On the tiny South Pacific island of Saipan, thirteen-year-old Joseph and his half-Japanese cousin Kento practice to become warriors like their ancestors. But in the final months of World War II, their paradise island becomes the stage for one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific war between America and Japan. Joseph and Kento’s loyalties are tested and they discover, within themselves, what it means to become true warriors.

A tender and gripping novel about family, identity, and loss. Fourteen-year-old Tess is having a hard enough time understanding what it means to be part white and part Navajo, but now she's coping with her sister Gaby's announcement that she's going to enlist and fight in the Iraq war. Gaby's decision comes just weeks after the news that Lori Piestewa, a member of their community, is the first Native American woman in US history to die in combat, adding to Tess's stress and emotions. While Gaby is away, Tess reluctantly cares for her sister's semi-wild stallion, Blue, who will teach Tess how to deal with tragic loss and guide her own journey of self-discovery. Lori Piestewa was a real-life soldier who was killed in Iraq and was a member of the Hopi tribe. Back matter includes further information about Piestewa as well as a note by author Nancy Bo Flood detailing her experiences living on the Navajo reservation. A pronunciation guide to all Navajo vocabulary used...