I read this in about an hour. Totally into it from the get go. Rather violent and gritty, like the crime genre should be, with some interesting (yet depressing) history lessons along the way. After volume one, I'm totally intrigued and can't wait to read more in the series.
This is a great book if you have any small interest in the role of Code Talkers in WWII, or language preservation, or Native American boarding school history. There are plenty of lessons to be taught from the text (perfect middle school novel) and the author keeps it realistic but not too overly detailed. Just right for a young teen's interest and reading level. I highly recommend it as a school resource, but even as a quick, personal read, whether or not war stories are your thing. It's more about a culture and a Nation, as it is told through a Navajo narrator. Great read!
Alexie is a very powerful author. He tackles abuse, abandonment, genocide and other issues that affect Native Americans with brutal honesty and just a touch of humour. This one reads like a stream of consciousness, which is part of the book's strength and mystery, as we can only trust the narrator as he comes of age. Not for everyone's tastes, but extremely well written.