Code Word Courage

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$16.99


Code Word Courage by Kirby Larson is about a friendless young girl growing up in WWII and a Navajo Code Talker who are brought together by a loyal dog named Bear. I think that the plot is interesting and could have made for a fantastic book, but it is carried out in a puzzling and unrealistic way. For example, the front cover claims that Bear saves them both, but in truth, the dog doesn’t even help the girl, Billie, find a friend. He doesn’t technically save Denny, the Code Talker, either. The way that Denny supposedly makes it out of a battlefield alive is by imagining that the dog, who is overseas, is guiding him. I think that this scene is extremely out of place in a book that contains no other hint of the supernatural. Another thing I don’t like is the change of fonts between the chapters, which rotate between Billie’s and Denny’s perspectives. One aspect I do appreciate is the recurring theme that no matter what nationality someone is, all are equal and should be treated the same. This shows up when Billie’s Hispanic friend is being bullied and when Denny receives ill treatment for being Navajo. I would recommend this book to older children because it is quite confusing and difficult to follow.


Reviewed By:

Author Kirby Larson
Star Count 3/5
Format Hard
Page Count 256 pages
Publisher Scholastic Press
Publish Date 2018-Apr-24
ISBN 9780545840750
Amazon Buy this Book
Issue May 2018
Category Tweens
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