I read this book as part of my 2015 reading challenge- read a banned book. I had heard that this was a great book but I went into it worried. I've read other Native American lit in school (we actually read another Sherman Alexie book- Reservation Blues- in 10th grade) and I always found the books to be ok but nothing I would want to read again. I'll chalk that up to being an immature kid. Looking back, I wish this is the book that we had read in school. It would have been far more relatable. 
 Junior lives on reservation and at 14 realizes he has to get off the reservation to be able to have a better future, especially a future stuck on the reservation. His parents are poor and alcoholics, many of his friends have parents that are alcoholics and abuse the kids, he sees his parents have given up their dreams. So Junior goes to a local school (22 miles away) where he will be the only Indian on campus. The kids at his school are mainly white, upper middle class, and many come from racist homes. Junior struggles to make friends, fit in, and avoid losing his heritage. No small feat for a 14 year old. 
 I really liked how mature Junior seemed and how he was able to interpret things in a very adult manner. He takes even the hardest things- death, abuse, alcoholism, drug abuse, etc- in stride and sees how it can change a family. The drawings included in the story were very well done and added a true diary sense to the story. I really enjoyed this book and the characters. I look forward to reading this again.