How does Junior's language make his story relatable to readers that come from different backgrounds? How does this compare to other young adult...

As a young adult living on the Spokane Indian reservation, Junior lives a life that is different from the lives of many in the novel's reading audience.  He is, however, an engaging, sympathetic, and relatable character largely because of his character's use of language.  In the first chapter of the novel, Junior tells the reader that pictures are important for communication because they are more easily interpreted by a wide audience.  Thus, the novel is full of illustrations done by Junior in his effort to communicate his lived experience and his feelings to the reader.  Additionally, Junior uses much humor to cope with the hardships that he faces on the reservation.  The comical tone developed by his use of language allows the reader to relate to Junior and to feel sympathy for his situation as he deals valiantly with being perceived as an outsider in his community.  Few young adult novels tackle issues that are very real on Native American Indian reservations, so Junior as a character who can relate to a more universal audience is crucial in the effort to foster a greater understanding of Native American life and culture.