Arnold Junior Spirit
Arnold
Spirit Junior is the main character in the book as well as the narrator. He is a
hydrocephalic which means that he has seizers and basically has a
damaged brain. Arnold is different than others he has glasses that are too large
for his face and he has too many teeth. He is an Indian that lives on a poor
reservation with his mom, dad, sister, and grandma. He loves to draw and wants
to be a cartoonist. Arnold states “So I draw because I want to talk to the
world, and I want the world to pay attention to me” (5). Junior has a hard time
fitting in with others. He gets picked on and judged for being unique. Arnold is
trying to find hope outside the reservation. The only way he can do that is to
leave his reservation life and go to a different school. Arnold states “We
reservation Indians don’t get to realize our dreams” (13). When Arnold
transferred schools it was more difficult for him to fit in, because the
reservation Indians didn’t accept him anymore. His only true friend that he
could actually rely on was Rowdy.
Spirit Junior is the main character in the book as well as the narrator. He is a
hydrocephalic which means that he has seizers and basically has a
damaged brain. Arnold is different than others he has glasses that are too large
for his face and he has too many teeth. He is an Indian that lives on a poor
reservation with his mom, dad, sister, and grandma. He loves to draw and wants
to be a cartoonist. Arnold states “So I draw because I want to talk to the
world, and I want the world to pay attention to me” (5). Junior has a hard time
fitting in with others. He gets picked on and judged for being unique. Arnold is
trying to find hope outside the reservation. The only way he can do that is to
leave his reservation life and go to a different school. Arnold states “We
reservation Indians don’t get to realize our dreams” (13). When Arnold
transferred schools it was more difficult for him to fit in, because the
reservation Indians didn’t accept him anymore. His only true friend that he
could actually rely on was Rowdy.
Rowdy (Arnolds Best Friend)
Rowdy is Arnold best friend. They go through
everything together. To Arnold, Rowdy is his body guard. Rowdy is a tough guy
with a rough background. His dad is an alcoholic and has a bad temper when he
gets drunk. Most of the time Rowdy is his dads punching bag. He sometimes leaves
his house with a black eye. He shows no emotion and is very tough when it comes
to situations that he and Arnold encounter. Arnold says “Rowdy is the toughest
kid on the reservation he is long, lean, and strong like a snake” (15). During
the book Arnold and Rowdy’s relationship gets really rocky. Rowdy’s temper rises
when he finds out that Arnold is transferring to a different school. Rowdy and
Arnold begin to drift as Arnold meets new people.
everything together. To Arnold, Rowdy is his body guard. Rowdy is a tough guy
with a rough background. His dad is an alcoholic and has a bad temper when he
gets drunk. Most of the time Rowdy is his dads punching bag. He sometimes leaves
his house with a black eye. He shows no emotion and is very tough when it comes
to situations that he and Arnold encounter. Arnold says “Rowdy is the toughest
kid on the reservation he is long, lean, and strong like a snake” (15). During
the book Arnold and Rowdy’s relationship gets really rocky. Rowdy’s temper rises
when he finds out that Arnold is transferring to a different school. Rowdy and
Arnold begin to drift as Arnold meets new people.
Penelope (Arnolds Girlfriend)
Penelope is your typical blonde hair blue eyed
girl. She goes to Arnold new school Wellpinit. Penelope is the first person
Arnold meets at his new school. Arnold starts to develop a crush on her.
Penelope takes no interest into him in the beginning of the book. As their
relationship develops they realize that they have things in common. They both
are dreamers; they want to become something different. Throughout the book they
help each other solve their problems and situations. One day when penople was in the bathroom Arnold caught her puking, and he found out that she was bulimic. That has made there relationship stronger in the end. Penople is one of the first people Arnold can actually trust at his new school.
girl. She goes to Arnold new school Wellpinit. Penelope is the first person
Arnold meets at his new school. Arnold starts to develop a crush on her.
Penelope takes no interest into him in the beginning of the book. As their
relationship develops they realize that they have things in common. They both
are dreamers; they want to become something different. Throughout the book they
help each other solve their problems and situations. One day when penople was in the bathroom Arnold caught her puking, and he found out that she was bulimic. That has made there relationship stronger in the end. Penople is one of the first people Arnold can actually trust at his new school.