Code Talker: Chapter 5 Summary & Analysis

Though Ned is bored and lonely at first, he keeps working hard at school—a survival strategy. Other kids, rather than fighting, retreat inside themselves. Most of the teachers don’t expect very much from Navajo students, and the students, in turn, give them little. But Ned’s lifelong love of learning helps him press on.

Even though Ned remains small—too small to find a refuge in sports, like some of his friends do—he knows there’s no limit to the growth of his mind. Not wanting to draw attention to himself or shame his classmates, he keeps quiet in class, but he earns high marks on all of his tests and written work. His teachers notice and praise him, saying he’s “almost as bright as a little white child.” Ned resolves to become  a teacher himself—one who expects the best from all his students.

Because of his love of learning and his newfound goal, time begins to pass more quickly for Ned. One day, he graduates from the mission school. He does so well academically that, to his joy, he is accepted into the high school program. Navajo High School is much closer to his parents’ home, meaning that he can visit his family every weekend. Also, the quality of the teaching and classes is much higher. There is even a real library.

In his first year of high school, Ned writes a social studies paper about Japan. At that time, the Japanese people were suffering from starvation and devastating earthquakes. Soon after, the students of Navajo High School hold a food drive for the Japanese people. Even though their families are relatively poor themselves, they collect two big crates of canned goods for the relief of the Japanese people.