Code Word Courage (Dogs of World War II)

by Kirby Larson

Overview

Newbery Honor-winning author Kirby Larson delivers a heartwarming story of friendship, love, and courage, and the incredible contributions of Navajo Code Talkers during WWII.

Billie has lived with her great-aunt ever since her mom passed away and her dad left. Billie's big brother, Leo, is about to leave, too, for the warfront. But first, she gets one more weekend with him at the ranch.

Billie's surprised when Leo brings home a fellow Marine from boot camp, Denny. She has so much to ask Leo — about losing her best friend and trying to find their father — but Denny, who is Navajo, or Diné, comes with something special: a gorgeous, but injured, stray dog. As Billie cares for the dog, whom they name Bear, she and Bear grow deeply attached to each other.

Soon enough, it's time for Leo and Denny, a Navajo Code Talker, to ship out. Billie does her part for the war effort, but she worries whether Leo and Denny will make it home, whether she'll find a new friend, and if her father will ever come back. Can Bear help Billie — and Denny — find what's most important?

A powerful tale about unsung heroism on the WWII battlefield and the home front.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545840767
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	04/07/2020
Series:	Dogs of World War II Series
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.70(d)
Lexile:	590L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

A snippet of a family story transformed Kirby Larson from history-phobe to history fanatic; her debut historical novel, Hattie Big Sky, earned a Newbery Honor. She’s pursued her passion for historical fiction with titles such as Hattie Ever After, Duke, Dash, Liberty, and Code Word Courage and combined her love for both history and mystery in Audacity Jones to the Rescue, and Audacity Jones Steals the Show. Ironically, the next two books for this history lover are contemporary fiction, including the second title in the Shermy and Shake series, Shermy and Shake: The Not-So-Nice Neighbor, and Gut Reaction, which is co-written with her daughter Quinn Wyatt. Kirby lives in Kenmore Washington with her husband Neil and very naughty dog Raleigh.

Read an Excerpt

The door swung open and Denny's knee jostled the desk as he hopped to attention. Eighteen sets of chair legs scraped the floor while an Anglo officer strode in, followed by two other Marines. Both Diné.The Anglo introduced himself in Navajo. Not fluent Navajo, but good enough to get by at the trading post. "Take a seat, gentlemen," Sergeant Johnston ordered.They did as instructed.The Anglo turned to one of the Diné officers. "Sergeant Manuelito, would you please get the door?"Manuelito pulled a set of keys from his pocket and efficiently, purposefully, locked the classroom. The tumbler thunked like an animal trap.Denny shot a glance over at Jesse, whose forehead wrinkled imperceptibly.Sergeant Johnston picked up a pointer and tapped at the list of words on the blackboard."Begay, what's this?" The pointer landed on ga-gih."Crow," Denny answered."That's what it meant yesterday. Today, it means patrol plane." The pointer kept tapping. Tas-chizzie, swallow, was a torpedo plane. Atsah, eagle, a transport plane.As the sergeant went down the list, Denny's heart beat faster. It was a code. The Navajo language was the basis of a code. That's why he was here. He glanced around the room. That's why they were all here.Sergeant Johnston cleared his throat. "From this moment on, nothing that you do or hear in this room leaves this room. Under penalty of imprisonment. Nothing." He stared down the rows of Marines. "Do I make myself clear?"Despite the hodgepodge of feelings he was experiencing — bewilderment, curiosity, fear — Denny had been in the Marines long enough to know there was only one possible response to the sergeant's question. At the top of his lungs, he answered with the rest of the men: "Yes, sir!"

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Code Word Courage:

"With background research, including interviews with Navajo code talkers, and a knack for generating a heartwarming, genuine story, Larson seamlessly weaves the lives of the characters into the fabric of the 1944-45 home front setting." — Booklist

"Remarkable, engaging and highly enjoyable historical fiction for young adults as well as all readers." — Historical Novel Society

"A story of loneliness, loss, friendship, and identity." — School Library Journal

"World War II continues to be a topic that fascinates young readers, and Code Word Courage will keep those obsessed with the era reading happily." — YA Books Central

Praise for Liberty:

* "Larson once again creates an engaging story that is rich in historical details. She purposefully captures both the fear and the hope in a world torn by war as well as the simple love of a boy for his dog. Practically perfect." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A slice-of-life tale for historical fiction fans and animal lovers alike." — School Library Journal

"Larson brings the historical setting to life with vivid details and draws readers into the story with a heartfelt dog-and-child relationship." — Horn Book

Praise for Dash:

Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical FictionA Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

* "Emotionally satisfying and thought-provoking." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "[A] trenchant novel." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Historical fiction at its best." — School Library Journal

Praise for Duke:

* "Exceptionally well-crafted and emotionally authentic." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "[An] incisive tale of loyalty, patriotism, sacrifice, and bravery." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A good example of how bravery comes in all shapes, sizes — and breeds." — Booklist

Praise for Audacity Jones to the Rescue:

* "Larson's thriller deftly mixes humor, heart-pounding moments, and a strongly evoked historical setting — it's truly a story with something for everyone." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "The story's themes of trust, friendship, and good manners will resonate with many. Audacity's charm and smarts make this historical adventure a winner." — Booklist, starred review

"Larson infuses her romp with plenty of humor, making Audacity, her cat, and friends into lively, likable characters. With characteristic deftness, she weaves her historical material seamlessly into the story; Audacity is a modern girl... Clever, funny, and sweet in equal measures." — Kirkus Reviews

"Readers will cheer Audacity's ingenuity and bravery as they relish every moment of her adventures. Highly recommended." — School Library Journal

Praise for Audacity Jones Steals the Show:

"A suspenseful little mystery with heart." — Kirkus Reviews

"This caper is magical." — Booklist

Praise for Hattie Big Sky:

A Newbery Honor Recipient

* "[An] engaging historical novel... [Larson] creates a richly textured novel full of memorable characters." — Booklist, starred review

* "Larson... create[s] a masterful picture of the homesteading experience and the people who persevered." — School Library Journal, starred review

"Refreshing." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

03/01/2018
Gr 4–6—A story of loneliness, loss, friendship, and identity set near the end of World War II. Readers meet 11-year-old Billie and see her struggle with the loss of her parents, her brother joining the Marines, and her best friend, Hazel, rejecting her. When her brother Leo comes to visit before shipping out, he brings his friend and fellow recruit, Denny, a member of the Navajo Nation. They also bring along Bear, an abandoned dog. Chapters from Denny and Bear offer readers different points of view. Denny's narrative focuses on his training as a Code Talker and his own struggle balancing his identity as a Navajo and a Marine. Denny experiences prejudice because of his ethnicity, as depicted in a scene in which he and Leo struggle to hitch a ride. Later, during a battle, Bear's spirit appears to Denny and guides him to safety; the book offers little context or information about Navajo spiritual beliefs and this scene may reinforce stereotypes about Native people. In an author's note, Larson describes a bit about her research and the interviews she conducted with several living Code Talkers. VERDICT Readers may want to seek out Joseph Bruchac's Code Talkers, or nonfiction accounts, such as Nathan Aaseng's Navajo Code Talkers and Andrea M. Page's Sioux Code Talkers of World War II.—Tamara Saarinen, Pierce County Library, WA

School Library Journal

2018-02-03
The fourth in Larson's series about the Dogs of World War II shifts between a girl on the homefront and a Navajo Code Talker.Leo, a young white Marine, has brought his Navajo friend Denny home with him from boot camp. As they hitchhike, Denny senses a whimper that leads him to a wounded stray dog the young men decide to take with them. At Leo's home, his little sister, Billie, adopts the dog, naming him Bear. After the young men return to duty, the chapters shift between Billie and Denny. Orphan Billie (their mother is dead and their father abandoned them) has become a target for bullying, so she seeks companionship with Bear and her friend Tito, the young Mexican boy whose father manages her aunt's ranch. Meanwhile, as Denny trains to be a Code Talker, he flashes back to his childhood time at boarding school. Well into the story, a jarring interlude from the dog's perspective interrupts the story when he senses an old friend is hurt—this is Denny, who has been wounded in battle. The story is mostly Billie's, and both Denny and Tito come across more as cultural informants than fully fleshed characters. Neither escapes stereotype: Denny sees Bear in a vision during battle, while Tito gives gardening advice and brings tortillas to the gringos. A fragmented story that would have served better had it focused on Billie. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews