1. What is “absolutely the saddest thing in the world” (31)? Explain why Junior says this and the implication. (Katie)

1. What is “absolutely the saddest thing in the world” (31)?  Explain why Junior says this and the implication. (Katie)

In Junior’s life, the saddest thing in his world is poverty. Junior has lived in poverty for his whole life. His family has always been poor, no matter what they try to do. When Junior goes to his first day of school, he is very excited to get his Geometry book. When he does, it turns out that the book he is given is the same exact book that his mom used around thirty years ago. Seeing this used book reveals to him that “[His] school and [his] tribe are so poor and sad that [they] have to study from the same dang books [their] parents studied from,” (Alexie 31). This book that his mom used is proof that Junior lives a very poor life. He has always known that but he never knew it would come up in his education. Although it does not affect him so much, it is still very sad to see that his school does not have the money to pay for new books. Poverty has become the saddest thing in the world for Junior.