Code Talker

One of the original 29 Navajo code talkers discusses his experiences in WWII and his early life in the Checkerboard area of tribal lands in the Southwest. The book is written in the first person, a choice that provides a preponderance of simple sentences. David Colacci captures the flavor of the Navajo speakers with an even tone, free of strong emotion. That's not to say his reading is flat or uninteresting--quite the opposite. He gives listeners the feeling of being in the presence of a Native American storyteller who is relating pieces of tribal history and lore. His facility with Navajo words makes the reading flow naturally. The book and the reading make this chapter of American history come alive in a personal way. A chart of the declassified code can be downloaded from the publisher. R.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine