader to connect to the history of the Navajo nation.

This book is recommended for ages 9 – 11, and Andrew Santella does an excellent job of conveying this important page of our nation’s history in language which is easily understood and interesting to this age group. The plentiful collection of archival photographs adds to the high interest level of the book. In the back of the book, the reader will find a glossary, a “Did You Know?” page, a timeline, list of important people, and a list of sources where those who are curious can look for more information. Boys especially will be interested the war photos, the sample page of the Navajo dictionary and explanation of how the code was made. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE REVIEW: “This book is easy to read and visually interesting. The text has a good balance of simple language and complex ideas. It is illustrated with historical photographs and graphs explaining the code. While the glossary is very small, the other reference tools are very informative. It even has a web site that will help with additional research. This is an excellent book, especially for struggling readers.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW: Gr 4-6-“According to Marine Major Howard Connor, ‘Were it not for the Navajo, the Marines would have never taken Iwo Jima." During that battle, "six code talkers worked day and night to send more than 800 messages. They made not a single mistake.’ Their story is told with brevity and directness and illustrated with archival war photos, a sample of the code, and other documents and maps. This is a high-interest topic and a good first source that will certainly spark imaginations.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Nathan Aaseng's Navajo Code Takers (Walker, 1992) and Deanne Durrett's Unsung Heroes of World War II: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers (Facts On File, 1998) are for older readers but could be used in conjunction with this title.

Students could be challenged to create codes of their own using the Navajo code, the English Language or numbers. Once they have created a code, they can write a secret message and challenge a friend to decipher it.

Review: CROSSING BOK CHITTO: A CHOCTAW TALE OF FRIENDSHIP & FREEDOM by Tim Tingle

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Tingle, Tim. 2008. Crossing Bok Chitto. Ill. by Jeanne Rorex Bridges. Cinco Puntos Press. ISBN-10: 1933693207

2. PLOT SUMMARY

“On one side of the river lived the Choctaws. On the other side lived the plantation owners and their slaves. If a slave escaped and made his way across Bok Chitto, the slave was free.”  

Martha Tom is a Choctaw girl who lives with her family and tribe on one side of the Bok Chitto River. One day, Martha Tom’s mother sent her to pick blackberries, and even though she knew it was forbidden, Martha Tom crossed the river using a secret path of stones just under the water’s surface. Martha Tom found her blackberries, but became lost and stumbled upon the meeting of a secret slave church. When she is discovered by a kindly slave, Martha Tom is escorted back to the river’s edge by his son, Little Mo. Martha Tom shows Little Mo the secret path ("Only the Choctaws knew it was there, for the Choctaws had built it,") and as the two become good friends they use the path to visit for years. When Little Mo learns that his mother is to be sold, he comes up with a plan to cross the river and seeks Martha Tom’s help.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Tim Tingle is an award-winning Choctaw story teller who brings this picture book of historical fiction to life with the flowing rhythm that one would expect from an accomplished storyteller.. The story is set on the Bok Chitto River which runs through Mississippi. In this story, the Bok Chitto River divides the Choctaw Nation from the slaves living on the other side of the river “in the days before the War Between the States” and “before the Trail of Tears. ”Crossing Bok Chito reveals a part of Native American history that is not well known; that of helping run-away slaves.

Historical and cultural authenticity is well represented through the end pages which contain history of the Choctaw Nation and an author’s note on Choctaw storytelling. In the author’s note on Choctaw storytelling, Tingle tells of his visit with a tribal elder who pointed out a home where, “those folks used to help runaway slaves.” The elder also took Tingle to where he could catch a glimpse of a Choctaw wedding ceremony such as the one mentioned in Crossing Bok Chitto.

Jeanne Rorex Bridges is an award winning artist who is of Cherokee ancestry. Her soft, mural-like paintings capture the reader or listener’s imagination. The illustrations are simple and bold enough that children will be able to see them easily when the story is read to them. Muted colors set the serious and somewhat sacred tone of the book and add depth to the text.

This is the story of friendship and bravery; it is a story of helping others and doing what is right even when it is dangerous. The book is recommended for ages 5 and up, but an even wider range of readers will enjoy the captivating story and mesmerizing pictures.  

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW: “The paintings are dark and solemn, and the artist has done a wonderful job of depicting all of the characters as individuals, with many of them looking out of the page right at readers.” “This is a lovely story, beautifully illustrated, though the ending requires a somewhat large leap of the imagination.”

BOOKLIST STARRED REVIEW:  “In a picture book that highlights rarely discussed intersections between Native Americans in the South and African Americans in bondage, a noted Choctaw storyteller and Cherokee artist join forces with stirring results.”

AWARDS

Texas Institute of Letters Best Children’s Book of 2006

Texas Bluebonnet Master List 2008-2009
American Indian Library Association (ALA) 2008 Award for Best Picture Book
ALA Notable Children’s Book 
Jane Addams Honor Book

5. CONNECTIONS

Other books by Tim Tingle:

Tingle, Tim. Saltypie: A Choctaw Journey from Darkness into Light. ISBN-10: 1933693673.

Tingle, Tim. Walking the Choctaw Road : Stories from Red People Memory. ISBN-10: 0938317741.
Tingle, Tim. Spirits Dark and Light: Supernatural Tales from the Five Civilized Tribes. ISBN-10: 0874837782.
Tingle, Tim. When Turtle Grew Feathers: A Tale from the Choctaw Nation. ISBN-10: 0874837774.
Tingle, Tim. Danny Blackgoat, Navajo Prisoner. ISBN-10: 193905303X.

Review: RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME by Cynthia Leitich Smith

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Smith, Cynthia Leitich.2001. Rain is not My Indian Name. Harper Collins; 1st edition. ISBN-10: 0688173977

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Fourteen-year-old Cassidy Rain Berghoff’s story begins with a journal entry recalling her birthday 6 months ago; which was also the last time she saw her best friend Galen. Their close childhood friendship had just begun to show signs of turning into romance when he was killed in an accident on the way home from her house that night. Grief-stricken, Rain could not bring herself to attend Galen’s funeral or speak to his mother, and has been virtually a hermit since Galen’s death. This is not Rain’s first experience with the loss of a loved one, her mother died six years before, and Galen was the one who comforted her then.

One of the few Native Americans in Hannesburg Kansas, Rain acknowledges her Native American heritage, but hasn’t really learned more about it like her mother said she should. Her Aunt Georgia’s Indian Camp is at the middle of controversy, and Rain has been hired to take pictures of the camp. Is Rain ready to take sides, stand up for her heritage, and start living again?

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Cynthia Leitich Smith has set this novel in the mostly white mostly white Midwestern community of fictional Hannesburg, Kansas. Through first-person narrative, and the pages of Rain’s diary, Smith tells this story of fitting in, of recovery from loss and grief, of growing up, and starting to live again. Rain is a 14 year old girl, who has had several losses in her life: her mother died six years ago, her best friend was killed on Rain’s last birthday, and her father is currently stationed in Guam.

There are several cultural markers in this story set in a fictional small town in Kansas. The title itself is one example. Rain writes in her journal that “Rain is not my Indian name, not the way people think of Indian names. But I am Indian, and it is the name my parents gave me.” Rain refers often to being “mixed” and the misconceptions people have about Native Americans. Throughout the book, Rain casually makes mention of attending powwows, her mother’s tear dress, and the Indian Camp. The author is not stereotypical in her representation of the characters. Rain’s brother is a web-site designer, her father is in the air force, and she is into photography.  Leitich Smith is careful not to generalize the Native American population, and has Rain refer to the specific nations which make up her heritage. For example, Rain says that she is “Muscogee Creek-Cherokee and Scots-Irish on her mother’s side, and Irish-German-Ojibway on her dad’s side, and that her mother referred to their family as a “patchwork tribe.”

Rain is an appealing character who is easy for the 10 to 14 year-old target audience to relate to as she copes with friendships, loss, family relationships, her heritage and finding her way in the world.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW: “Some of Smith's devices such as opening each chapter with a snippet from Rain's journal add depth and clarify Rain's relationships for readers, although other elements (the detailing of song lyrics playing in the background, for instance) seem stilted. Even so, readers will feel the affection of Rain's loose-knit family and admire the way that they, like the author with the audience, allow Rain to draw her own conclusions about who she is and what her heritage means to her.” Ages 10-14.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW: “There is a surprising amount of humor in this tender novel. It is one of the best portrayals around of kids whose heritage is mixed but still very important in their lives. As feelings about the public funding of Indian Camp heat up, the emotions and values of the characters remain crystal clear and completely in focus. It's Rain's story and she cannot be reduced to simple labels. A wonderful novel of a present-day teen and her "patchwork tribe."

5. CONNECTIONS

Other books by Cynthia Leitich Smith:

Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Indian Shoes. ISBN-10: 0060295317
Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Jingle Dancer. ISBN-10: 068816241X

After reading this novel, students could investigate their own family tree. They could question family members to find out about their own heritage and what things have been passed down through generations.

Book Review: HURRICANE DANCERS by Margarita Engle

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Engle, Margarita. 2011. Hurricane Dancers. New York: Henry Holt and Co. ISBN-10: 0805092404.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Hurricane Dancers by Margarita Engle is the story of a young boy who is called Quebrado by the sailors on the ship where he is a slave.  Quebrado means “the broken one” because he is the “child of two shattered worlds.”  His mother, (now deceased), was a native, and his father, (who abandoned him), was a Spanish sailor. For years, Quebrado has been the slave of the pirate, Bernardino de Talavera, who finds his ability to speak two languages, (his mother’s native Taino, and his father’s Spanish), useful. In this story in verse, Quebrado is rescued from his life of slavery by a hurricane, and saved by a kind native fisherman who was hunting for turtles. He finds a new chance at life on land with the friendly natives, and ultimately, he gets to decide the fate of his captors.

3. CRITICAL ANALISYS

In Hurricane Dancers, Margarita Engle has captured the imagery which is so prevalent in writers of Hispanic literature. She skillfully wove historical details and characters as well as the subject of slavery into this novel in verse. The story, set in Cuba in the early 1500’s, is historical fiction, but while the main character, Quebrado, is fictional, the others are real historical figures. The story is told through the first person narrative of its main characters, and reflects their individual culture and personalities. The setting of the story begins on the pirate ship with Quebrado’s narrative about his beginnings and his current life as the slave and later moves to the island of “cu ba” - “Big Friend,”

There are many cultural markers in this book. The native superstitions of the Taino Indians who originally inhabited Cuba are revealed when Quebrado expressed those beliefs in the spirits of the sky, sea, and land when he referred to the hurricane as “the Woman of the Wind taught all these creatures how to fly.” Another character, Caucubu, expresses the same belief in the spirit world when she tells us that “ancient beings emerged from caves” and “some turned into trees or birds, while others became people.”  Examples of customs of the Taino Indians demonstrated when the fate of the pirate and his hostage are determined through a “trial by sphere game” which was a common practice; and again when one of the chieftains arranges a diplomatic marriage for his daughter. Throughout this story, Quebrado changed his name to signify personal growth and change. He began as Quebrado “broken one”, changed to Hurara “Born of Wind” when he washed ashore during the hurricane to Yacuyo “Far Light” at the end of the book.

Hurricane Dancers reminded me a bit of Treasure Island when I read it. There is a magic & lyrical quality to the words, which makes it easy for the capture a visual image of the hurricane, the shipwreck and the slave boy who gained his freedom through that terrible storm. This story is recommended for children grades six through 10, though I know many 5^th graders who would enjoy it. Boys will love this because it has pirates and horses. There is enough garish detail to hold their interest, while there is also romance to warm the hearts of the young girls.

4. REVIEWS/EXCERPTS

A 2012 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book

BOOKLIST STARRED REVIEW: Once again, Engle fictionalizes historical fact in a powerful, original story. With the exception of Quebrado, all the characters are based on documented figures (discussed in a lengthy author’s note), whose voices narrate many of the poems. While the shifting perspectives create a somewhat dreamlike, fractured story, Engle distills the emotion in each episode with potent rhythms, sounds, and original, unforgettable imagery. Linked together, the poems capture elemental identity questions and the infinite sorrows of slavery and dislocation, felt even by the pirate’s ship, which “remembers / her true self, / her tree self, / rooted / and growing, / alive, / on shore.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW: “Unique and inventive, this is highly readable historical fiction that provides plenty of fodder for discussion.

HORN BOOK MAGAZINE: “Like intersecting rip tides, several first-person narratives converge in this verse novel of the sixteenth century.”

5. CONNECTIONS

“Quebrado” means the broken one. Most names have meanings. Have students research their own names to find out the meanings. If they could change their names as Quebrado did, what would they change them to and why?

Other young adult nonfiction books and novels in verse by Margarita Engle:

Engle, Margarita.  The Surrender Tree. ISBN-13: 9780312608712

Engle, Margarita. The Poet Slave of Cuba. ISBN-13: 9780805077063

Engle, Margarita. The Firefly Letters. ISBN-13: 9780805090826

Engle, Margarita. Tropical Secrets. ISBN-13: 9780805089363

Book Review: YUM! !MMMM! !QUE RICO! AMERICAS' SPROUTINGS

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Mora, Pat. 2007. Ill. by Rafael Lopez. Yum! !MmMm! !Que Rico Americas’ Sproutings. Lee & Low Books. ISBN-13: 9781584302711

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In Yum! !MmMm! !Que Rico Americas’ Sproutings, Pat Mora introduces foods native to the Americas with beautiful Haiku poems which describe them in mouthwatering detail. From blueberries which “fill your mouth with blue” to chili peppers with their “green mouth fire”, and chocolate described as “brown magic” which “melts on your tongue,” foods native to America are explored.  Corn, pecans, prickly pear, cranberries, peanuts, papaya, tomatoes, pumpkin, and vanilla are all described in mouth-watering detail. Ending with vanilla ice cream running down your face, this book describes fourteen different types of food native to the Americas, and gives details about their particular region of origin and history.

3. CRITICAL ANALISYS

Pat Mora made me hungry! She did an excellent job combining the beautiful lyrics and cadence of Haiku poetry with an exploration of foods native to the Americas. Each food is introduced with an amusing poem such as the one accompanying the smiling slice of bread with peanut butter on it: “Peanut- Smear nutty butter, then jelly. Gooey party, my sandwich and me.” The setting of this book of poetry is anywhere in North, Central or South America, although it has a definite tropical flair which is more reminiscent of the warmer regions of the Americas.

Cultural markers are evident in the Spanish words sprinkled throughout the narrative, as evidenced in this phrase from the Haiku poem about the prickly pear: “cactus fruit becomes syrup and dulces. Surprise!” Multicultural themes are evident also in the artistically arranged compositions of foods and in the complimentary colors which make the foods stand out in delicious appeal. The humans in the illustrations wear colorful, clothing and have black hair and a variety of skin colors and features common to Hispanic cultures. The animal characters are shown with bold colors and designs unique to the Hispanic culture which remind me of what one would find in a Mexican market. Yum! !MmMm! !Que Rico Americas’ Sproutings is a winner of the Pura Belpre award.

Artist Rafael Lopez has used brightly colored acrylic on wood-panel illustrations to create images of a smiling sun and moon, dancing pineapple and many other humorous pictures which make this book fun to read or just look at. While the factual information at the edges of the pages might lose the interest of the younger group of the pre-K through 3^rd graders that this book is recommended for, they will certainly be attracted by its vibrant colors and fun illustrations. This book will capture the attention of children who hear it, and make the adults who are reading it, ready to run to the kitchen or the nearest farmers market.

4. REVIEWS/EXCERPTS

CHILDRENS LITERATURE: “Boldly-colored illustrations, acrylic on wooden panels, accompany poems lauding the attributes of foods native to the Americas. Each poem conveys the essence of the subject foodstuff.” “Each two-page spread includes a detailed sidebar. Some readers might just enjoy the haiku and the wonderful drawings. The additional information is interesting”.

KIRKUS REVIEWS: “Haiku celebrating the diversity of edible plants native to the Americas-blueberries, chocolate, prickly pears, pecans and more. Each spread includes an informative paragraph explaining the probable origin, history and some trivia for the plant described in the poem.

5. CONNECTIONS

Yum! !MmMm! !Que Rico Americas’ Sproutings would be an awesome book to read during a poetry unit. This could be read at the beginning or end. Students could be invited to create their own poetry after reading this book. In fact, the subject could even be about food. I would gather a quantity of “kid foods” such as pizza, chips, peanut butter, etc and invite students to taste them, then write a haiku poem about them and illustrate it.

Yum! !MmMm! !Que Rico Americas’ Sproutings would also fit quite well into a Social Studies unit about natural resources. After reading the book, students could collect pictures of other natural resources native to their own region and write Haiku poetry about them.

