Take a story's temperature by studying its tone. Is it hopeful? Cynical? Snarky? Playful?
Serious; Optimistic; Honorable
This book's genre is as multifaceted as its main man… and its tone similarly does an awesome job of channeling Chester Nez's personality. Don't crack this book looking for a raunchy laugh riot—that's not the kind of guy Chester is—but if you want a read as good-hearted and fearless as Chester, look no further.
Chester Nez tells us that he's not one for cracking jokes. And we can see that in the serious tone of his narration. As he's about to land on Guadalcanal at the beginning of the book, he tells us:
I thought about what I was about to face, wondering whether I'd be one of the men to die. (1.36)
Those are some serious thoughts. Of course, it's no surprise that Chester adopts such a tone considering what he's talking about. This is a book about war, after all.
That said, his tone is also optimistic. He always tries to look on the bright side of things (we could learn a lesson or two about optimism from this guy). After he returns from the war, even though he's all traumatized by his experiences, he reflects on all the good he has:
I had a wife, a job, and a life that pleased me. My postmilitary life was in balance, and I knew I "walked in beauty." (19.19)
And finally, Chester's tone is also characterized by honor. He's a proud Marine and Navajo, after all. He tells us at the beginning of the book that:
Like other traditional Navajos, I'd always believed in the "Right Way." Balance must be found, not only between individuals, but between each person and his world. (1.3)
Throughout the book, Chester keeps referring to the "Right Way," and how important it is for him to live a life of balance. We'd give Chester an A++ when it comes to living the right way, personally.