As in his previous novels, humor is the primary weapon Alexie's characters use to combat the trials and tribulations of reservation life. The male protagonist, Arnold "Junior" Spirit lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Junior was born with hydrocephalus, and combined with his stutter, his lisp, and his "goofy" physical appearance, he is a favorite target among the school bullies. He often stays in his room and creates cartoons, his "tiny little lifeboats" in a world of "broken dams and floods." When he discovers his mother's name in one of his textbooks, he decides to transfer to the school in Reardan, where the only other Indian is the school mascot. The obstacles Junior faces are many: his father's alcoholism; his family's poverty; the death of a pet, a friend, and family members; ostracism by his tribe and his best friend, Rowdy; and racism by the white students at Reardan. And yet, Junior's humor, intelligence and strength enable him to endure these many hardships.


Alexie has created a truly admirable protagonist for whom readers will both stand up and cheer, and fall down and weep. The novel is often laugh outloud funny, and Forney's wonderful illustrations contribute to the comedic tone of the novel. When dealing with the many tragedies that befall him, Junior responds with both sorrow and resilience; his voice is that of one inured to hardship. Junior's observations of reservation life and the close kinship of family and community are spot on. Many young adults will identify with Junior's quest to overcome poverty in order to forge a better life for himself. This novel is a must-have for libraries. A few sexually explicit passages make it inappropriate for younger readers.