Characters
Characters Continued
Important Events
Quotes
Other
100
Arnold's father's best friend who is shot in the parking lot of 7-11 in a drunken argument over the last drink from a bottle of booze. He rode a motorcycle and once gave Arnold a ride to school.
Eugene
100
Moves to Montana after marrying a man she met in a casino. Likes to write romance novels. Dies in a fire after she and her husband got drunk at a party in their home.
Mary, Junior's sister
100
What different events/elements cause Junior to choose to leave Wellpinit and go to Reardan?
Junior's teacher, Mr. P, his geography textbook, poor conditions on the reservation, intrinsic motivation, goals, etc.
100
"You've been fighting since you were born...You fought off that brain surgery. You fought of those seizures. You fought off all the drunks and drug addicts. You kept your hope. And now, you have to take your hope and go somewhere where other people have hope" (43).
Mr. P
100
Juniors tribe refers to him with a certain nickname that means he is red on the outside and white on the inside.
An apple.
200
The white teacher who Arnold throws the geometry book at by accident. He convinces Arnold that he is a fighter and must leave the reservation.
Mr. P
200
This character wanted to be a jazz musician, but not one believed in him and he became an alcoholic. He gives Junior five dollars for Christmas.
Arnold Sr., Juniors father
200
What happens at the first game between Reardan and Wellpinit?
Junior's tribe members turn their backs to him when he enters the gym. He throws up before the game. Someone hits him with a quarter and he has to get stitches from Eugene. Rowdy elbows him and he gets a concussion. Wellpinit wins.
200
“If you're good at it, and you love it, and it helps you navigate the river of the world, then it can't be wrong” (95)
Gordy
200
He is shot by Arnold's father.
Oscar, the dog.
300
She wants to see the world and all of its wonders. She longs to study architecture and to create something beautiful and memorable. Arnold relates to this in a big way, as he loves to draw and also wants to leave home (the reservation).
Penelope
300
She lost her mother and daughter in one year. She faints during Junior's second game versus Wellpinit.
Agnes, Junior's mom
300
How does Roger find out that Junior is poor?
He has no money to pay for his food when they go out to eat after the formal.
300
“If you care about something enough, it’s going to make you cry. But you have to use it. Use your tears. Use your pain. Use your fear. Get mad. Arnold, get mad” (144).
Coach
300
What is Junior's costume for Halloween? How is it not really a costume?
A homeless person. Junior is poor.
400
He leaves the reservation to go to the nearby white school, Reardan. Many members of his tribe resent him and see him as a traitor. His family supports his decision.
Junior (Arnold)
400
Reardan High School's star basketball player who Arnold punches in the face. He comes to respect Arnold and loans him money during the Winter Formal. The two play on the basketball team together.
Roger
400
What happens between Rowdy and Junior the day of Mary's funeral?
Rowdy is watching the funeral form the woods. Junior runs to the woods to get away from the funeral and runs into Rowdy. Rowdy is crying and blames Junior for Mary's death. Junior also blames himself.
400
“Drinking would shut down my seeing and my hearing and my feeling...Why would I want to be in the world if I couldn't touch the world with all of my senses intact?” (158)
Grandma
400
What does Junior do in the car ride with his father after he finds out his sister has died?
He laughs.
500
Junior's best friend. He feels betrayed by Junior when he leaves the reservation school. He is one of the only people who always protected Junior.
Rowdy
500
She is hit and killed by a drunk driver. She tells her family to forgive the drunk who killed her. Junior describes her as a very tolerant person. She never drank alcohol.
Grandmother Spirit
500
When Junior beats Rowdy's team by 40 points he compares the two teams to David and Goliath. Who does he decide is David and who does he decide is Goliath? Why?
Junior and his team are celebrating when they beat Wellpinit. Junior looks to the crowd and sees that his father is not cheering, but staring at the Wellpinit team. Junior realizes that his team was Goliath and that Wellpinit was David. He realizes that most of the Wellpinit players probably hadn't even had breakfast that day, that none of them will go to college, many of their parents are alcoholics, and that Rowdy would probably beat by his father that night after the loss.
500
"Don't you ever drink...Promise me you'll never drink" (208).
Agnes, Junior's mom
500
Who is Junior most angry with after Eugene's death?
God.