Thomas H. Begay and the Navajo Code Talkers

Thomas H. Begay and the Navajo Code TalkersThomas H. Begay was one of the young Navajo men who, during World War II, invented and used a secret, unbreakable communications code based on their native Din language to help win the war in the Pacific. Although the book includes anecdotes from other code talkers, its central narrative revolves around Begay. It tells his story, from his birth near the Navajo reservation, his childhood spent herding sheep, his adolescence in federally mandated

the monster is held at bay

and it is their marrow that holds the cure for the rest of the world

Night-time themed artistic view of animals

The result is a stunning memoir filled with raw

All attesting to the wonder of the powwow

In simple but vivid detail

drawing inspiration from working in the bush—sawing and cutting and stacking wood for winter as well as the smudge ceremony to bring him closer to the Creator

and cultural commentary

When We Were Alone is a story about a difficult time in history

As other nations have instituted truth and reconciliation commissions

He meets a powerful man at the racetrack who convinces him he can parlay his special skill with the horses into a shot at the fame and fortune he seeks

Each chapter celebrates the relationship between land and culture