Code Talker Theme of Warfare

Code Talker throws us right into the Pacific battles between the Americans and the Japanese during World War II. Warfare is the big theme of this book. And what we'll learn is that warfare isn't just about a bunch of guys with guns shooting at one other. World War II wasn't just a battle of guns; it was a battle of communication.

And it was a rough battle. Code Talker gives us a first-hand look into the violence of the war, and the uphill fight the Americans faced in trying to outsmart their Japanese enemies using military code.

1. War is a physical battle. But what are some of the psychological battles that Chester has to fight in this book? What does this book suggest about the necessity of inner strength in a time of war?
2. The Japanese are the enemies in this book. Even though they're enemies, they're also human, just like Chester and his buddies. Does the book present the Japanese with enough humanity, do you think?
3. How does the war allow Chester to reconcile the conflict between his Navajo and his "Anglo" cultures?
4. Even though the war is very difficult, how does it allow Chester to broaden his horizons and to discover the world beyond Navajo land?

War is a terrible experience. There is nothing to be gained from killing and bloodshed. Discuss.

War isn't all bad. There's a lot to be gained from going through the experience of war. Discuss.