This book absolutely deserves the awards it has been winning. I found it moving and enlightening. Unfortunately, it is too mature for an elementary school library, although I would definitely recommend it for a high school. Actually, I think all Americans should read this book. I was having trouble putting it into words until I read Meg's review of this book. Meg's review elsewhere should be read in its' entirety, but here is an excerpt about American education: 
 One thing that got harped a lot was Learning About Our Native American Friends. And basically at this point we were all claiming colorblindness, probably one of the most harmful lessons I learned. As such we were taught to approach unfamiliar cultures, and native cultures in particular, with this kind of cold, bowed reverence. Sure we had destroyed them but at least we could appreciate this amazing story about a turtle being the world!!!! 
 But you know what? Never and not once did I ever get a chance to really appreciate American Indians for what they were at that very moment, and that was people living in the same weather at the same time in the same state. We learned about longhouses but never about reservation economics. Here and there you would have a movie or a TV character who was of native descent, and that poor individual was forced to be kind of both wise beyond his or her years but also kind of fun loving so we knew that we were GUILTY BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HAD DONE AND WHAT WE THOUGHT OF THEM AND ALSO THEY WERE STILL THE OTHER (DANNY FROM HEY DUDE I AM LOOKING AT YOU) THE OTHER THE OTHER THE OTHER THE OTHER THE OTHER. 
 The other: the most awful thing we do, you guys. 
 End quote. 
 We stereotype the Native Americans to avoid dealing with them as real people. Alexie's writing makes Jr very real.