Ned Begay

When the book begins, Ned Begay is a grandfather sharing his story with his grandchildren. As Ned begins his story, he moves back in time to when he was a six year old boy about to go to boarding school. Boarding school is a difficult for Ned as he struggles with the ideals of the teachers who are telling him all his traditions and language are bad and remembering the pride his family instilled in him in those same traditions and language.

As Ned grows older, he discovers that he is a good student and enjoys learning. Ned continues his education where others often drop out and attends high school. During his years of high school, Ned studies about the Japanese. Shortly after doing a report on the Japanese, Ned hears that the Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor. Ned immediately wants to join the military, but his...