Sherman Alexie

The title character seeks a name all his own. (Ages 4 to 7)

--- Added from Google Books ---

Thunder Boy Jr. is named after his dad, but he wants a name that's all his own. Just because people call his dad Big Thunder doesn't mean he wants to be Little Thunder. He wants a name that celebrates something cool he's done, like Touch the Clouds, Not Afraid of Ten Thousand Teeth, or Full of Wonder. But just when Thunder Boy Jr. thinks all hope is lost, he and his dad pick the perfect name...a name that is sure to light up the sky. National Book Award-winner Sherman Alexie's lyrical text and Caldecott Honor-winner Yuyi Morales's striking and beautiful illustrations celebrate the special relationship between father and son.

--- Added from Hardcover ---

"Thunder Boy Jr. wants a normal name ... one that's all his own. Dad is known as Big Thunder, but Little Thunder doesn't want to share a name"--

Grab your sketchbook and step into the shoes of Junior, a budding teenage cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Junior has always seen the world a little differently, using his funny and heartbreaking drawings to make sense of his life. Determined to find a better future, he makes the incredibly brave decision to leave his troubled school behind. Instead, he enrolls in an all-white high school in a neighboring farm town, where the only other Indian is the school mascot. As you follow Junior on this life-changing journey, you will experience his daily struggles to fit in, his fight to overcome the expectations of others, and his quest to figure out exactly who he is. Caught between two completely different worlds, Junior must find a way to honor his roots while chasing his biggest dreams. This powerful and hilarious story will make you laugh out loud while tugging at your heart. It is a brilliant exploration of identity, friendship, and the courage it takes to forge your own path when the odds are stacked against you.