My father is from Montana, and has often mentioned to our family about the struggles for the Indians on the reservations, mainly the Crowe reservation which is near his hometown in Billings. After reading about the trials and tribulations of the Arnold family, the cycle of poverty and devastating affects of alcoholism are clearly presented in an eye-opening way. Themes of friendship, loyalty, and family are developed, and it is evident that the cycle of feeling helpless only leads to more devastation. You are who you surround yourself with, and Arnold, who cared deeply for his grandmother and sister, Mary, realized that he needed to move in a direction that let him reach his true potential. He was indeed intelligent, athletic, and fiercely loyal. Yet he was abused, beaten, and ridiculed on the reservation. Fortunately, he was given an opportunity, and had the courage to change his course. At the age of fourteen, he had to grapple with the fact that Rowdy, his childhood friend, no longer wanted to associate with him; Arnold was seen as a traitor. It was painful, moving forward, but it was something Arnold needed to do in order to grow as a person. He learned to fall in love, to have courage, and most of all, he realized that having hope matters. Penelope found Arnold, who was different from all of the other boys, intriguing. Gordy helped Arnold navigate his intellectual capabilities, and Rodger became his athletic teammate on the basketball court. Although Arnold was surrounded by those who made him become the person he could be, Arnold felt a great deal of pain for leaving his family, the reservation, and the life of an full-time Indian. Yet Arnold is a loving, loyal family member and friend. He is capable of remembering and appreciating his past so that he may have the courage to move forward, towards a brighter future.
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