“I’m terrified of falling. No matter how old I get, I think I’m always going to be afraid of falling” (Alexie 220). I do not know why this quote stuck out to me in the end of the book, but I felt like this summarized Junior and how no matter how brave he was to be different, he would always be that little kid afraid of failing. Stepping away from the known may cause you harm, and your home life may still be bad, but there is always positives. I loved this book, I was instantly drawn in by the animated cartoon drawings that showed a deeper meaning than the words of Junior. I enjoyed the book and the realness that it created of his situation. I felt for him when his dog died, when Rowdy tried to punch him, when his sister died, the family friend, then his grandmother. It was a lot for an adolescent to handle, and certainly even harder on top of going to a new school filled with people who did not understand you, and living with a community that did not accept you for your need to change. But I saw the positive growth in Junior in his courage and in the friends he made and why he kept them. Though it was sad that Rowdy and Junior drifted when he went to a new school I think it helped Junior see that sometimes old friends fade because they were there for a reason and when that time is up so is that bond. I really felt that this novel spoke out about the positive attributes in an adolescent. They are resilient and stubborn. Junior wanted something and pushed by one positive role model, he changed his life. Junior was able to use his stubbornness as an adolescent ignorant of all the bad things to push him to keep going and try harder. I admire him for coming from what he did on the reservation, and being able to be wiser than his age to see his future different than the norm.
The quote about falling is very interesting. Junior's fear of falling seems like a way of showing his immaturity. It seems Alexie displays Junior's growing up when, at the end of the novel, Junior and Rowdy climbs the tall tree and just sort of hang out there. I would venture to say that when Junior left the reservation to make a difference for his life he was also doing it for his people, which take a great deal of courage. The people of Readan finally accepting him is just the support he needs.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a shame that Rowdy does not have the same confidence in himself that he has in Junior. I believe that Junior will never forget his friend Rowdy and all that he has done for him on the reservation. I know that I have not forgotten my childhood friends. Even though we have gone in separate paths I still manage hear what is going on with them and at times we will get together or have a phone conversation.