This semi-autobiographic work of fiction tells the story of Junior, an awkward teenager, who lives on a reservation. He was born with water on the brain, he has a lisp, a stutter, and his head is too big for his body. His father's an alcoholic. His temperamental best friend wants to beat him up. In a move he envisions will improve his chances in life, he transfers schools from the rez school in his community to an all-white high school twenty-two miles away from home. Sometimes the car runs out of gas on his way there, sometimes he hitchhikes. On really bad days, he walks. This boy is determined.
It's a snapshot of a year in the life that's full of change for Junior, his friends and his family. He tries to maintain a balance between his home life on the rez and his seemingly more privileged school life. Like almost every teenager, he just wants a smooth ride and to fit in.
This is not a book that dodges and weaves around serious issues; in fact, it confronts them head-on while in its own unique way manages to make them light and relatable and funny. How can a book about alcoholism, class, race, sex (and other topics that would ruin the plot if I were to reveal them) make the reader laugh? That's exactly what makes this book stand out. Humorous illustrations sprinkled throughout by artist Ellen Forney enhance the narrative by adding a visual perspective to the tale.
Ultimately, this is a book that breaks down barriers and reveals new perspectives about stereotypes on both sides of the tracks. It's about the risk of making assumptions. And it also proves that sometimes life is so full of seriousness, the best way to deal with it all is to have a good laugh.
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