The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian.  NY:  Little Brown.

The more things change, the more they tend to stay the same.  Junior is mocked, disregarded, and devalued by members of his Native American tribe.  His immediate family, his rambunctious friend Rowdy, and his cartoon drawings were at one time his only allies and solace.  The prospect of someday joining far too many other adults whose lives were spent gambling and boozing until they destroyed themselves and their families was not appealing, so Junior, in an audacious move, enrolled in a school off the rez where the only other "Indian" was the mascot.  Though already tanked, Junior's popularity among his people bottoms out when he is viewed as a traitor.  He picks up a few new friends along the way, but misses Rowdy, who is out for blood during a rival basketball game.  As opposed to breaking him, the malice only strengthens Junior's resolve.

I am often baffled by the concept of intra-racial discrimination.  The idea that an oppressed people would further alienate one another as opposed to establishing a united front is mind boggling.  Junior's only "offense" was having the nerve to dream; his consequence was to live a nightmare on the rez among those who should have been his biggest supporters.