Other children’s books by Pat Mora:

Mora, Pat. Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children's Day/Book Day; Celebremos El dia de los ninos/El dia de los libros. ISBN-10: 0061288772
Mora, Pat. Gracias / Thanks. ISBN-10: 1600602584
Mora, Pat. Tomas and the Library Lady. ISBN-10: 0375803491

Book Review: THE SECRET FOOTPRINTS by Julia Alvarez

 

 

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Alvarez, Julia. 2000. The Secret Footprints. Ill. by Fabian Negrin. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN-13: 9780679893097

2. PLOT

“On an island not too far away and in a time not so long ago,” magical creatures called ciguapas lived in underwater caves only emerge at night to walk on land and hunt for food. The ciguapas live in fear of humans, because their queen has warned them that if humans catch them, they would put the ciguapas in cages and take them to the doctors to study them.  They had a secret which kept them safe, but once their secret was almost discovered. There was a young ciguapa named Guapa who was “bolder and braver” than all the rest. Despite the queen’s warnings that if humans caught her, she would be forced to take baths and do laundry and wash your hands before meals", Guapa wanders closer and closer to the humans, and is seen one night by a human boy. Later, she wanders to close again and is discovered by the boy’s family but manages to escape. Through this experience, Guapa learns to heed her elders’ advice, and her tribe learns that “some human beings can be kind.”

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The Secret Footprints by Julia Alvarez is a re-telling of an ancient Dominican folktale which Alvarez heard as a child growing up in the Dominican Republic.  Alvarez has authored several books, but this story, suitable for first through fourth graders, is her debut as a children’s author. The story of the ciguapas has a magical quality to it, much like “The Little Mermaid,” because its main characters live in underwater secrecy and only come out at night.  

A note from the author at the end of the book explains that there are many versions of the legend of the ciguapas, and it is believed that they might have originated from the Taino Indians who inhabited the islands. This tale is a lesson on both the wisdom of listening to adults (“You must stop taking chances”…”they will force you to take baths and do laundry and wash your hands before meals”), and the realization that sometimes the fear of the unknown (“some ciguapas said they would rather die than be discovered,”) is often unfounded. At the end of the story, the ciguapa queen observes “I suppose some human beings can be kind.”

Cultural markers can be found in the legend handed down to generations of Dominican children, in the features and coloring of the mysterious Ciguapas, and the humans. A strong family theme, common to Latino cultures, is demonstrated by the family eating their picnic lunch, and also by the illustrations of the ciguapa families playing on the beach at night. References to the Spanish language are evident in the sprinkling of Spanish terms such as “Si”, Guapa which means brave, bold and beautiful in Spanish, the pastelitos which the boy leaves for Guapa, and Guapa’s exclamation “Ay, no!”

Fabian Nagrin used lush, tropical colors in his illustrations. The underwater homes of the ciguapas are a vibrant blue, full of wonder and mystery which invite the reader to dive in and explore. The island meadow where Guapa discovers the family having their picnic is a cool, verdant green, alive with colorful plants and soft-looking grass. The characters of both the humans and ciguapas have a somewhat rounded and soft appearance. The peaceful scenes add to the narrative which reveals that some humans are kind and helpful. All in all, this legend is enjoyable to read. It is not too scary for young readers, with a mysterious secret which will intrigue all readers.

4. REVIEWS.EXCERPTS

CRITICAS REVIEW: Negrin's pastel, dramatically hued illustrations gorgeously capture the lush tropical settings as well as the moonlit, underwater scenes. This book will be of particular interest to those who share the Dominican background of the author and story.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: Alvarez's language flows as effortlessly as the vivid colors in the pictures, setting a mood of ease and tranquillity echoed in the rounded forms and curving lines of the illustrations. This gentle tale, with its images of glowing color, conjures up a touch of magic.

5. CONNECTIONS

This tale has a fairy tale feel to it. Ask students what other stories or fairy tales they have read or watched where there are magical creatures that hide from humans. What happened when their presence was revealed? Have students create a Venn diagram or T-chart to compare the books or movies with “The Secret Footprints.” Children could imagine that they are magical creatures who do not want to be discovered. What kind of secret could they invent to keep from being found?

Other books by Julia Alvarez:

Alvarez, Julia. How the García Girls Lost their Accents. ISBN-13: 9781565129757

Alvarez, Julia. In the Time of the Butterflies. ISBN-13: 9781565129764

Alvarez, Julia. Something to Declare. ISBN-13: 9780452280670