"Readers who choose the book for the attraction of Navajo code talking and the heat of battle will come away with more than they ever expected to find." –
Booklist, starred review
"With its multicultural themes and well-told WWII history, this will appeal to a wide audience." –
Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Bruchac's gentle prose presents a clear historical picture of young men in wartime, island hopping across the Pacific, waging war in the hells of Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and Iwo Jima. Nonsensational and accurate, Bruchac's tale is quietly inspiring..." –
School Library Journal