 What do you think about the book?

- Important message
- Slow build up, maybe how time passed for Junior too
- Enjoy a more personal perspective rather than learning more objectively
- - take distance to cope with numerous murders or genocides we think of the dead
as a group instead of understanding that every single individual of that group died
- An uplifting story, but with mature and relevant topics from a Native American
point of view

 What have you learned about the situation for many Native Americans in the US?
- Understood the major differences between the citizens even today because of
earlier prejudice and suppression towards the Natives
- Live where no one else wants to. Stole their homes – piled up into small areas
filled with people who have lost the will to live
- Assimilation of the children is central today – adults now, broken childhood and
questioning identity = hard to move on
- Still trying to fight for rights – media attention – and congress power: 1st native +
woman Deb Haaland
- Learned from Junior … hard to be different, but only a hinder towards your goals
- All in the little changes: changing schools, representation in media and on screen
- Helplessness and depression as a trait of culture, starting to grow with nation
- Not there, kidnappings, overdose, gun violence still a topic, need to do more

 What are some central themes the book mentions?

- Hope:
- - all agree, dreams and inspiration = subthemes
- -- Junior’s development and story of how to get there with obstacles in the way
- -Start – unsure of identity – smart he knew, therefore saw an opportunity at
Rearden – passion for learning made horrible live possible – hope kept him
through his sister’s death ---||--- through the racism and the backstabbing at the
basketball match from the guys from the rez
- Alcoholism: almost main villain of story
- - Ruins every relationship – causes depression and avoiding truths – how messed
up the rez is.
- - Forgets how unfair their lives are by killing each other, bullying each other only
– increase problems and start evil cycle
- Diversion:
- Always White vs. another skin colour, awful privilege for far too long
- Also, Junior vs. the rez: left behind for Rearden = dislike him, betrayed them for
white (at basketball match again, very symbolic, especially Rowdy beat him up for
competing against when everyone else already are)
- Alcoholism vs. dreams: stopped trying when society never gave opportunities,
resolved to alcohol for joy and relief, end up destroying children and own life.