Junior And The River Chapter Summaries

This novel is about Junior, A 14 year old Spokane Indian born with water on the brain. He lives on his tribe's reservation in Wellpinit, Washington. In his house lives his grandmother, father, mother, his sister Mary, And himself. The major conflict in the story comes when Junior wants to transfer to a school outside of the reservation for better education, which everyone sees as betraying the tribe. When junior transfers, He is an outsider, Just like it would be transferring anywhere. The school in question is Rearden. Rearden is an all white and overall wealthy school. Back at the reservation, He is hated by most. He loses his best friend, Rowdy. That's what hurts Junior the most. At Rearden, He stays an outsider for a month or so, until …show more content…
Despite Penelope being bulimic, Junior finds her to be the most beautiful thing he's ever laid eyes on. Penelope ignores him for a while. But one day at school, Junior finds Penelope in the bathroom, puking. This is when she reveals that she has bulimia. From this point on, Junior and Penelope are kind of a couple. When basketball tryouts come around, Junior decides to try out, which he breezes through. The first game is against Wellpinit High, Junior's old reservation school. During the game, Rowdy gives Junior a concussion and Wellpinit wins by 30 points. By this time, Junior's sister has ran away to Montana and got married to a Flathead Indian. Rearden wins every game that season and has to face Wellpinit again. This time, Junior scores on Rowdy the first play of the game. Rearden won that game by 40 points. When basketball season ends, a tragedy strikes. Juniors’ grandmother dies when she is struck by a drunk driver while walking down the road. This crushes him; she was the only one who truly supported his decision to get away from the reservation. Not very long after, His sister, Mary Also passes away. She was killed by a fire that started in her small travel