Describe Junior at the beginning of the novel.

Junior is a self-professed nerd. He tends to be reclusive. He reads books and draws pictures. He tries to avoid getting beat up on the "rez" but this is difficult given his big head and nerdyness. He is smarter than any other child on the rez.

At the start of the novel, we meet Junior, who has in fourteen very shorts years, lived a very difficult life. He suffers from numerous health problems, as well as various disabilities that are caused by his ill health. As a result, he's also the object of bullying by his peers, who use his speech impediment and looks as a source of "entertainment"...... mean spirited fun.

Junior also lives in abject poverty. His family suffers from hunger and poor living conditions.