Big Question evidence ledger

Junior imagines how his parents may feel about his school change and Mary’s move.

“And now, my mother and father had lost two kids to the outside world.” (Alexie 89)

What it shows: Junior sees that his school change and Mary’s move may feel like losses to their parents.

Junior describes Gordy continuing to help him understand.

“I really didn’t, but Gordy believed in me. He wouldn’t let me give up.” (Alexie 94)

What it shows: Gordy gives Junior patient encouragement while he learns a harder way to read.

Junior connects Gordy’s reading lesson with taking lives and hopes seriously.

“I suddenly understood that if every moment of a book should be taken seriously, then every moment of a life should be taken seriously as well.” (Alexie 95)

What it shows: Learning with Gordy helps Junior take Mary’s dreams more seriously.

Junior describes his continuing feeling of being an outsider.

“But nothing much changed. I was still a stranger in a strange land.” (Alexie 81)

What it shows: Junior still feels outside the group even after a kind exchange with Penelope.

Penelope tells Junior she will include him in the donation.

“I’ll still put your name on the money when I send it.” (Alexie 80)

What it shows: Penelope includes Junior in their shared effort after his money is stolen.

Junior describes the friendship after Rowdy punches him.

“I knew that my best friend had become my worst enemy.” (Alexie 53)

What it shows: After Rowdy punches him, Junior describes their friendship as broken. The conflict follows his decision to change schools.

Junior describes Roger’s behavior the next day.

“He paid me some respect.” (Alexie 72)

What it shows: Roger’s next-day behavior gives Junior a sign that his place at Reardan can change.

Junior’s father explains the family’s money and travel limits.

“We can’t afford to move there. And there ain’t no school bus going to come out here.” (Alexie 47)

What it shows: Dad identifies a practical cost: Junior will need a way to reach his new school.

Junior reflects on the conversation with Mr. P and the support he hopes to find.

“I had to add my hope to somebody else’s hope.” (Alexie 43)

What it shows: Junior wants people around him who will help his hope grow.

Junior describes his parents’ wish to help him.

“And my parents love me so much that they want to help me.” (Alexie 46)

What it shows: His parents help turn his wish for a different school into a plan.

Junior describes the private hopes Rowdy shares with him.

“And he only talks about his dreams with me.” (Alexie 23)

What it shows: Rowdy trusts Junior with a private part of his life; this friendship matters before Junior leaves.

Junior describes the future he imagines through drawing.

“I feel like I might grow up to be somebody important.” (Alexie 6)

What it shows: Drawing lets Junior imagine a future in which his work matters.

Junior expresses the guilt he still feels about leaving.

“I hoped and prayed that I would someday forgive myself for leaving them.” (Alexie 230)

What it shows: Junior still feels guilt about leaving even as Rowdy accepts his future.

Rowdy tells Junior about a dream in which Junior was traveling.

“You looked happy. And I was happy for you.” (Alexie 229)

What it shows: Rowdy tells Junior about a dream in which Junior is happy far from home and Rowdy is happy for him.

Rowdy gives Junior a new description at the end of the novel.

“You’re an old-time nomad,” Rowdy said. (Alexie 230)

What it shows: Rowdy gives Junior’s movement a name that connects it with a Native past.

Junior explicitly affirms his Spokane identity.

“I realized that, sure, I was a Spokane Indian. I belonged to that tribe.” (Alexie 217)

What it shows: Junior names his Spokane belonging while thinking about the other groups in his life.

Junior thinks about how much he misses Rowdy.

“And the tribe of boys who really missed their best friends.” (Alexie 217)

What it shows: Junior includes missing Rowdy in his wider picture of who he is.

Rowdy accuses Junior at Mary’s burial.

“Your sister is dead because you left us. You killed her.” (Alexie 211)

What it shows: In grief, Rowdy turns his anger about Junior leaving into an accusation of deadly harm.

Junior briefly separates himself from the accusation.

“Well, I didn’t kill her.” (Alexie 211)

What it shows: Junior briefly separates feeling guilty from actually causing Mary’s death.

Junior describes his goal before the rematch.

“I wanted to absolutely demoralize him.” (Alexie 192)

What it shows: Junior wants to crush Rowdy’s confidence, giving a real reason to question how he treats his old friend.

Junior describes his reaction after the victory.

“I was suddenly ashamed that I’d wanted so badly to take revenge on them.” (Alexie 196)

What it shows: Junior questions his own anger when he notices the harm he wanted to cause.

Junior remembers Grandmother looking forward to meeting people at a powwow.

“Think of all the new people you’re going to meet,” she said. (Alexie 156)

What it shows: Grandmother welcomes the new relationships Junior could build by going to Reardan.

Junior describes the community gathering at Grandmother’s wake.

“We lived and died together.” (Alexie 166)

What it shows: At the funeral, Junior still speaks as part of the community sharing its grief.

Coach offers to keep Junior company in the hospital.

“Well, how about I stay and keep you company, then?” (Alexie 148)

What it shows: Coach offers Junior care after the game, adding another trusted adult to his life.

Junior describes Roger’s repeated rides on later nights.

“And he drove me home plenty of other nights, too.” (Alexie 129)

What it shows: Roger’s repeated help lets Junior attend Reardan and keep returning home.

Rowdy gives Junior his interpretation of Junior’s interest in Penelope.

“I’m sick of Indian guys who treat white women like bowling trophies. Get a life.” (Alexie 115)

What it shows: Rowdy worries that Junior values a white girlfriend as a sign of status.

Junior responds to Penelope’s dream of a life beyond her town.

“And I couldn’t make fun of her for that dream. It was my dream, too.” (Alexie 112)

What it shows: Junior recognizes a shared wish to build a future beyond a small town.

Junior reflects on his family’s history of staying together.

“For good or bad, we don’t leave one another.” (Alexie 89)

What it shows: Junior describes a family expectation that makes leaving feel like breaking a shared rule.

Junior describes his Halloween fundraising.

“I was a poor kid raising money for other poor people.” (Alexie 79)

What it shows: Junior’s new connection at school becomes a chance to help people with needs like his own.

Rowdy accuses Junior after hearing about his school choice.

“You always thought you were better than me” (Alexie 52)

What it shows: Rowdy reads the school change as Junior placing himself above his friend.

Junior invites Rowdy to attend the new school with him.

“You can still come with me,” I said. “You’re still my best friend.” (Alexie 52)

What it shows: Junior invites Rowdy to share the change rather than simply leaving him out.

Junior’s father warns him that some people may react angrily to his school choice.

“The Indians around here are going to be angry with you.” (Alexie 47)

What it shows: Mom warns that people at home may see Junior’s decision as a rejection.

Junior describes his parents’ wish to help him.

“And my parents love me so much that they want to help me.” (Alexie 46)

What it shows: Junior can seek a different future while keeping his parents’ love and support.

Junior describes the private hopes Rowdy shares with him.

“And he only talks about his dreams with me.” (Alexie 23)

What it shows: Their private trust helps explain why Rowdy could experience separation as a deep personal loss.