We follow a 14 year old boy name Junior for about 1 year who was born with water on the brain, seizures, and a stuttering problem and see how his life on a Washington Reservation is full of poverty, alcoholism, and poor schooling. His life is also filled with a dedication to his family (sister Mary Spirit, Grandmother Spirit, and his father's best friend Eugene) other tribe members, and his best friend Rowdy. He becomes frustrated as he thinks having an old school text book his mother once used is not fair and throws the book hitting his teacher. His teacher doesn't punish him but challenges him to make his dreams of better schooling for himself and becoming a cartoonist come true by transferring to a more privileged school miles away. This is the start of some big changes in Juniors life and when he starts feel like a part-time Indian.
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He is picked on because of his disabilities and for being different. Junior is full of confusion as to why the privileged children our so different than him. Roger, who is the most popular kid in his new school teases him everyday until junior punches him in the face. Roger doesn't hit him back or seek revenge but becomes friends with Junior and shows him respect after this. Penelope is another classmate he developed a crush on. She has bulimia and her and Junior become close because he understands her struggles. During this time Junior loses his Grandmother to a drunk driver, his sister to a house fire caused by drinking, and his best friend who doesn't understand why Junior wants to go to this new school. You feel his disappointment in his father's drinking and when he doesn't return home for days. You feel the blame he gives himself for his sister's death as he believes she left the reservation to chase her bigger dreams because of him. You feel his confusion as to why he has attended so many funerals on the
He is picked on because of his disabilities and for being different. Junior is full of confusion as to why the privileged children our so different than him. Roger, who is the most popular kid in his new school teases him everyday until junior punches him in the face. Roger doesn't hit him back or seek revenge but becomes friends with Junior and shows him respect after this. Penelope is another classmate he developed a crush on. She has bulimia and her and Junior become close because he understands her struggles. During this time Junior loses his Grandmother to a drunk driver, his sister to a house fire caused by drinking, and his best friend who doesn't understand why Junior wants to go to this new school. You feel his disappointment in his father's drinking and when he doesn't return home for days. You feel the blame he gives himself for his sister's death as he believes she left the reservation to chase her bigger dreams because of him. You feel his confusion as to why he has attended so many funerals on the